T.T. QUICK - METAL OF Honor - 12" LP Vinyl Album

"Metal of Honor" is the first official full-length album released by the American Heavy Metal band: "TT Quick". It was produced by John Zazula together Rob "Wacko" Hunter and released in 1986.

 

Album cover of TT Quick’s Metal of Honor featuring a silver eagle perched above a metallic banner with the text ‘Metal of Honor,’ a chrome fist emerging from the Roman numeral ‘II’ with lightning bolts, and the band’s name ‘Quick’ in bold metallic font, set against a red satin background with an orange glow. https://vinyl-records.nl

Album Description:

TT Quick's "Metal of Honor" is an iconic 12" LP vinyl album that exemplifies the raw power and energy of American heavy metal in the mid-1980s. Released in 1986, this debut album marked the beginning of a promising career for the New Jersey-based band, led by guitarist David Dipietro and vocalist Mark Tornillo. With its blistering guitar solos, aggressive vocals, and thunderous rhythm section, "Metal of Honor" quickly gained recognition among metalheads and became a classic of the genre.

The album was produced by the legendary Jon Zazula, who had previously worked with Metallica and helped launch the careers of numerous heavy metal bands through his label, Megaforce Records. Zazula's production expertise, combined with the talents of Eddie Kramer and Michael Wagener as co-producers and engineers, resulted in a sonically powerful and dynamic album that captured TT Quick's explosive live sound.

The album opens with the intense track "Child of Sin", setting the tone for what's to come. Dipietro's guitar work is fierce and precise, delivering memorable riffs and scorching solos that showcase his technical prowess. Tornillo's vocals are commanding, conveying a sense of urgency and aggression that perfectly matches the music's intensity.

Songs like "Metal of Honor" and "Front Burner" continue the onslaught, displaying TT Quick's knack for writing catchy, headbanging anthems. The band's rhythm section, consisting of bassist Walt Fortune and drummer Erik Ferro, lays down a solid foundation that drives the songs forward with relentless energy. Together, they create a wall of sound that grabs the listener's attention and refuses to let go.

One standout track on the album is the power ballad "Glad All Over", which showcases TT Quick's ability to balance their heavy metal roots with melodic sensibilities. Tornillo's emotive vocals shine on this track, supported by Dipietro's melodic guitar lines. It's a moment of respite amidst the album's high-octane assault, providing a glimpse of the band's versatility.

The album's artwork, designed by Dan Muro, captures the essence of the band and the music they create. The cover features a striking image of a knight in armor, wielding a sword, symbolizing the band's unwavering commitment to the metal genre. It's a visually captivating representation of the album's title and the music contained within.

Despite receiving critical acclaim and a growing fan base, TT Quick faced various challenges in the years following the release of "Metal of Honor". Lineup changes, label issues, and the changing landscape of the music industry hindered their progress. However, the album remains a testament to the band's talent and the impact they made during their initial run.

"Metal of Honor" serves as a timeless reminder of the vitality and energy of 1980s heavy metal. TT Quick's debut LP solidified their place in the metal scene and established them as a force to be reckoned with. From start to finish, the album is a relentless onslaught of powerful riffs, soaring vocals, and pounding rhythms that resonate with fans of the genre to this day.

Music Genre:

American Heavy Metal 
Album Production information:

The album: "T.T. QUICK - Metal of Honor" was produced by: Jon Zazula.

  • Jon Zazula – Megaforce Records founder & metal scene catalyst

    The “Jonny Z” era starts in the East Brunswick trenches (early ’80s), then detonates with Metallica in 1982–1983 and keeps rolling through Megaforce years with bands like Anthrax (notably 1985–1991), Overkill, Testament, and Manowar.

    Jon Zazula, in my head, is proof that heavy metal didn’t just “happen” in the ’80s—it got built by obsessive weirdos with good ears and zero chill. He ran the Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven record store in East Brunswick, New Jersey, and used that shop as a kind of underground command center, blasting demos through the tape-trading network until the right bands found the right people. The pivotal moment (and yeah, it’s basically metal folklore at this point) lands in the winter of 1982, when he heard Metallica’s “No Life ’Til Leather” demo, pulled them to New York, and helped push them onto their first real East Coast stages—then Megaforce Records followed, and “Kill ’Em All” hit in 1983 like a crowbar to the radio. After that, his “periods” with bands were less about being onstage and more about being the guy who opened doors: the Megaforce run expanded from Metallica and Manowar in the early ’80s to a wider roster that included Anthrax (a key 1985–1991 stretch), plus acts like Overkill and Testament—basically a roll call of bands that helped define what American metal would sound like when it stopped asking permission.

