INNER SIEGE - KINGDOM OF SHADOWS

American Heavy Metal is alive and well and thriving in a five piece outfit from Illinois called Inner Siege. These guys deliver bone crushing heavy metal with slight old school power metal overtones. No overbearing keyboards, just flat out soaring vocals with a powerful twin guitar attack and punishing rhythm section.

Kingdom of Shadows is the title of their debut platter, which is a solid offering of metal prowess. In their bio they list Kamelot, Dream Evil, Firewind, Symphony X and Pagan’s Mind as influences, so that gives a strong indication of where their stylistic heredity comes from. Upon first listen those influences stand out strong, but where a band like Dream Evil and Firewind live on anthemic chorus’s (especially Dream Evil) that isn’t really where Inner Siege is at. Perhaps this is where the Kamelot influence comes in.

This album of guitar driven heavy metal is well crafted and well executed. The performances are world class mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordstrom of Dream Evil. The vocals of Jeremy Ray will remind some of early Queensryche, but Ray is no Tate clone. The guitar work of Kevin Grose and J Prater simply shreds while the bass work of Ravn and drum precision of Wade Helm lock it all down tight. It goes without saying that the sound quality on Kingdom of Shadows is brilliant.

The promotional material provided by Roxx Records indicates that this is a concept album. Unfortunately because there isn’t a lyric sheet I’m somewhat at a loss as to what the concept is, I have my suspicions but without knowing for sure I’ll keep my speculation to myself. I do know this, it appears to be well thought out and developed.

Musically there is a lot of muscle here and it’s not relying on a bunch of blast beats to get the point across.   From album opener Warrior through the powerful closing track Sacrifice, Kingdom of Shadows is the real metal deal. The most easily accessible tracks include the galloping drive of Rider and the slug fest which is Children of Winter.

The leather jacket brigade should be lining up in droves to grab this one. One of the five best albums I’ve heard this year. One can hope that they will somehow tour their way out to the glorious state of euphoria which is California. Inner Siege, Kingdom of Shadows demands that you obtain a copy and enjoy the winter with the cold steel that is the musical precision within. 

9 axes

ULTIMATUM - HEART OF METAL: 20 YEARS OF ULTIMATUM

“Neck Snappin’, Fist Pumpin’, Head Banging Heart of METAL!!” is the chorus to one of the greatest anthems to come out of the Metal underground. That song is the title of their 20th anniversary box set and separate compilation CD. Old school power metal masters Ultimatum have again contributed to the history of heavy metal as an art form and as artists with a distinctly Christian world view.

Ultimatum has reached a plateau that few bands have; they have been around for 20 years and still going strong. They’ve never been trapped in that album a year and tour grind that most bands fall into by default, however I’m sure that the guys themselves would love to have had that opportunity!

No, Ultimatum by and large has been a regional band which occasionally ventured outside the confines of the great state of New Mexico. Having played several larger festival shows over the course of their musical career including the Up From the Ashes festivals in Southern California, Extreme Mardi Gras also in Southern California, Cali-Stone and the big one, Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. I was fortunate enough to see them in 2010 at Up From the Ashes 3.

However, even without the benefit of full fledged touring this group of dedicated and persistent musicians have garnered a fan base that is truly world wide. One of the benefits of the musical underground, from tape traders to file swapping. It’s because of the advent of the internet that has allowed this band to develop such a fanatical fan base.

Roxx Records saw the opportunity to do something special and indeed they have. Heart of Metal: Twenty years of Ultimatum is a fabulous collection of all things Ultimatum. This collector's box set came with three CD’s, one DVD, autographed pictures, stickers, guitar pick and patch, whew! Oh if I forgot, it all came in a very cool embossed box to hold it all!

Starting off with the center piece CD, Heart of Metal 20 Years of Ultimatum, this 18 song compendium of high octane metal madness covers the gamut of Ultimatum’s recording career. For many fans the highlight of this disc is the four new tracks, Blood on a Thousand Hills, Scattered (Body Parts), Hook Line & Sinker and Rip ‘n’ Tear. These four tracks are what Ultimatum is all about in a nutshell, screaming old school thrashy/power metal i.e. Metal Church/Exodus/Meliah Rage. (Not the Euro metal that somehow gets labeled power metal).

