Fort Lauderdale, FL, hard rock combo Bolder Damn are known for their ultra-rare album Mourning, issued in 1971 by the hopefully-titled HIT Records International (HRI 5061) in a vanity pressing of 200 copies—though, rumors of as many as 500 copies have been circulated. The album first came into public awareness via collector Rich Haupt's legendary Rockadelic label in 1990, which reissued the album with a slightly different track order and artwork. Cut in a blitzkrieg four-hour session with little overdubbing or second-takes, they utilized the groove and darkness many late '60s psychedelic-tinged rock bands began sliding into on their second offerings (Grand Funk, James Gang, etc.) when approaching the heavy '70s. Bolder Damn produced a surprisingly assured and accomplished set of fuzz-laden bad trip boogie with a touch of proto-metal, which laid mostly unheard outside local followers of the flame until their latter day discovery. Had external forces not quelled emerging opportunities during their ripest moment, the band could have established themselves as contenders in their own right. (Jeremy Cargill)