    Jon Zazula Wiki

    • Rob "Wacko" Hunter - Producer

    Alex "The Boy Pharoah" Perialas - Sound Engineer, Producer

  • Alex Perialas – Audio Engineer, Mixer, Record Producer

    In my book, his credit is the “this is gonna hit hard” stamp—Pyramid Sound vibes all day.

    Alex Perialas is an American audio engineer, mixer, and record producer who helped lock in the tight, punchy thrash sound of the mid-1980s through the early 1990s from Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York—working with bands like Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D., and Flotsam & Jetsam. Later on, his work stretches into other lanes (Bad Religion, Pro-Pain), and he’s also been tied to teaching sound recording at Ithaca College—because apparently someone had to explain to the next generation how to make guitars sound like a chainsaw with manners.

    Alex Perialas Wiki

    • Eddie Kramer - Producer, Sound Engineer

  • Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer – Producer, Audio Engineer

    The guy who could take Hendrix saying “make it sound green” and somehow turn that into real audio.

    Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer, in my book, is rock’s ultimate behind-the-glass magician: starting in London studios in the early 1960s, then going full-throttle with Jimi Hendrix from 1967–1970, capturing Woodstock (1969), engineering major Led Zeppelin work from 1969 onward, steering Electric Lady Studios as engineering director in 1970–1974, and later locking in that arena punch with Kiss through the mid/late 1970s (and beyond). When I see his credit, I expect big guitars, bigger atmosphere, and a mix that still feels alive.

    Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer Wiki

    • Michael Wagener - Producer, Mix Engineer

  • Michael Wagener – Producer, Sound Engineer Michael Wagener is a legendary music producer and sound engineer, known for crafting the signature sounds of hard rock and heavy metal. He co-founded Accept before shifting to production, working with top bands like Metallica, Skid Row, and Dokken. His powerful, polished mixes defined an era of rock.
    Read his biography

    • Nelson Ayres - Sound Engineer

    Paul Higgins - Sound Engineer

    Peter Bombar - Sound Engineer

    Peter Bombar a sound engineer who has been working together with Alex Perialas, Norman Dunn, Jon Zazula. During the 1980s he has been responsible for the sound recording for albums of the Heavy Metal bands: Attila, Raven, Thrasher, T.T. Quick and others.

    Album cover design: Dan Muro, NYC

    Album cover photography: Dan Muro

    Daniel Muro worked for the producer Todd Gordon on several Heavy Metal bands. Bands he has photographed include Overkill, Hades and many others.

    Hair design: Linda Marie

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Island Records / Megaforce Worldwide 90521

    Media Format:

    12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

    Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

    Year & Country:

    1986 Made in USA
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: T.T. QUICK - Metal of Honor
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • David Dipietro - Guitar

      David DiPietro is an American guitarist who is best known for his work with the heavy metal band T.T. Quick. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1961, and began playing guitar at the age of 12. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented guitarist, and soon began playing in local bands. In 1983, he formed T.T. Quick with vocalist Mark Tornillo, bassist AJ Pero, and drummer Eric Singer. The band quickly became one of the most popular heavy metal bands in the New York area, and released their debut album, Metal of Honor, in 1985. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish T.T. Quick as a force on the heavy metal scene.

      DiPietro was known for his fast, technical guitar playing, and his influence can be heard on many of the guitarists who came after him, including Zakk Wylde and Dave Sabo. He was also a skilled songwriter, and co-wrote many of T.T. Quick's best songs. The band released three more albums before disbanding in 1990.

      After T.T. Quick broke up, DiPietro continued to play guitar in various bands, including Prophet and Nuclear Assault. He also worked as a guitar instructor, and taught many of the next generation of heavy metal guitarists. In 2000, T.T. Quick reunited and released a new album, Ink. The band has continued to tour and record sporadically in the years since.

      DiPietro is considered one of the most influential guitarists of the heavy metal genre. His fast, technical playing and his songwriting skills have made him a legend in the metal world. He is still active as a guitarist and instructor, and continues to inspire new generations of guitarists.

    • Mark Tornillo - Vocals
    • Walt Fortune - Bass
    • Erik Ferro - Drums
    Complete Track-listing of the album "T.T. QUICK - Metal of Honor"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "T.T. QUICK - Metal of Honor" is:

      Track-listing Side One:
    1. Metal of Honor
    2. Front Burner
    3. Hard as Rock
    4. Child of Sin
    5. Asleep at the Wheel
      Track-listing Side Two:
    1. Come beat the Band
    2. Hell to Pay
    3. Queen of the Scene
    4. Glad all Over
    5. Siren Song