The Phantom's Whisper

In the heat of 1976, deep in a Kingston studio, a legendary session unfolded—one that would become the stuff of myth and mysticism. Inspired after watching the chilling ghost story The Signalman, three electrifying female vocalists—Marcia "Honey" Lewis, Rita "Sun" Bailey, and Angela "Moon" Taylor—joined forces with enigmatic producer Darnell "Dubs" Kingston to conjure something truly otherworldly. Their voices intertwined like the spirits of the past, blending ethereal harmonies with cosmic vibrations that seemed to rise from the Jamaican soil itself. With Billy Noknees, the founding member of OBIISSS, at the helm, the group embarked on a haunting musical journey. Billy, entranced by their sound and enraptured by their energy, married Angela "Moon" Taylor during the week-long session and christened the trio The Brides of OBIISSS, sealing their bond in music and mysticism.

Over the course of seven days, with the eerie ghost stories of M. R. James as their reading material between takes, the group laid down 14 tracks, each one more haunting and mesmerizing than the last. The dark, spectral influence of stories like Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad and A Warning to the Curious seeped into the very fabric of their sound, weaving an atmosphere of dread and beauty into their reggae-dub fusion. Their music became a spectral dance of rhythm, soul, and shadow, with each track carrying the weight of ancient whispers and the chill of unseen presences.

For decades, these tapes were thought lost, swallowed by the sands of time and the mystery that surrounded The Brides of OBIISSS. But following the recent death of Angela Taylor, the last surviving Bride, the session tapes have miraculously resurfaced, sending shockwaves through the music world. The lost recordings, once considered a myth, have been carefully remastered and reissued, capturing the raw magic of that fateful week in Kingston. Now, the 14 tracks, drenched in supernatural energy and storytelling, are ready to be heard again, as powerful and otherworldly as they were in 1976.

This reissue is not just a collection of songs—it’s a resurrection of a forgotten chapter in music history. The ghostly vocals of Marcia, Rita, and Angela rise from the past, wrapped in the eerie echoes of their M. R. James-inspired week, casting a spectral light on the legacy of The Brides of OBIISSS. For those who dare to listen, this is a journey into the heart of mystery, music, and the supernatural.

Spell

The Mezzotint

A Warning To The Curious

Lost Hearts

The Stalls Of Barchester

The Signalman

Guardians of the flame

Storming the Mountain

In 1981, Billy Noknees embarked on his most ambitious project yet: Gauntlets of Steel, an album intended to merge heavy metal imagery with his signature disco beats. Filled with warrior anthems, dark oaths, and sharp-edged themes, the album was a bold attempt to bring swords and spikes to the dancefloor. Unfortunately, it was also a prime example of Billy’s knack for turning even the simplest studio session into chaos.

The producer for the sessions, Rick "Chains" Hardsteel, was known for his love of theatrics and had been brought on to help Billy capture the epic, metallic tone he craved. However, things quickly derailed when the two started arguing—not over music, but over who could wear the most spikes and chains at once. Billy showed up to the studio each day with increasingly elaborate outfits, while Rick countered with his own over-the-top accessories. The competition escalated to absurd levels, culminating in a studio showdown where both men refused to record until one conceded defeat. Neither did.

Despite the drama, Gauntlets of Steel was completed—a surreal mix of disco beats layered with Billy’s fantastical metal-inspired lyrics. The tracklist itself reads like a playlist for a headbanger’s ball, yet each song brims with the unmistakable groove of OBIISSS:

01 Heart Unbroken 
02 Shadow Blade 
03 Legion of Steel Eternal 
04 Bridge of the Damned 
05 Spikes and Chains 
06 Warrior’s Oath
07 Gauntlets of Steel 
08 Warriors 
09 Wrath of the Betrayed 
10 Spikes and Motorbikes
11 Spikes and Chains (Reprise) 

While Billy was proud of his work, Gauntlets of Steel landed with a thud upon release. By 1981, metalheads rejected its disco leanings, and disco fans found the metal imagery bewildering. The producer, Rick Hardsteel, left the project halfway through after Billy accused him of wearing fake rubber spikes, though not before leaving his signature sound on the tracks.

The album was quietly self released in limited numbers, with most copies gathering dust in record store backrooms. It wasn’t until a box of unsold records was rediscovered in a Los Angeles thrift shop in 1999 that the album regained attention, celebrated as a cult curiosity for its audacious blend of genres.

Now, remastered with the magic of AI, Gauntlets of Steel is presented with its original sleeve—featuring Billy standing proud, in massive spikes. A mix of swords, synths, and defiant disco grooves, it’s a testament to Billy’s fearless creativity (and stubbornness).

Prepare to experience Gauntlets of Steel, where metal meets disco in the most gloriously absurd way imaginable!

Spikes And Chains (Reprise)

The Dragon (67)

Spikes And Chains (Reprise)

OBIISSS

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