ARMAGEDDON armageddon GP-239
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Artist = ARMAGEDDON
Title = armageddon
Label = A&M
Catalog# = GP-239
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 1975
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
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The Yardbirds’ Last Breath: Armageddon’s Self-Titled Masterpiece (GP-239)
Today’s entry highlights a tragic but brilliant “supergroup” release from the mid-70s. We are looking at the 1975 Japanese pressing of the self-titled album Armageddon by Armageddon, released on A&M Records (manufactured by King Record Co. Ltd.) with the catalog number GP-239.
A Heavy Rock Supergroup
Armageddon was a short-lived trans-Atlantic supergroup with an incredible pedigree. It featured vocalist Keith Relf (legendary frontman of The Yardbirds and original founder of Renaissance), guitarist Martin Pugh (Steamhammer), bassist Louis Cennamo (Renaissance, Steamhammer), and drummer Bobby Caldwell (Captain Beyond).
Released in 1975, this was the band’s only album. Tragically, the group dissolved shortly after, following the untimely death of Keith Relf in 1976. The music is a heavy, complex fusion of hard rock and progressive rock, often cited as a “lost classic” for fans of Led Zeppelin or early Rush.
The Music
Side A opens with the crushing riff of “Buzzard,” an 8-minute epic that showcases Pugh’s guitar work and Caldwell’s thunderous drumming. This is followed by the ethereal, melancholic “Silver Tightrope,” which highlights Relf’s more sensitive vocal side.
Side B is dominated by the massive 11-minute suite “Basking In The White Of The Midnight Sun,” a four-part progressive journey that captures the band’s immense technical chemistry.
Collector’s Details
Packaging: As a standard Japanese release from the 70s, complete copies would originally include an Obi strip (likely pink or black/red for A&M releases of this time) and a Japanese insert with lyrics and liner notes. Legacy: GP-239 stands as a pristine document of Keith Relf’s final major work, capturing a band that could have been giants of the 70s rock scene had fate not intervened.This Japanese pressing by King Record Co. Ltd. is highly sought after by audiophiles. King Records is famous for its “Super High Definition Vinyl” during this era, often resulting in pressings that sound superior to their US or UK counterparts with quieter surfaces and better dynamic range.