Auroch (Fra) - Auroch (1985) [Full EP]

Auroch was formed by Robert Defer in 1983 after he left the cult french progressive rock band Ange, he wanted to do something heavier.
He was quicly joined by Regis Brival and Jacky Quevy, two ex-Préface (one of Robby's previous bands before Hybride in the 70s) and asked one of his guitar students to join, Michel Chrestien who immediately accepted.
Jean-Pierre Guichard (ex-Ange, ex-Ocean) arrived followed by Philippe Befort on keyboards but he will stay onlt a couple months.
The band is complete and ready to lay gigs, they will open for (now) cult french acts as Vulcain.
Auroch works on it's first release and enter the V.F. studio to record 4 tracks to be released on Auroch's first but unfortunately only EP on Vinyle, limited to 300 copies.
A very great EP but which is to short in my opinion, the band at the time couldn't pay more for an album unfortunately.
The production is pure and classic 80s heavy metal, with a basic drumming, groovy bass lines, heavy guitar riffs, beautiful leads & solos and awesome vocals, a pure early french heavy metal gem and the very first heavy metal band from Belfort !
Unfortunately, this EP won't be a success, due to a bad promotion which is really unfair considering the potential the band had.
Today, it's a rare piece of collection, it has been re-released on vinyle in 2014 by Caméléon Records, still limite to 300 copies.
that same year, Auroch will appear on french TV and will open for Mama's Boys for a gig in Belfort but will also fired its vocalist Regis who will be replaced by Philippe Yborra (then ex-Silvertrain), Jacky Quevy willl also be replaced by Alain Bernardi on bass.
This lineup will record a 4-track demo which is even more collector than the 12" vinyle, there is no informations about it on the internet, we only know that it was released in 1986 and that Auroch split up later that same year.
Robert Defer rejoigned Ange years after Auroch's split and also helped a lot of young local bands such as Oil-Len, Mista Pawa and many more. He will be part of a pop rock band called Boniface in the 2000s and will later be proposed to join Silvertrain by Phil Yborra when he will reform Silvertrain in 2013 but declined due to lack of time.
Finally, Roby's last band was his solo band with which he recorded is only (and excellent) solo album "Sixty" in 2015.
I had the opportunity to see him live wuth his band many times in 2 years, this was still a nice time to have.
He passed away on 7 April 2019, unfortunately I couldn't asked him about his experience in music because I started my researches some weeks after his death...
Regis Brival died of a heart attack in 1991, R.I.P to him, he was a very great and underrated singer.
This upload is part of my tribute to Robert "Roby" Defer who I had the chance to met before is death, he dated my mother in the 80s and one of my brothers is his son.
My mother had the vinyl, I had the possibilty to do this video with it.
I wish auroch could have continued, this EP is really awesome.
Rest in Peace Roby, you left very great music and great memories behind you to a lot of people in the local scene and far away.
Track Listing:
1) - Marginal
2) - Les Hordes Sauvages
3) - Songe
4) - Solitude
Lineup:
Regis Brival: Vocals
Robert Defer: Guitars
Michel Chrestien: Guitars
Jacky Quevy: Bass
Jean-Pierre Guichard: Drums
/ flometalheadsrarities

[@hellcocktimes154]

tres bien

[@wfachannel7389]

Questo è senza dubbio uno dei migliori gruppi Metal francese... senza dubbio!!!!!!

[@martialfornasier58]

rip a robert defer c étais un super guitariste

[@josephdato2606]

good sound and very special and great singer;; met these guys and playde bass with roby and the band Hybride

[@lienardable]

Great EP of the French Heavy Metal Wave. Reissued in 2014 by Cameleon Records.

[@gersonbsjr]

Thanks for posting 🤘