Blood on a Thousand Hills opens up with a driving riff that locks in and pulls the rhythm section along.(A live version is included on the DVD) Fast and furious through the verses they put the brakes on during the chorus, a pile driver in overdrive. Scattered (body Parts) is more riffy with a slight groove to it, that is until the chorus kicks in with its pure headbanging joy. Founder and lead guitarist Robert Gutierrez shreds throughout this tune, with some nice tasty lead work. Rip N Tear is another barn burner that just plows along with some very crunchy riff work, that time change before the solo smokes. However my favorite of the new songs is the slowest (?), I know I know…. But Hook Line and Sinker is AWESOME!! Mid tempo at best with a stellar groove, this is the type of song you just imagine rows of headbanger's going nuts, remiscient of Accepts Balls to the Wall video. Strong riffage with a brilliant chorus that Scott Waters just belts out, fabulous stuff. The guitar solo section is very Maidenesqe, lots of melody with a nice tempo change.

The other fourteen tracks are taken from throughout the Ultimatum catalog. Many of those tracks were voted upon by the fans themselves through an online poll. Even then several of the tracks were remixed just for this release i.e. Heart of Metal, One for All (taken from 2007’s Into The Pit). A remixed version of Locked In Chains comes from their 2010 album Lex Metallis. The drums seem to have a fuller and more natural sound this time.

Other featured songs are Crash Course, Temple of the Spirit from 2000’s The Mechanics of Perilous Times. Never, Puppet of Destruction and Gutterbox appear from 1998’s Puppet of Destruction. Darkest Void appears from their debut album Symphonic Extremities along with that albums title track. The 2007 version of Blink appears here also in a remixed form along with the 2008 version of Mortal Stomp.

This album isn’t just a greatest hits type collection as it features those special versions of these classic Ultimatum tracks. This is the only disc to be featured outside this box set, so if you were unable to purchase the entire box set you can still get this 18 song gem.

The second disc is entitled Before the Pit: Demo’s and Alternate Versions. Featuring material from 2007’s Into The Pit, this CD is like watching a painting being constructed or looking at the assemblage of film in the cutting room of some Hollywood studio. There are lots of rough mixes, which for an artist is akin to being able to ‘try before you buy.’ However the original four song demo of Into The Pit is included here; One For All, Heart of Metal, Deathwish and Blind Faith. This was used to secure their record deal with Retroactive. These versions to this ear sound more aggressive and a bit heavier than what eventually appeared on …Pit. Well worth checking out.

Several alternate mixes of songs appear here as well; Blink, Into the Pit and Heart of Metal as well. These versions are different than what appeared on the final album. Several rough mixes, where a song is in the middle of the production process but not quite finished are included, Blood Covenant, Blind Faith, and Into the Pit. These tracks are raw and offer very cool insight into how songs are arranged and brought into focus (could you imagine how many versions of Metallica’s song Master of Puppets there must be!?!?). I’ve always been fascinated by this somewhat tedious process of putting an album together, however there is just a certain energy to the studio process which is very different from a live performance. This is disc is for true Ultimaniacs only. Of special note is the remixed radio version of Heart Of Metal. This is the version which appears on Dale Huffman’s radio show Metal Pulse Radio, a cool intro and more delay and reverb for a rich radio sound.

The third disc to be included is a copy of their remastered 1998 album Puppet of Destruction. A review of this album can be found here on the White Throne web site. Puppet of Destruction review

Of special note to me is that the final disc a DVD which clocks in a nearly four hours of material. Two complete concerts are included their appearance at Extreme Mardi Gras in 2002 and their 2010 triumph at the Up From The Ashes Festival in Temecula, Ca. There is also a plethora of interviews, live show clips, back stage material and their now classic video clip for their anthemic track, Heart of Metal.

As a fan I always dig the behind the scenes type material, it just helps me to feel that much more part of what is going on with my favorite artists. The 2007 interview, which is included, is really a great slice of Ultimatum in 20 minutes.

