HARDLINE S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records ) 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Rare 1984 Norwegian Hard Rock Treasure from the Mausoleum Vaults

The front cover of Hardline's self-titled album shows a surreal humanoid figure with a bald, skull-like head and hollow black eye sockets, dressed in a white suit and striped tie, aiming a blue revolver directly at the viewer with both hands in black gloves. A tear is dripping from one eye. The background is black, and the word HARDLINE is printed at the top in bold white letters.

Hardline's self-titled debut, released by Mausoleum Records, stands as a powerful testament to Norwegian hard rock. Formed by ex-members of "Lipservice," the album showcases gritty vocals, bold guitar riffs, and thunderous drumming. With themes of rebellion and love, the LP, in classic vinyl format, exemplifies the golden era of rock. Despite being the band's sole release, Hardline's impact on the Norwegian hard rock scene is enduring and unforgettable.

"HARDLINE self-titled" Album Description:

The HARDLINE self-titled debut album, released on Mausoleum Records in the format of a 12" vinyl LP, stands as a testament to the vibrant era of rock and metal in the late 20th century. This iconic release is a reflection of the musical landscape and production techniques prevalent during the time period it emerged.

The album, often hailed as a classic in hard rock circles, epitomizes the sound and style of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The production of the HARDLINE self-titled LP captures the essence of the era's music scene, characterized by powerful guitar riffs, melodic vocals, and a dynamic rhythm section. The distinctive blend of these elements contributes to the album's timeless appeal.

Mausoleum Records, a label with a significant presence in the metal genre, played a crucial role in bringing HARDLINE's self-titled debut to the audience. The record label's involvement adds a layer of historical significance to the album, as Mausoleum Records was recognized for promoting and producing a range of influential rock and metal acts during that period.

In terms of production, the HARDLINE LP showcases the technological advancements of its time. The analog recording techniques employed in the studio contribute to the warm and authentic sound that defined the era's rock music. The mastering process for vinyl further accentuates the nuances of each instrument, providing a rich listening experience for fans and audiophiles alike.

The time period in which the HARDLINE self-titled album was created marked a transition in the music industry. The late 1980s and early 1990s witnessed the peak of the glam metal era, with bands like HARDLINE embracing a sound that blended the energy of hard rock with the melodic sensibilities of pop. This fusion is evident in tracks like "Hot Cherie" and "Rhythm From a Red Car," where catchy hooks and memorable choruses became defining features of the band's style.

Hardline (Norway): Forgotten Heroes of 80s Melodic Metal

Hardline was a melodic hard rock and heavy metal band from Norway that briefly lit up the Scandinavian music scene in the late 1980s. Not to be confused with the American band of the same name, this Norwegian Hardline carved out a small but memorable place in the country’s hard rock history.

Origins and Style

Emerging during the golden age of glam and melodic metal, Hardline embraced a sound that blended anthemic choruses, guitar-driven hooks, and arena-ready production. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with regional contemporaries like TNT, Stage Dolls, and Return, offering a distinctly Scandinavian take on American-style hard rock.

The Album

Their self-titled LP, Hardline (1989), was released on the Norwegian label Hot Records. Though it didn’t chart internationally, the album featured a tightly produced set of tracks that combined mid-tempo rockers, power ballads, and the slick production hallmarks of late-80s melodic metal.

The record has since become a collector’s item, sought after by fans of obscure European AOR and melodic hard rock. Original LP copies are rare and occasionally appear in private sales and online auctions.

Legacy

While they never achieved mainstream success, the Norwegian Hardline remains a cult favorite among enthusiasts of 80s Scandinavian rock. Their lone album stands as a time capsule of an era when big choruses and flashy solos ruled the airwaves, even in the icy north.

For fans of bands like Europe, Treat, and Da Vinci, Hardline is a rediscovery worth making.

Music Genre:

Norwegian Hard Rock

Label & Catalognr:

 Mausoleum Records – SKULL 8358

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1984 Belgium

HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records ) Production & Recording Information

Producers:

Mats Andersson - Producer

Hardline - Producer

Bosse Waldersten - Executive Producer

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Robert Wellerfors - Sound Engineer

Recording Location:

The album "Hardline" was recorded at Decibel Studio, Stockholm, Norway.

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Goran Carlzon - Album Front Cover Illustration

Photography:

Photo-Arne - Photographer

Musicians on: HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records )

Band-members, Musicians:

Romy Vitale - Lead singer

Juno - Guitars

Eddie Trazz - Bass guitar

Speed Elly - Drums

Track-listing of: HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records )

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Tyrant 3:00
  2. Downtown Flyer 3:17
  3. Big White Bear 3:45
  4. Out In The Rain 3:16
  5. Zyanide Sunrise 3:28
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Run Away 3:09
  2. Cold Heat 3:17
  3. Down At The Local Pub 3:04
  4. Pulled By A Thousand Strings 3:23
  5. Big Big Bang 4:14

HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records ) High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records )
The front cover of Hardline's self-titled album shows a surreal humanoid figure with a bald, skull-like head and hollow black eye sockets, dressed in a white suit and striped tie, aiming a blue revolver directly at the viewer with both hands in black gloves. A tear is dripping from one eye. The background is black, and the word HARDLINE is printed at the top in bold white letters.

