KROKUS - Hardware - orig Swiss Pressing 12" Vinyl LP Album

"KROKUS - Hardware" stands as a testament to Swiss rock prowess, encapsulating the essence of its time. This original Swiss pressing on 12" vinyl LP showcases the band's raw energy. The distinctive +ML+ label and "Swiss Made" stamper code, adorned with the iconic Swiss-crossbow, authenticate its origin. A collector's gem, this album melds musical artistry with Swiss precision, enriching the era's rock landscape.

 

KROKUS - Hardware Original Swiss Pressing 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

Album Description: 

The 1981 KROKUS album, "Hardware", specifically focusing on the original Swiss pressing of the 12" vinyl LP. Notably, the pressing bears the unique distinction of displaying a +ML+ label and a stamper code labeled "Swiss Made" adorned with an iconic Swiss-crossbow symbol. Through a comprehensive analysis of the album's musical content, historical context, and collectible attributes.

The 1981 KROKUS album, "Hardware", stands as a seminal work in the world of hard rock and heavy metal music. Amidst the album's various pressings, the original Swiss release holds a special place of fascination among collectors and enthusiasts. Notably, the +ML+ label and the "Swiss Made" stamper code featuring the Swiss-crossbow symbol distinguish this pressing as a remarkable artifact of musical history.

"Hardware" showcases KROKUS at the height of their musical prowess, blending heavy riffs, catchy hooks, and dynamic vocals. Tracks like "Celebration", "Easy Rocker", and "Rock City" epitomize the band's signature sound, characterized by powerful guitar work and hard-hitting rhythms. The album's diverse range of songs encompasses anthems, ballads, and fast-paced rockers, making it a dynamic listening experience.

Released during a thriving era for hard rock and heavy metal, "Hardware" solidified KROKUS' reputation as a force to be reckoned with. The album resonated with fans worldwide, garnering critical acclaim and commercial success. Against the backdrop of the 1980s music scene, "Hardware" exemplified the band's ability to craft energetic and memorable songs, cementing their position in rock music history.

The original Swiss pressing of "Hardware" presents collectors with an intriguing blend of musical excellence and cultural uniqueness. The +ML+ label, indicative of the pressing plant or record company, adds an element of authenticity and exclusivity to the album.

Music Genre:

 Metal, Hard Rock,
Album Production Information:

The album: "KROKUS - Hardware incl custom inner sleeve" was produced by: Krokus

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Mark Dearnley, Nick Rogers

(Mark Dearnley a Sound Engineer from the USA having engineered on albums for Krokus, Loudness, V2, Wrathchild America and others.)

Mastered by Ian Cooper at the Townhouse

This album was recorded at: Roundhouse Studios, London. Nov-Dec 1980, Engineer

Album cover design: Forty Morell , Christophe Vorlet

Album cover photography: Sulzer and Simon Fowler

  • Simon Fowler – Photographer Simon Fowler is a British photographer celebrated for his striking portraits of rock and metal legends, including Iron Maiden, whose 1983 album “Piece of Mind” credited him as Simon “Bullseye” Fowler. His work spans the vibrant eras of the late 1970s through the 1990s, capturing icons at their creative peak.
    Simon Fowler Wiki

    • Album Production:

     Original black and white custom inner sleeve with album details, and photos. Includes flyer to join the Krokus Fan-club
    Record Label: Ariola 203 322 (203322)
    Vinyl Record Format: 12" Vinyl LP Gramophone Record  
    Year & Country  1981 Made in Switzerland
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: KROKUS - Hardware incl custom inner sleeve
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Tommie Kiefer (1952-1986) - Vocals, Guitars
    • Chris von Rohr - Bass, Percussion
    • Christoph "Chris" von Rohr – Swiss music producer, musician (bass/vocals)

      Christoph "Chris" von Rohr is the Swiss rock ringmaster I keep bumping into whenever Krokus sounds larger-than-life on wax.

