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There has never been a band so closely linked to Black Sabbath as Necromandus. Their relationship stretches back to the late 60s when Tony Iommi and Bill Ward became members of Cumbrian based heavy blues band Mythology. When they both quit to form Sabs pre-cursor Earth, they would return regularly to Cumbria amassing a hardcore fanbase up there.

Tony Iommi was so impressed with local band Necromandus that he bought them down to Birmingham and paid for them to live in rented accommodation for just over a year. He even started his own ‘Tramp’ booking agency purely to get them gigs. Also on the books were an as yet unknown Heavy Rock band called Judas Priest, a regular support act to Necormandus in those early days of 72/73.

Tony used his powers of persuasion to score them a deal with the legendary Vertigo label and produced this fated 1973 album on which he also guested. Due to one thing or another, including Tony’s hardcore touring schedule that left him little time to keep tabs on things, the album was shelved, never seeing the light of day, which led to the bands eventual demise.

In 1976 Ozzy decided he was going to leave Sabbath and he hadn’t forgot his old friends from up North. He invited them down to his infamous ‘Atrocity House’ country cottage, where they began working on songs for what was, in effect, the very first Blizzard of Ozz line-up. However, not long after, Ozzy rejoined Sabbath and the Blizzard of Ozz was over for the time being.

Orexis of Death is a true lost treasure of British underground progressive hard rock. The skills of musicianship and structure were very progressive for the time, especially in the jazz-influenced guitar technique of Barry (Baz) Dunnery. Apparently even Steve Howe scratched his head when he witnessed some Dunnery wizardry. Regarded as cult classic for many years, Rise Above Relics is pleased to announce this newly mastered edition, featuring extensive sleevenotes (40 pages) and rare photographs. Also included here is an extremely rare live recording of the band performing in front of a Blackpool audience back in 1973.

Had it been released on Vertigo at the time as originally planned, Orexis of Death would now certainly be a massive collectable. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and time hasn’t been too kind to the Necromandus legacy with the tragic and untimely passing of three of its original members. Fortunately their spirit lives on in this fine collection of songs that is gaining more and more credit and recognition as the years go by.

Original drummer Frank Hall is available for interviews.