The first and only LP by the German band Night Sun, released in 1972, is now regarded as a cult classic among hard rock fans and as one of the lost gems of the 1970s. This makes it all the more mysterious that they never released another album. The quartet was formed in Mannheim in 1970 and consisted of Bruno Schaab (vocals, bass), Walter Kirchgässner (guitar), Knut Rössler (organ, piano, saxophone, bassoon) and Ulrich Staudt (drums), all of whom had emerged from a late 1960s jazz band called Take Five. Riding the wave of the progressive hard rock trend, they decided on a complete change of style. Thanks to their reputation in the Mannheim music scene, they secured a record deal with Zebra, the progressive rock label founded in 1971 by the German branch of Polydor International. In 1972, they recorded their debut album Mournin’ at Windrose Studios in Hamburg under the direction of the renowned producer and sound engineer Conny Plank, it was released in Germany that same year.

It showcases first-class, hard-hitting heavy rock with wild, cutting guitar riffs, fiery and progressive keyboard interludes, passionate, at times hysterical and frenzied vocals, underpinned by driving bass and drums. Technically sophisticated and complex arrangements ensure a rich variety with room even for a bassoon and a saxophone. At a time when the Scorpions – who were to become Germany’s biggest heavy metal band – were still playing psychedelic 1960s rock on their debut album Lonesome Crow (1972), Night Sun’s debut is regarded as one of the hardest-hitting rock albums to emerge during the early days of proto-metal. Despite positive reviews, it was unfortunately completely ignored at the time due to a lack of promotion from the record company, after which the band disbanded in disappointment in 1973. The album, which laid the foundations for later genres such as thrash metal, power metal and progressive metal, has long been out of print and is incredibly sought-after, not only among hard rock collectors.