Soul Vigilant Tribute : United States Power Metal (Part 1)

                                       Prologue

 Despite of its unfortunate decline in the early 80's the New Wave of British Heavy Metal had a very large influence on the American metal scene.Bands in US started to blend certain aspects of the NWOBHM with elements of hard rock and power pop adding catchy riffs and guitar hooks,creating glam metal while others combined the sound of the movement with hardcore punk giving it much more speed and aggression and thus thrash metal was born.But there were some bands that stayed true to the original heavy metal sound pioneered by all the bands in the UK.The uplifting sound, melodic solos, strong choruses and the prominent use of fantasy in the NWOBHM gave birth to the genre, or rather scene that we're going to examine.The United States Power Metal.This is the first part of the 3 part tribute that I'm going to make about the USPM.Each part will contain 5 bands that are fine examples of what the USPM sounds like.Feel free to suggest any bands for future parts, or even ideas for future tributes!

•  Cirith Ungol

 Well, the blog has reviewed 2 records of the band so far, so I deem it right to begin with them.These guys predate even the New Wave of British Heavy Metal being formed in 1972 in Ventura, California. They weren't so lucky though, as they had to wait 8 years to release their first record, the magnificent album called Frost and Fire.Even though it was a great album their style was defined in the one that followed (King of the Dead).Despite following the archetype of the NWOBHM with thick riffs and melodic solos (and a great bass of course) their music and lyrics are darker than the other bands of the movement, making them one of the pioneers of doom metal as well.Another unique characteristic of the band is Tim Baker's vocal performance.That guy's shouts still send chills down my spine!Unfortunately the band was disbanded in 1992.They were a great piece of heavy metal history and one of my favorite bands of all time.

 

Standout Records : Frost and Fire, King of the Dead

•  Omen

 Omen...a legendary band revered by any metalhead who respects the traditional sound.They were formed by guitarist Kenny Powell after he left Savage Grace in 1983 in L.A California.After a year they released the heavy metal landmark Battle Cry (Best debut album ever IMO) and after that, they proceeded releasing other classics like Warning of Danger and the Curse.Anything that they released after those just didn't feel the same.None of the later albums could capture the epic feeling, the savage riffs and intensity of the first holy trinity.Vocalist J.D Kimball's (R.I.P 2003) departure from the band is something that clearly affected them negatively as none of the other vocalists could even come close to J.D's savage, yet magnificent performance.The band is still active but with most of the original lineup gone, it's hardly the same band at all.

             Standout Records : Battle Cry, Warning of Danger, The Curse, Nightmares EP

• Warlord

Another greatly respected band of the movement especially here in Greece as the group's guitarist and mastermind, William J. ''Bill'' Tsamis has Greek roots.They were formed by Tsamis and Mark Zonder (both of who have stayed in the band from its beginning until even today) in 1980 in L.A, California.They released their first EP titled Deliver Us in 1983 and later re-recorded most of the EP's material with a different singer, releasing their phenomenal debut LP ...And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun in 1984.They disbanded in 1986 and they were brought back together with Hammerfall's Joacim Cans on the mic in 2001 before disbanding again one year later, having delivered us a most satisfying album called Rising out of the Ashes.They reunited again 2 years ago and are still active.A month ago, they released their latest album, The Holy Empire, and I have to say that it is really well done.Tsamis' mindblowing guitar solos and Zonder's drumming which sounds like a tank battalion firing up all its payload never seem to get old.

Standout Records : Deliver us EP, ..And the Cannons of Destruction have begun, the Holy Empire

• Jag Panzer

This band was formed under the name Tyrant (which was adopted again later by vocalist Harry Conklin as his pseudonym) in 1981 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.They changed their name to Jag Panzer soon afterwards and released their first EP called Tyrants in 1983 which was followed by their chaotic and intense debut album, Ample Destruction.They disbanded in 1988 and reformed in 1994 with vocalist Daniel Conca (R.I.P 2004) and delivered us their weakest album Dissident Alliance, a record which did not sound like Jag Panzer at all.Fortunately Harry Conklin came back to the band that same year and they only delivered us great albums until their permanent disbandment in 2011.Guitarist Mark Briody's fast and melodic playing which has influenced the European Power Metal scene and Harry Conklin's Immortal voice, which hasn't changed a bit since 1983 will be missed.

