Lost Treasure of Tosh: Where Prog Meets Early NWOBHM

After diving into some heavier, more powerful metal bands, today I’m switching gears and going softer. Now, this one might not be for everyone—especially if you’re strictly a heavy metal purist—because this album only touches on proto-NWOBHM elements here and there. Most of it leans more towards rock and even has some country vibes. So, today’s pick is more for the music lovers than just the metalheads. We’re talking about a very different band from the usual—hard rock/prog rock with a sprinkling of NWOBHM influences. I present to you Tosh, a band based in S. Wales/Penarth, who originally started out under the name “Bicycle.”

Tosh—aka Howard Midlane on guitar and vocals and Dave Palmer on drums and vocals—were the main forces behind Bicycle. It’s hard to pin down exactly when Bicycle morphed into Tosh, but their long band history can be found here if you want to dig deeper: Kernowbeat.

After becoming Tosh, they only released one album, One More for the Road, which is this wild mix of the local prog rock scene fused with those sweet, raw NWOBHM vibes. It makes sense when you consider their roots in the late 70s, and it shows in the sound. The album kicks off with a 12-minute prog-rock epic called "Julius"—yeah, a bold choice for an opener, but it works. The track is dynamic, giving everyone in the band room to shine. It’s got a nice ebb and flow, starting slow, speeding up, then easing back when it needs to breathe. And it’s got guitar, keyboard, and sax solos! (I’m a sucker for sax solos, seriously).

But the real gem on this album is "Queen of Tiger Bay," which has become a bit of a local legend, covered by plenty of bands and considered a classic. This proto-NWOBHM anthem kicks in with the most NWOBHM-like riff you could imagine—it’s got that lo-fi charm, and if you’re into Rory Gallagher's "Moonchild," you’re gonna love it. It’s got melody, killer riffing, and a singalong-worthy chorus. It was love at first listen for me. Is it pure NWOBHM? No, but it’s got enough of those vibes for me to count it as proto-NWOBHM. Released in 1982, it’s unclear exactly when the album was written, but it feels timeless.

After "Queen of Tiger Bay," things take a softer turn. The next track, "Millionaire," is more in the country/folk vein—think Simon & Garfunkel territory, likely a nod to their days as Bicycle. "Little Railway Sister" follows, a ballad with some tasteful sax (again with the sax!) and even more of those Simon & Garfunkel vibes. From there, the album leans into well-written rock/folk tracks with great vocals, guitar, and, of course, more sax. Honestly, it feels more like a record from the early 70s than something that dropped in 1982.

One More for the Road is a fascinating album with a unique sound, blending multiple genres while still maintaining a cohesive identity. It’s not a NWOBHM album, but it delivers one of the best proto-NWOBHM songs I’ve ever heard in "Queen of Tiger Bay." Some might disagree with me on this, but I’m sticking to my guns. I’ve been hunting down the vinyl for ages, but it’s incredibly hard to find—no reissues, sold-out everywhere, and when it does pop up on Discogs, it goes for around €200 and sells in minutes.

Sadly, Howard "Tosh" Midlane passed away in 1994 from terminal cancer, so we never got a second album from the band. However, they did organize a charity tour, the One More for the Road tour, and put on some amazing live performances, which you can still find on YouTube. Definitely worth checking out!

Tosh - "Queen of Tiger Bay"