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!

ShadowBlade

Legion of Steel Eternal

Bridge of the Damned

Spikes And Chains

Warrior's Oath

Gauntlets of steel,

Warriors

Wrath of the Betrayed

Spikes And Motorbikes

Spikes And Chains (Reprise)

New tracks tagged #gloves of metal