First Battle is the first and only album by the Belgian rock band Waterloo. The album was released in 1970 on the French label Disques Vogue. The band ‘Waterloo’, comprising Dirk Bogaert (lead vocals, flute), Gus Roan (guitar), Marc Malyster (organ), Jacky Mauer (drums) and Jean-Paul Janssens (bass) were formed in the autumn of 1969, out of the ashes of Brussels-based blues-rock power trio ‘Adam’s Recital’ and Ghent’s ‘Today’s Version’.
Prog Archives Review: “Sonically Waterloo is a mix of short (under 4-mins) psych rock and jazzy proto-prog tracks (except for the 11-mins finale), often reminiscent of jazzier early Tull albums (especially This Was). Opening on the single Meet Again (which through an amazing succession of feats got some major French airplay under the Waterloo moniker from an unknown group), but it is hardly the album’s best piece with its 60’s aura, even if you can hear Malyster’s Emerson influence on organ.”
