IT'S FAIR TO say that the Swiss music scene hadn't exactly set the world on fire but with Krokus that situation was rapidly reversed. The band's fourth album `Metal Rendez-vous' became a surprise success, not only in their home country (sales rocketing to three times Platinum) but also globally where they secured a strong foothold in the charts and on the live front. The band's no-nonsense brand of tough-guy hard rock found favour in a market that was wide open for that revolution.`Hardware', therefore, was released into the arms of an eager fan base feeding off the energy of their previous album and it didn't disappoint them. Issued in 1981, the record picks up where the band left off, laying down some serious riffage on songs that display a cheeky lyrical charm; an unexpected side-effect of their Swiss/Maltese heritage. Engineered by British studio master Mark Dearnley (AC/DC, Def Leppard) and recorded in London, the album makes full use of their powerful armoury, led by the ripping two guitar attack of Fernando von Arb and Tommy Keefer. Heavy but memorable, the album contains a superb selection of tracks, including the in-concert favourites `Easy Rocker', `Mr 69', `Smelly Nelly' and `Mad Racket', songs blessed with a swish and swagger that made it clear the Scorpions weren't the only band in Europe with big potential