 Standout Records : Ample Destruction, Thane to the Throne, A Scourge of the Light

• Fates Warning

Fates Warning started as Misfit in 1982 and changed their name to the one we all know two years later.Their first official release named Night on Brocken (1984) was entertaining, but showed a band that did not have its own unique style and were trying to be a carbon copy of Iron Maiden, but by the time their next record, The Spectre Within was released, the band had developed its own original style with complex guitar riffing and soloing intertwined between mastermind and main songwriter Jim Matheos and Victor Aldruini (and the magnificent Frank Aresti who joined the band after the latter's departure), intense drumming, John Arch's signature vocal performance and frequent changes in the tempo. Fates Warning was surely one of the pioneering bands of the progressive metal genre.Ray Adler joined the band after former vocalist's John Arch's departure and although the albums aren't as good with him as they were with Arch on the mic, it still seems that the band hasn't lost its form.They are still active and are delivering us really satisfying albums.Jim Matheos' side project with John Arch on vocals (Arch/Matheos) is definitely worth checking out too.

Standout Records : The Spectre Within, Awaken the Guardian

That's all for now folks! Keep checking the Vigilant for part 2!

Ivory Tiger - Metal Mountain EP (1986)

 As the USPM tribute time draws near, I decided to prepare the grounds with another golden EP from one more obscure and underrated band, Ivory Tiger.
 Ivory Tiger was another band who came in the later years of the newer waves of heavy metal and NWOBHM and all that they gave us, was a demo and a great EP, Metal Mountain, consisting of 4 songs. Believe me, only 4 songs are truly enough to give us an idea of the potential of the band. Great compositions with traditional old school 'eavy riffs and, of course, a powerful voice, as needed for a band like this!
 What we can possibly say, is that their style used to be similar to the glam metal bands that followed later, judging by the vocals and maybe the lyrics (I have not found the lyrics yet, so I'm just guessing from those I have made out). But do not get disappointed, their music is still heavy, their riffs are still what you want to hear and that EP surely belongs to the diamonds of that era.
 Give it a go, so as to form your impressions and if you like it, go find it on vinyl, even though that's something difficult, as it is a rarity.
Band info: Metallum Page

Cirith Ungol - Frost and Fire (1980)

 The first album of the legendary band Cirith Ungol, Frost and Fire, an album that could possibly be one of the starters of the new wave of heavy metal back in the 80's, together with Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Demon and many more other unique bands with great history.
 Even though it is a heavy metal album, with lyrics flooding with epicness, talking about adventures and life, it spreads its roots back to the rock n roll days, something that can be pretty easy to understand by only noticing the structure of some songs of the album like "Edge of a Knife".
 Like most of the bands back to those days, Cirith Ungol have great solos and pretty well-structured compositions, all connected perfectly with the lyrics, which make most - if not all - of the songs beautiful and interesting. The most remarkable, of course, is Tim Baker's vocals, or better shouts, which express the deepness and the strength of the lyrics!
 Another remarkable thing, is the artwork of the album. Lord Elric standing upon a broken statue or an altar, with his Stormbringer in his hand and behind him that great green background. All these together match up to make a great and epic atmosphere, something that gives the listener a first impression of what they are going to hear in this hell of an album!
 Frost and Fire is a classic that everyone who loves Old Heavy Metal should hear...better in vinyl, keeping the good old ways alive!
"I feel it burning and I feel the freeze! The frost, the fire, it burns inside of me!"
Album info: Metallum Page

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Church of Misery - The Second Coming (2004)

 No offense, but it is commonly known that the Japanese tend to be perverted or insane or twisted personalities, just have a look at their porn, especially the animated one. Anyways, I respect their culture and of course their metal scene. There's a bunch of great bands hailing from the country of the rising sun, as Japan is called. The first one I ever found and listened to is Church of Misery. Along with Boris they are the most known bands from Japan and possibly in the Asian continent in general. As I foretold about Jap's mental condition, it is a bit disordered - in a good way though - and this band is no exception. They are trully SICK.
 Stoner / Doom in a Sabbath-worshipping style - of course - drowned in odious filth, loathsome riffage and gruesome vocals. The groove added by the bass is absolutely deadly. In general, this band uses a serious amount of GROOVE in their music, no the typical stoner, happy one, but  a mean, malevolent and harmful one. The drums follow pretty well the rythm set by the bass and complete the overall musical massacre. The music is HEAVY, doom influenced with rock 'n' roll traces in a '70s style. Lots of guitar solos are present, adding a very old-school feeling, compelling you to bang your head til it bleeds. Samples are also used, setting the appropriate mood for this type of lyrics.
 Now, the lyrics! Church of Misery's lyrical themes are solely about murderers, serial killers, criminals and every possible or unpossible perversion existed in the human race, which by the way they seem to despise. For instance,  "I, Motherfucker" , which is by the way my favorite track of this record, deals with a sex murder, probably the "greatest of all times" as it said in the sample at the beginning of the track.
 Give those insane Japanese a try and listen to this album ( here ) at least once, and I guarantee that you won't regret for the time you spent. Suggested for fans of Black Sabbath, Iron Monkey, Acrimony, Boris, Bongzilla and everything that is heavy, loud and ugly.

