The Blitz (Krokus album)

The Blitz is the eighth studio album by the Swiss hard rock band Krokus, released in August 1984.[3] It became a gold album in the United States.[4] The band hit the Billboard Hot 100 with "Midnite Maniac" from that album and became the first Swiss act to do so. While preparing to record it, the group had tapped Patrick Mahassen to join the band on guitar, with Mark Kohler switching to bass. However, Mahassen would end up leaving the band before recording commenced, and the album was ultimately recorded as a quartet; Andy Tanas played bass on the subsequent tour.[5]

The Blitz
Studio album by Krokus
Released	22 August 1984
Studio	Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genre	Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal
Length	38:34
Label	Arista
Producer	Bruce Fairbairn
Krokus chronology
Headhunter (1983) The Blitz (1984) Change of Address (1986)
Singles from The Blitz
"Midnite Maniac" / "Ready to Rock" Released: 1984 (US) "Ballroom Blitz" Released: 1984 (Europe)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	4/10[2]

UK-based company Rock Candy Records reissued the album on CD in 2014.

In pop culture

A cover of Krokus' version of "Ballroom Blitz", originally performed by UK band Sweet, is featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fernando von Arb and Marc Storace, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Midnite Maniac"		3:59
2.	"Out of Control"		4:15
3.	"Boys Nite Out"	Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, Storace, Von Arb	3:38
4.	"Our Love"		4:35
5.	"Out to Lunch"		4:20

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Ballroom Blitz" (Sweet cover)	Nicky Chinn, Michael Chapman	4:00
7.	"Rock the Nation"		4:41
8.	"Hot Stuff"		4:36
9.	"Ready to Rock"		4:30

Personnel

Krokus

• Marc Storace – vocals
• Fernando von Arb – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
• Mark Kohler – rhythm guitar (credited but not played), bass
• Andy Tanas – bass (credited but not performed)
• Jeff Klaven – drums, percussion
• Doug Johnson - keyboards (also played on the following tour)

Additional musicians

• Jimi Jamison – backing vocals in Our Love

Production

• Bruce Fairbairn – producer
• Bob Rock, Bob Ketchum – engineers
• Mike Fraser – assistant engineer
• Phil Burnett – mixing
• George Marino – mastering

Charts

Album Year Chart Position 1984 Billboard 200 (USA)[6] 36 RPM100 Albums (Canada)[7] 83 German Albums Chart[8] 55 Swiss Albums Top 100[9] 6 Swedish Albums Chart[10] 27

Singles Year Title Chart Position 1984 "Midnite Maniac" Billboard Hot 100[6] 71

Certifications

Country	Organization	Year	Sales
USA	RIAA	1984	Gold (+ 500,000)[4]
Canada	CRIA	1984	Gold (+ 50,000)[11]

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Krokus The Blitz review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
2. Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
3. Strong, Martin C. "The Great Metal Discography." Canongate Books Ltd. Edinburgh, Scotland. 1998. p. 177
4. "American album certifications – Krokus – The Blitz". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
5. Andy Tanas Biography
6. "Krokus Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
7. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 41, No. 8, October 27, 1984". Library and Archives Canada. 27 October 1984. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
8. "Album – Krokus, The Blitz". Charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
9. "Krokus – The Blitz". Hitparade.ch (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
10. "Krokus – The Blitz (Album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
11. "Gold Platinum Database - Artist: Krokus". Music Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-09.