Gotham City discography

Band: Gotham City
Country: Sweden
Genre: Heavy Metal

[1982] Gotham City - Gotham City (Single)
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[1983] Gotham City - Black Writs (EP)
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[1984] Gotham City - The Unknown
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[1986] Gotham City - '86 Demo
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It is very obvious from the name of this band that they took their name from Marvel Comics. For those who don't know, it is the city where Batman lived. Sometime in 1980, a guitarist by the name of Mårten Edlund, and a drummer, Jonas Östman, would start a band called Gotham City and recruit vocalist Ola Ohlsson, and bassy Björn-Erik Melander.

In 1981 they recorded their first known material, a 9 track demo which included some songs that ended up on their forthcoming studio releases. Songs like Black Writs, 1995, Borderline and Born to Rock Hard was later re-recorded and released on vinyl. They recorded The Green Manalishi Judas Priest-cover for that demo.

A year later Gotham City would get the opportunity to release a 2 track 7" single on Brute Force that would showcase the songs Gotham City and Killer Angels. A single that would sell out very quickly and become an instant hit in the underground. That single has now become a collectors item, and I've seen it fetch a really fair sum on ebay. The distribution company would promise them a tour before going bankrupt, and all plans of a tour being abandoned. Gotham City filled a few small arenas during their time, but never really went far from Umeå, their hometown. 1983 saw the release of the EP Black Writs. The muscianship and the occult-ish cover art now only serve to magnify the cult status of that release. It is said that the vocals threw many people off this, but somehow, for me, the vocals were really good, and went well with the way the band played. Yes, this is another collectors item now.

When things were going good for Gotham City, they would start to want even more, and that eventually leading to the replacement of vocalist Ola Ohlsson. In comes Anders Zackrisson, a vocalist with a much better range and skill, but then, looking back, they might have done better with Ola Ohlsson who gave them their characteristic sound that was so unique that if you ever listen to it with his vocals, you'd just know it was Gotham City. Anyway, let that not undermine how brilliant their only full length release is. Catchy riffs and choruses, well sung songs, the works...The Unknown was to be their first, and final full length release. Again, due to lack of funding, Gotham City stayed as the best kept secret in the underground. Anyway, after a couple of demos in 1985 and 86, there was friction among the band members due to a growing lack of interest. They slowly faded away sometime in 1987. Anders Zackrisson later went on to sing for Nocturnal Rites (first three albums). A Best of/Compilation was released in 2005, but a reunion is far from anything we can expect in the near future. Oh well...still, here's some excellent music for you. Whatever you do, listen to the 7" Single, and I promise you that it will be worth you while. The first song off that single is what you listen to when you play that youtube video on top. Enjoy...