Ultimatum: Heart of Metal – 20 Years of Ultimatum, is a classic box set. If you were fortunate to snag one you’ll treasure it as a cornerstone of the Christian Metal Movement, however if you weren’t then by all means pick up a copy of the single disc Heart of Metal. This is heavy metal made by metal fans who like it hard, grinding and powerful. Crushing guitars with bombastic bass and thunderous drums topped off by a gravely throated vocalist, what more can a metal fan want???

10 axes….

THE SACRIFICED - III

The latest album by The Sacrificed has arrived in my hot little hands and it delivers the proverbial goods. Entitled III, this is a more developed and mature band, the addition of Mike Phillips on lead guitar has helped take this band of Florida metal maniacs to the next level. Soaring into 2012 like a rocket into orbit.

The songs are heavy and strong with a few left turns along the way. Much has been speculated about the direction this album would take musically after influences such as ‘Progressive Metal’ and the band name ‘Symphony X’ came to light. Can I put some misconceptions to rest as this album by no means strikes me as a prog metal album. Heck only two songs clock in over 5 minutes! The rest are in the 3-4 minute range.

III is definitely a heavier album than the previous two Sacrificed releases. Songs like Ark of the Covenant is a total bone crusher for sure as is Behold the Power of God. This is full on power metal with many prog metal elements. Album opener Falling will get the ole hair swaying, the arranging is stellar with a wide swath of musical elements and time changes. The Nephilim Agenda hits like a Kenworth at 100 mph, crushing. Don't despair as their is still plenty of melody throught out this 11 song release.

A cover of Queensryche’s Before the Storm appears as well. A track that harkens all the way back to their Warning album of 1984. Earlier era Queensryche influences appear in spots. Words on the Gin causes The Sacrifice to power down a little, but the underlying current of power is quite evident. Its acoustic styling brings a sudden change of pace.

You won’t find a lot of simple melodies that immediately hook in, but you will find songs that demand a second and third listen. It’s one of those things; you realize this is top drawer material, but perhaps that first listen is over before you have a chance to digest it all. With that thought in mind prepare to be engaged, and make sure you have a lyric sheet in front of you as the topics are thoughtful and deep.

With production sounds much akin to their previous 2012, the biggest change is the guitar sound and playing that Mike Phillips has brought. Eli’s vocal is tremendous hitting those higher notes with ease, however a little more clarity in the mixing department would be of benefit. The drumming of Jay Williams is vicious and locks in with new comer bass player Daniel Cordova exceptionally well.

III is a full on metal assault that starts of 2012 in fine fashion. Grab a copy and bang your head right into the New Year in fine fashion. T-shirts anyone??????

8 axes.

BRIDE - LIVE TO DIE remastered

Of the first three Bride albums Live to Die was this band at its zenith, hands down. As part of Retroactive’s series of albums entitled The Originals, Live to Die deserves not only to be resurrected this way but also revisited for its impact.

1988 was a year of Christian Metal madness. Debut albums from Sacred Warrior, Vengeance, and Shout along with new releases from Saint, Bloodgood and Barren Cross all peppered the landscape. However, one of those summer albums which just took everyone by storm was the sophomore release from Kentucky’s Bride. Live to Die had a cleaner sound production wise than their debut release, Show No Mercy. Perhaps the most ironic thing was amidst all of the descriptions for Bride musically was perhaps one of their most enduring qualities, they just don’t really sound like anyone else. They definitely were not a ‘hair metal’ outfit at this time, even if some of their stage garb reflected some of that. Bride had more in common with Savatage than Def Leppard; they were a straight up metal act with that already had developed a rabid fan base. This album also featured some of the most intense vocalizations from Dale Thompson ever.

Lyrically they weren’t a ‘Jesus Saves’ band. They were evangelistic, but not in the same way as say a Stryper. Although a Christian worldview was present, each song was not a three evangelistic tract. Personally I believe that is why these albums hold up so well.

