WINTERKAT – Winterkat ’83 [digitally remastered +1 bonus] (2022) EP

San Antonio, Texas WINTERKAT emerged from the Lone Star state with a sublime blend of pomp rock, progressive leanings, AOR sensibilities and hard rock muscle as documented on a pair of independently issued EPs that have since become vinyl collector’s items. Members of the band later formed celebrated AOR act Nightwork .

All future Nightwork members perform here on WINTERKAT’s self-titled debut from 1983, a private LP self-released.
After all these years, finally “Winterkat” is being released for the first time on CD, digitally remastered and including a bonus track.
Limited to 500 copies. (contributors get the album today)

A precocious 16-year old member of rockers Liquid Sky, guitar prodigy Jonathan Grell, jumped ship and along with vocalist Ric Swanson, keyboardist Jamie Vallejo, bassist Chris Watkins and drummer Tim Saunders recorded Winterkat’s debut 5 track EP.
“Some of the members wanted to write more commercial type material so we parted ways and those guys went off and formed Nightwork,” recalled Grell. “I have remained friends with all of them though, Ric in particular. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago.”

A musical anomaly amidst a sea of leather and spikes metal warriors, Winterkat would tour locally, recruiting three former members of local progsters Heyoka in vocalist Michael Steele Grothues, bassist Dean Vallecillo, and keyboardist/drummer Gerardo Ramirez, who had supported the likes of Rush, Van Halen, Budgie and Trapeze. They plus drummer Steven Marcus went onto record second album ”The Struggle” in 1985.

It’s really nice to see this good band / album reissued as this is very good early ’80s American pomp melodic rock with some Angel / Giuffria, Roadmaster on it.
Highly Recommended

Only at plotn08

01 – The Dreamer
02 – Winterkat
03 – What Do You Want (Out Of Your Life)
04 – Let The Music Take You
05 – Drifting
06 – Cry For The King (Bonus Track)

Ric Swanson (Nightwork) – vocals
Jonathan Grell (Liquid Sky, Mudpie, Suite 16) – guitar
Jamie Vallejo (Nightwork) – keyboards
Chris Watkins (Nightwork) – bass
Tim Saunders (Nightwork) – drums