The Swedish metal scene began taking shape in the early 1980s, with bands like Europe and 220 Volt opening the doors for a wave of young Scandinavian hard rock acts. Among those promising newcomers was BLACKSMITH, a group whose sound leaned more toward aggressive metal than radio‑friendly hard rock. Their 1985 EP Gipsy Queen quickly became a cult favorite.
In 2018, No Remorse Records finally gathered the band’s complete early output on the compilation “Gipsy Queen: The Early Years 83–86”, featuring the EP, the 7" single, and all surviving demo material — fully remastered and released on CD for the first time.
Now we have the Japanese edition, which includes an exclusive bonus track available only in this version.
Fronted by a young Per Englund (now vocalist of Free From Sin), Blacksmith drew inspiration from Rainbow, Judas Priest, and early Europe circa 1984. After years of intense rehearsals, the band entered the studio to record Gipsy Queen, released in 1985. Their follow‑up 7" single, “Tomorrow’s Mystery” (1986), even charted in Japan — a remarkable achievement for an unsigned Swedish metal act.
Both the EP and the single have long been sought after by collectors worldwide, and the unreleased 1983 rehearsal tracks included here — while rough in sound — offer a fascinating glimpse into the band’s earliest phase.
“Gipsy Queen” is a striking slice of ’80s Scandinavian hard rock/metal, enriched with unmistakable late‑’70s influences reminiscent of Rainbow and Dio. One of the band’s most distinctive traits is their keyboard work: unlike the typical tones of the era, the synth palette here is unusual, colorful, and gives Blacksmith’s music a unique identity.
The title track opens with a Hammond‑style organ playing a Bach‑inspired motif before exploding into a fast, Deep Purple‑tinged hard rock assault. Englund’s powerful vocals immediately command attention, while guitarist Johan Nyström (now with Apollo Papathanasio’s band) delivers elegant arpeggios and melodic solos.
As expected from a mid‑’80s band, there’s a strong metal ballad — “I Don’t Know” — performed with conviction and emotional weight.
“Lying Eyes” brings a more commercial, catchy hard rock feel, driven by Patrick Ekelöf’s memorable “pumping” bass line.
The 7" single “Tomorrow’s Mystery” shows the band adapting to the polished, AOR‑friendly sound of 1986 — and it’s a fantastic track.
The remaining songs come from the early demo sessions and, despite their raw production, reveal just how much fire Blacksmith had in their formative years. “Hiroshima” hits with a heavy, Loudness‑like edge, while “World Victim” channels Rainbow, early Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jeff Scott Soto.
This Japanese edition is a treasure for fans of ’80s Scandinavian hard rock and metal — a rare chance to experience Blacksmith’s complete early catalog, remastered and finally treated with the respect it deserves.

If you want, I can also:
• create a shorter version for Discogs/eBay,
• format it with BB‑code headers and sections,
• or write a collector‑focused description emphasizing rarity and value.