Front Cover Description:

This album cover features a striking and surreal illustration. At the center is a humanoid figure with a bald, smooth head shaped like a skull. The eye sockets are deep and black, and a single white tear rolls from the left socket, adding an eerie, mournful touch. The skull figure's face is devoid of detail or expression, giving it a ghostly, lifeless presence.

The figure is dressed in a clean, off-white suit jacket with padded shoulders and matching sleeves. Beneath the jacket is a blue and purple diagonally striped tie, giving a hint of 1980s style. The figure's hands are gloved in shiny, black leather and positioned directly in front of its face, holding a large blue revolver. The barrel of the gun is aimed straight at the viewer, making for a confrontational and unsettling visual impact.

The background is a pure black void, enhancing the contrast and drawing full attention to the central figure. Above, the band’s name "HARDLINE" is displayed in a clean, white sans-serif font, spaced widely across the top edge of the cover. The entire design has an airbrushed, hyper-realistic aesthetic, reminiscent of science fiction or cyberpunk artwork.

Photo Of The Back Cover HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records )
The back cover of Hardline's self-titled LP shows a high-contrast black-and-white photo of the band members: Speedy Elly, Juno, Romy Vitale, and Eddie Trazz, aligned side-by-side with their names printed underneath. The band's name HARDLINE is printed at the top in bold white sans-serif font, with catalog number SKULL 8358 in the upper right. Below, detailed track listings, production credits, and acknowledgments are printed on a white background, along with the red Mausoleum Records logo in the bottom left.

Back Cover Description:

This back cover presents a stark black-and-white design centered around a photo of the band members in silhouette. From left to right, the image depicts Speedy Elly (drums), Juno (guitar), Romy Vitale (lead vocals), and Eddie Trazz (bass). Their names are printed directly below each figure in small uppercase serif font. The figures are styled with classic 80s rock fashion — teased hair, sleeveless tops, and studded accessories — but rendered in bold black against a white background, emphasizing the band's raw attitude.

At the top, the band name HARDLINE appears again in the same bold white font used on the front cover, spaced out evenly across the upper edge. Just to the right, the catalog number SKULL 8358 is printed in small type, with a green sticker indicating a price or inventory number.

The lower half of the cover contains extensive liner notes, including track listings for Side 1 and Side 2, detailing song titles, songwriters, and durations. Production credits list Hardline and Mats Andersson as producers, with engineering and mixing work by Robert Wellerfors and Mars Andersson. The cover painting is credited to Göran Carlzon, and the band photo to Photo-Arne.

There’s a thank-you section to friends, family, and studio personnel, noting names like Mr & Mrs Vitale and others from Trondheim. A short paragraph at the bottom describes Mausoleum Records distribution information and legal disclaimers. The bold red Mausoleum logo anchors the bottom left corner of the sleeve, providing a splash of color to an otherwise monochrome design.

Close up of record's label HARDLINE - S/T Self-Titled ( Mausoleum Records ) Side One:
Close-up of Side One of Hardline's self-titled LP label, Mausoleum Records SKULL 8358. The label has a stormy blue background with lightning graphics and the red Mausoleum logo dripping at the top. It includes track titles for Side One, SABAM rights info, 33 RPM speed, Made in Belgium, and production credits.

Record Label Description – Side One:

This image shows the original record label for Side One of Hardline's self-titled LP, pressed by Mausoleum Records under catalog number SKULL 8358. The label has a dramatic, stylized design featuring a stormy blue and black background, overlaid with jagged yellow lightning bolts that cut across the vinyl’s surface. The scene conveys a raw, electric energy consistent with the hard rock genre.

At the top, the Mausoleum logo appears in bold, dripping red gothic-style letters with a white medieval font spelling "Records" just below. This horror-themed logo visually reinforces the brand’s identity as a heavy metal label.

On the left side, in black sans-serif type, are the catalog number SKULL 8358 and the designation Side 1. To the right, it lists SABAM T.M. for copyright management, playback speed of 33 RPM, and "Made in Belgium" — confirming its Belgian pressing.

The five track titles for Side One are printed in small capitalized type:
1. TYRANT (Juno/Vitale) 3:00
2. DOWNTOWN FLYER (Hardline) 3:17
3. BIG WHITE BEAR (Hardline) 3:45
4. OUT IN THE RAIN (Hardline) 3:16
5. ZYANIDE SUNRISE (Trazz) 3:28

Production credits follow beneath the tracklist, naming Hardline & Mats Andersson as producers, and Bosse Waldersten as executive producer. A note mentions the album was released through an agreement with Jomar Music Int’l, Sweden.

Mausoleum Vinyl Records Discography

MAUSOLEUM Records: Belgian keepers of a vast vinyl legacy. Founded in 1980, their catalog spans heavy metal, hard rock, and punk. Discover rare gems, cult classics, and legendary artists. Dive into their discography and unearth the sonic treasures waiting to be spun.