Stand Tall was the breakout album for the Killer Dwarfs, and if you kept abreast of music videos in the winter of 1986-87, chances are you saw all or part of “Keep the Spirit Alive.”
(Not that even such a successful video, played in heavy rotation on MuchMusic, MTV and network music video shows translated into much mainstream radio airplay. At least, not on the rock stations I was listening to.)
For many Canadians in their teens at the time, the image of Russ “Dwarf” Graham singing while trapped in a crate being catapulted through various misadventures before making it to his band’s concert is what springs to mind when thinking of the Killer Dwarfs.
This album marked a departure in style for the band. Original guitarist Bryce Trewin had left and Mike Hall took his place. Bassist Ron Mayer replaced Ange Fodero. The change is dramatic, with the all of the songs on Stand Tall co-written by Graham and Hall. Many incorporated backing vocals, giving Stand Tall a much more commercial, pop-metal sheen.
Which is no mark against the album. “Stand Tall,” another single that garnered a goofy, self-mocking video, is built on soaring guitar riffs, pounding drums, and a shouted chorus that still gets audiences singing along in live performances.
Other standout tracks are “Human Survival” and “Bite the Hand That Feeds,” as well as the era-appropriate “Up to You and Me,” a sombre meditation on responsibility in an age of nuclear-weapons brinksmanship.
Aside from the generally more melodic metal sound, the outstanding guitar work of Hall on the solos in the title track and “Keep the Spirit Alive” really fill out the Dwarfs’ sound. And Mayer’s ominous basswork is the heartbeat powering songs like “Up To You and Me.”
For those looking to actually listen to this album, its success means you’re in luck — but only if you have a turntable. It sold well on vinyl in the U.S. and Canada. You can find used copies for reasonable prices online, but finding it on CD is much, much harder, even considering the album had a 2003 re-issue. (You could, as the Dwarfs showed in the video for “Stand Tall,” just go ahead and make your own copy, but your results may vary.)
The sense of humour in the videos that put the Killer Dwarfs on the map, as well as the thoughtfulness behind many of the lyrics, display a band hitting its stride. In a sense, Stand Tall was their “debut” album, showing signs of things to come.
Stand Tall
- Killer Dwarfs
- 1986
- Four stars out of five