      Christoph "Chris" von Rohr is one of those rare names that shows up both in the liner notes and in the DNA of a whole scene — and as a collector, I love that kind of fingerprint. I know him best as a founding force in Krokus: active through their rise from 1975–1983, back for a short return in 1987–1989, and then in the comeback era from 2008 onward (because rock bands, like horror villains, are never truly gone). Outside the band, he shaped Swiss hard rock from the control room too — most famously as Gotthard’s producer and songwriter from 1991–2002 — basically the guy turning raw riffs into stadium-sized results without sanding off the attitude. If you want the clean timeline without my romantic vinyl fog, here’s the official rabbit hole:

      Christoph "Chris" von Rohr Wiki
    • Fernando von Arb
    • Fernando Von Arb - Lead Guitar

      Riff-first lead guitarist: tight hooks, lean solos, and a drummer-proof sense of timing.

      Fernando Von Arb, Krokus' riff-foreman, plays like he's tightening bolts on an arena stage: no wasted motion, just grip and momentum. He came in via the local trio Montezuma, then joined Krokus in 1976 and rode the classic climb through 1988. After the breakup he rebuilt the band and kept returning in chapters: 1990-1991 (even switching to bass), 1994-1995, 1999-2005, and again from 2008 onward. In 2005 tendonitis forced him out for a while, which is the universe's dumbest way of saying "stop." Hard rock, heavy metal, whatever tag you slap on it: his solos stay lean, his rhythm work is the hook, and his writing is built to make the chorus land like a door slam.

      Fernando Von Arb Wiki
    • Marc Storace - Vocals
    • Marc Storace - Vocals

      He sings like the mic owes him money: rasp, bite, and choruses that stick to your brain like tape.

      Marc Storace, Swiss-Maltese and sharp as a broken bottle, turned Krokus from local thunder into export-grade hard rock. I first clocked him when he joined TEA (late 1971-1977), then jumped to London to form Eazy Money (1977-1979) before landing in Krokus in 1979 and singing them into the big leagues on 1980's "Metal Rendez-vous". His prime Krokus run hits 1980-1988, then he came back for the long second life (1994-2016), still sounding like gravel with a grin. He sells hooks like beer: fast, loud, and without apology, and that rasp is all over "Bedside Radio", "Heatstrokes", and "Screaming in the Night". He never sounded polite, and thank heaven for small mercies.

      Marc Storace Wiki
    • Freddy Steady - Drums
    • Juerg Naegeli - Bass (Jürg Nägeli is from Switzerland and is musician, sound engineer and music producer. He has been performing with the Swiss Heavy Metal / Hard Rock band "Krokus", from 1976 until 1979 as bassist and from 1978 until 1980 on keyboards.)
    Complete Track-listing of the album "KROKUS - Hardware incl custom inner sleeve"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "KROKUS - Hardware incl custom inner sleeve" is:

      Side One:
    1. Celebration
    2. Easy Rocker
    3. Smelly Nelly
    4. Mr. 69
    5. She's Got Everything
      Side Two:
    1. Burning Bones
    2. Rock City
    3. Winning Man
    4. Mad Racket

    Headbanging through the Years: The Vinyl Discography of Krokus

    Krokus on vinyl is less a “discography” and more a page of sleeves that smell like 1983, cheap lager, and overworked amplifiers. “Metal Rendez-vous” still has that early snap where the band sounds hungry and a little rough around the edges, not “raw power” in a press-kit way, but in the way the riffs don’t always land politely. By the time “One Vice at a Time” rolls around, they’re clearly aiming for bigger rooms, and they mostly pull it off without sanding the knuckles off the songs. “Headhunter” is the one that behaves like it owns the shop: “Screaming in the Night” and “Eat the Rich” hit with that blunt, arena-ready confidence, and Marc Storace sounds like he’s daring you to call it subtle. “The Blitz” tightens things again—more polish, more control—sometimes it helps, sometimes it feels like the hair-spray budget got a vote. A quiet truth: these records always made the most sense at night, when the turntable’s already warm and nobody’s around to pretend the chorus isn’t the whole point.

    KROKUS - Alive and Screamin'
    KROKUS - Alive and Screamin' album front cover vinyl record

    This album arrived at a crossroads in Krokus' career. While they had enjoyed considerable success in the early 80s with hits like "Heatstrokes" and "Bedside Radio," the mid-80s saw a shift in the musical landscape. Hair metal was on the rise, challenging traditional hard rock bands to adapt or fade away.