This remastered version simply screams, Fire and Brimstone, Whiskey Seed, Live to Die, Heroes and Hell No never sounded this heavy, or this powerful. All the energy that was poured into the original recording is finally given a chance to shine, with all the warmth and strength that a modern mastering job can do.

The increased bass response fills out the overall sound and provides solid bedrock for the rest of the music. The midrange tones that almost sound shrill (hi-hat) are given their due but put in their appropriate place. The guitars receive a great boost which makes the album just sound harder.

Listening to the intro to album closer Heroes is even more eerie. One thing that Bride never can be accused of is failing to create an atmosphere. Subtleties throughout this release are heard with even more precision, they’re not nebulous quiet parts but elements of the album that deserve to be heard.

Live to Die was one of the best albums of 1988, and Bride were one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. I had the privilege of seeing their first West Coast performance, not only did they not disappoint but they tore the roof off the place. It was incredible.

This package is a six panel digi pack; Troy Thompson provides some nice reflections of the period.

If you can’t figure out which of these Bride discs to get first, this one is it. As pivotal as Snakes in the Playground would be in several years, Live to Die is one of the high points for this band metal missionaries. A pure heavy metal classic which should be heard and enjoyed.

10 axes

BLOODGOOD - DETONATION remaster

Bloodgood’s 2nd album entitled Detonation is one of the most important albums in the history of Christian Metal. This disc has stood the test of time and now with a fine remastering job done by J Powell at Steinhaus this album is available in a more ‘refined’ form as it were. A big thank you must go out as well to Intense Millennium for making this reissue a reality.

Some may ask, ‘Remastering? What is that?’ Mastering is the final process before production, where flaws in audio, for example, certain frequencies being too loud (or under as the case may be) can be corrected. Sound volume of the finished product can be enhanced or again diminished. There are other elements as well but it goes without saying that the technology has improved exponentially since this discs release. In the case of Detonation and many other releases on the Intense Millennium roster, a ‘re’mastering is a must.

A lot of time has passed since Detonations first release in 1987, however if you speak with anyone who was around at the time just mention Bloodgood and this release always gathers the most nods up and down. Every artist has their own Vulgar Display of Power, Black Album, Powerslave or Human Clay and for Michael Bloodgood and company this was it. Their definitive moment artistically, that all other works would be judged by, not always fair but the fans know what they like.

Trying to describe the Bloodgood sound has always been a tough question as they hide their influences very well. On this release you’ll find straight out heavy metal with little if any commercial trappings, resting right next to Hammerfall, Saxon, Armored Saint, and Dio on the scale of ‘heaviness’. To make it clear this isn’t a Stryper album with commercial trappings.

Opening with the speedy Battle of the Flesh, David Zaffiro reminds us what a guitar virtuoso he is (the solos for Eat the Flesh deliver as well). The opening trifecta of Battle of the Flesh, Vagrant People and Self Destruction are as superb a trio you’ll find anywhere in metal music. Fast powerful and precise, Les Carlsen belts out words of hope and conviction which is rarely heard these days in Christian Music.

It’s the near ending chapters of this classic work that is heard again and again. The duo of the extremely heavy and driving Crucify that couples with the slow and triumphant Messiah; this is the albums centerpiece. Nearly a movie set to song, the passion and emotion is intense. If you’ve ever seen Bloodgood perform this piece live you’d never forget it.

Lyrically the gospel message is very explicit and yet presented in a way that is very personal. How often do you hear songs about communion? (Eat the Flesh) or temptation (Battle of the Flesh) or even the Holy Spirit (Holy Fire) that makes you just want to move and scream in unison. All the lyrics are presented within the packaging, as well liner notes by Pastor Bob Beeman.

There are also two bonus tracks, a different mix of Awake and an extended version of Black Snake. Awake has several additional atmospheric components while the extended version of Black Snake has a much longer guitar solo. Nice additions to any collectors library.

A solid and extremely metal record with a complete foundation of Biblical principles that you don’t need a cipher to understand, with performances that are legend amongst many in the metal underground. Make no mistake this album is the real deal and so are Bloodgood.

10 axes