Standout Tracks: " I, Motherfucker ", " Red Ripping Blues ", " One Way or Another ", " Candy Man "

Download link

DOOM ON.

Iron Monkey - Iron Monkey (1997)

 Iron Monkey is considered a trademark for the Doom / Stoner / Sludge hybrid. Their self-titled debut is a "must-have" or at least "must-hear" for every fan of this genre who respects himself. So, what this album is all about? Black Sabbath worship, hatred and whatever kind of drug they used to be during that period. And what makes this album (and band in general) really special and precious? The stunning mix of Acrimony's weedy grooves and EYEHATEGOD's full of hate and misery vocal approach. Yeah, that guy, John Morrow (who died in 2002 by the way), screams his ass off in a way similar to Mike IX Williams'  without copying him or anything.
 Only six tracks, a total duration of less than 40 minutes, but believe me they are capable enough of turning you into an addict. The grooves are heavier than the ones of their aforementioned influences, they're slower and doomier at times and in some cases the band chooses to accelerate and blow of your mind. Pure drugged sludge. There are some solos, in the typical way for bands of the hybrid mentioned above. The drumwork is excellent as it is carried out by a guy that I, myself, respect a lot because of the collaborations he would later make (after Iron Monkey's demise) with Electric Wizard, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, Crippled Black Phoenix (his main project nowadays) and more. Pretty solid execution of every instrument.
 But of course, mr. Morrow is the one that really separates himself from the rest of not only the band, but the majority of vocalists in that genre back in the mid 90's. I don't know why, and actually it doesn't really matter, he's so pissed but it turns out for his own and his bands good. His screams fit perfectly with the lurking slowed down riffs.
 I'd suggest it to anyone who digs bands like Church of Misery. Weedeater, Bongzilla, Grief, Electric Wizard and Acid Bath.
R.I.P. John Morrow

Blood Ceremony - Living with the Ancients (2011)

 A coven of witches or druids marching on gently deep in the black woods under the pale moonlight of winter. That's the scenery I imagine of when I'm listening to Blood Ceremony's second full-length release, "Living with the Ancients". Traditional heavy/doom in the vein of Black Sabbath and Pagan Altar with the addition of female vocals, flute and organ! A perfect match that might remind you of Jex Thoth or Witchcraft. Almost an hour of pure and unspoiled psychedelic doom plus some folkish elements ( e.g. the flute ) enhanced with the heavenly vocal perfomance of Alia O'Brien, that fits perfectly with the overall atmosphere.
 An interesting aspect of this album are the lyrical themes. Alia sings entirely about witchcraft, augury, covens, demons, pagan gods and everything concerning the Occult. More specifically, in the opening track the great goatlike ancient Greek god  of the wilderness,nature, hunting and music, Pan is praised. That's not a big surprise, given that they made a referrence to Pan in their first album as well.
 Supplied by mighty Pan's blessing they composed a great doom metal album with an old-school vibe throughout every track mainly because of the flute and the ogran. Occult atmosphere, darkness and light, paganism and witchcraft, all sung from a female vocalist that really stands out from the rest of the band and shines on.
 Suggested Tracks: "The Great God Pan" , "My Demon Brother" , "Night of Augury" , "Daughter of the Sun"

Evergreen Refuge - Weminuchia (2013)

 From the first time I heard the first song of this album until the last minute of the last song, I passed into another world, or better into a walk through the mountains, the forests, the trees and the flowers - the nature. This one-man band called Evergreen Refuge is surely what we can call creativity in our days. Weminuchia consists of melodies of a post rock band, with some influences of black metal, which add some deepness to the compositions. Even without lyrics, you can hear these songs talking to you in a way like the voice of nature. The songs are long, unfolding a story through these compositions, depicting an endless journey into an unknown world made of green. This is Evergreen Refuge, a man that I really admire for his creativity and his perspective about life, which you can understand really well through listening to this album.
Thank you for your music.
I won't share a download link for this album, as you can find it really cheap at Bandcamp.
Bandcamp Page