    Alive and Screamin' 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Change of Address
    KROKUS - Change of Address album front cover vinyl record

    Founded in 1975, Krokus swiftly ascended the ranks of the music scene, blending the grit of hard rock with the ferocity of heavy metal. The Swiss outfit, consisting of seasoned musicians, carved a niche for themselves with their energetic performances and unapologetic sound.

    Change of Address 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Early Days 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Early Days album front cover vinyl record

    The year 1975 marked the inception of Krokus, and it was a time when the global rock scene was undergoing dynamic shifts. As the echoes of the psychedelic era faded away, a new wave of hard-hitting rock emerged, drawing inspiration from blues, metal, and a rebellious spirit.

    Early Days 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Hardware (Multiple International Versions)
    KROKUS - Hardware (Multiple International Versions) album front cover vinyl record

    In 1981, Krokus, the Swiss heavy metal force, released "Hardware," their eighth album. Produced in collaboration with Ariola Canada, the vinyl LP encapsulates the raw energy of the era's heavy metal scene. Marking a pivotal moment in the genre's evolution, the album's tracks showcase Krokus's musical prowess.

    - Hardware (1981, Canada) - Hardware (1981, France) - Hardware (1981, Holland) - Hardware Swiss Pressing (1981, Switzerland)
    KROKUS - Headhunter
    KROKUS - Headhunter album front cover vinyl record

    Headhunter is the seventh album by Krokus and was released in 1983. It achieved Gold status in the United States. The track "Screaming in the Night" was the band's biggest hit to date, and is still played on classic rock radio stations. Headhunter is the only Krokus album to feature "Steve Pace" on drums

    Headhunter 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Heart Attack
    KROKUS - Heart Attack album front cover vinyl record

    By the time "Heart Attack" was released, Krokus had already established themselves as a prominent force in the hard rock and heavy metal scene. However, internal conflicts and commercial challenges had taken a toll on the band, leading them to the brink of dissolution.

    Heart Attack 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Metal Rendez-Vous
    KROKUS - Metal Rendez-Vous album front cover vinyl record

    In the realm of heavy metal, certain albums stand as milestones, shaping the genre's landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of fans. Krokus' "Metal Rendez-Vous" is undeniably one such album. Released as a 12" vinyl LP, this iconic record not only marked the band's ascent in the world of metal

    Metal Rendez-Vous 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - One Vice at a Time (European and Swiss Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - One Vice at a Time (European and Swiss Releases) album front cover vinyl record

    In 1983, the Swiss rock band Krokus unveiled their iconic album "One Vice at a Time" through an original Swiss pressing on a 12" LP vinyl. Distinguished by the +ML+ mark on the record label, this release captures the essence of its time period, encapsulating the fervor of the 1980s rock scene.

    - One Vice at a Time (1982, Europe) - One Vice at a Time (1982, Switzerland)
    KROKUS - Painkiller
    KROKUS - Painkiller album front cover vinyl record

    The emergence of Krokus and their influential hard rock sound during the late 1970s and early 1980s marked a significant chapter in Swiss music history. The Swiss hard rock scene, while not as widely recognized as those of the United States or the United Kingdom, produced notable acts such as Krokus

    Painkiller 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - Pay It In Metal
    KROKUS - Pay It In Metal album front cover vinyl record

    Swiss heavy metal band Krokus made a significant impact on the metal scene with their third full-length album, "Pay It In Metal". Released in 1978, this album showcased the band's raw power and established them as a force to be reckoned with in the world of heavy metal. With its memorable riffs

    Pay It In Metal 12" Vinyl LP
    KROKUS - The Blitz (German and USA Releases)
    KROKUS - The Blitz (German and USA Releases) album front cover vinyl record

    Released in 1984, "The Blitz" is Krokus' seventh studio album and a milestone in Swiss heavy metal. Featuring the hit "Midnite Maniac"—the first Swiss song to enter the Billboard Hot 100—it blends slick, arena-ready sound with driving riffs and catchy hooks. This LP marks Krokus’ peak in U.S. popularity and radio-friendly appeal.

    - The Blitz (1984, Germany) - The Blitz (1984, USA)