A Sheffield music fan is releasing a CD version of a rare 1982 cassette compilation to mark the 45th anniversary of his heavy metal fanzine, Skullcrusher, which chronicled the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) scene. Gaz Holmes, who ran the self-published magazine weekly for a year after his own band split up, hopes the reissue will preserve a snapshot of a local scene that helped launch bands such as Def Leppard alongside the wider NWOBHM movement, which also produced acts including Iron Maiden and Saxon.

The original cassette, Steel City Rock, featured 11 tracks from six Sheffield bands active in the NWOBHM era, including Alyx, Fallen Angel and Renegade, and was sold at gigs and record shops such as Virgin Records. Holmes is now reissuing it through his own label, Skullcrusher Records, with proceeds after production costs going towards musical activities supporting people with early onset dementia.