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The NWOBHM, led by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motorhead, struck a chord in the hearts of many European metalheads and, in short order, hundreds of bands around the continent started playing heavy music. The rest, as they say, is history. One of the bands that began to enjoy a share of that Euro-Metallic pie early on was Sweden's Torch.

Torch seemed to be just another traditional Metal band that wanted to go big. What separated them from the rest, besides their close similarities to Judas Priest and Motorhead, was their Dickinson-esque singer Dan Dark. The music was pretty simple and unremarkable and the solos were good with some nice ideas, but the vocals were the driving force giving the songs a richer sound.

Despite their great talents, Torch cannot be truly considered superior. The songs were above average and included a few hits like "Watcher of the Night," "Gladiator" and "Battle Axe" but little else is memorable. Collectors searching for Torch's material will be pleased to know the band released a compilation through Heart of Steel Records in 2009.