METAL HISTORY: Logos (Argentina heavy-metal / Christian-metal), by Ezequiel Garces (#3 of 7)

LOGOS:
Los tres ex-miembros cristianos de V8 (Zamarbide,Cenci,Roldan) decidieron formar lo que seria la primer banda cristiana de heavy metal argentino en 1991,Logos.Con un estilo de heavy metal clásico,Logos transmite el mensaje del evangelio,tambien hablan sobre problemas sociales,conspiraciones y apocalipsis.Lamentablemente, la banda se separó en 2013.

LOGOS: The three Christian EX-V8 (Zamarbide, Cenci, Roldan) decided to form what would be the first Christian band of heavy metal Argentina in 1991, Logos.Con a style of heavy metal classic, Logos transmits the message of the Gospel, also talk about social problems, conspiracies and revelation.Unfortunately, the band separated in 2013.

Band page at Metal-archives.com:

http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Logos/6551

Easter Special: My All-Time Top 10 Christian Metal albums, by Jack Frost.

Mortification at the time of the Scrolls of the Megilloth album (1992). Left to right: Jayson Sherlock (Drums); Michael Carlisle (Guitar); Steve Rowe (Bass / vocals).

(not in order)

1 Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth (1992), superb old-school Australian death-metal with brutal drumming by the energetic Jayson Sherlock and strong philosophical and poetic lyrics by Michael Carlisle and Jayson Sherlock. This is one of the greatest death-metal albums in the Christian scene and should be listened to by all death-metal fans. Unlike the band's first two albums which were death / thrash with death vocals, like Kreator or Sodom, this was the band's first and only pure death-metal album. It starts with the night forest sound-effects of "Nocturnal", goes on to two fast exciting tracks "Terminate Damnation" and "Eternal Lamentation" and then later we get classics such as "Death Requiem" (with the wonderful pompous graveside vicar's speech) and the demonic sounds in the brutal "Necromanicide". We get the slow pounding "Lymphosarcoma" (about a form of cancer), then the speedy "Inflamed" and the extended epic "Ancient Prophecy". Although the lyrics are much better than on later albums, they still have that "run to the light" warning as found in the doom band Trouble. Best lyric: "The ostentatiousness of Satan has been cast into the burial ground". Everybody should head to their dictionaries now to find out what that word means!

2 Sacred Warrior - Rebellion (1988), the debut album of American power-metal band Sacred Warrior and the first of four excellent studio albums issued over the period 1988-92. The band was based around the powerful operatic vocals of Rey Parra and the guitar genius of Bruce Swift. The band recently reformed without Rey Parra (unfortunately) and released the comeback album Waiting in Darkness. Rebellion includes the classic fast opener "Black Metal", which was almost prophetic for a song written that early in time. "Mad Mad World" is a mid-paced philosophical statement condemning the state of the modern world and can be compared musically to songs like "Two Minutes to Midnight" (Iron Maiden), "Children of the Sea" (Black Sabbath); and "Sacred Heart" (Dio). "He Died" is an excellent ballad about the crucifixion of Jesus but its placing as the fourth song is somewhat strange. The highlight of the album is the fifth track which is the speed-metal classic "Children of the Light".  All the other Sacred Warrior albums are of a high standard but the first one wins for me due to its innocence and charm (like Kill Em All or Killing is my Business). This band is similar in style to Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and early Fates Warning (with John Arch). I often say to people Sacred Warrior is "the best metal band most people have never heard" as the early Christian scene was plagued by poor marketing and poor distribution. This was long before bands like POD and Norm Jean sold millions of records. Yes there was Stryper but they were always an exception being on a major label.

Extol (Norway)

3 Extol - Burial (1998), this was the debut album for Norwegian band Extol and it was released in the late-1990s. It was in the style of sophisticated progressive Scandinavian metal such as Opeth with amazing technical skills, great atmosphere, and honest uplifting spiritual lyrics about the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ. One song begins by quoting Psalm 32 word-for-word: "Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered..." However, the band does not across as being arrogant. This album is a mix of black/death/thrash and I did not keep up to date with later albums by the band but general reports are that the band always releases works of a very high standard. Extol remains active. Not to be confused with the band Extol from South Wales.

4 Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice (1988), the legendary debut album of melodic thrash band Vengeance Rising from the USA. This was the heaviest Christian album ever at the time of its release in the late-1980s. It featured direct Bible quotes as lyrics and the Max Cavalera-type rough death vocals of Roger Martinez who famously later became an atheist. After the first two albums Human Sacrifice and Once Dead Roger continued the band with new musicians while the rest of the original band formed Die Happy which released two further albums and then split up. The cover art of the Human Sacrifice album featured the provocative image of a nail-pierced hand which belonged to Pastor Bob Beeman, an early and influential supporter of the Christian metal scene. All tracks are great but highlights are openers "Human Sacrifice" and "Burn" with the chorus of "Burn Satan Burn". This song was later covered by American thrash-metal band Ultimatum. The original members of VR, without Roger, reformed in the 2000s as Once Dead, with Scott Waters of Ultimatum and the nolifetilmetal.com website being the first replacement for Roger Martinez. The Once Dead DVD featuring Scott Waters on vocals is highly recommended as it features all the original VR classic tracks. 

5 Living Sacrifice - Living Sacrifice (1991), From Little Rock, Arkansas, Living Sacrifice was an interesting band as they tended to change style with nearly every album. The debut album Living Sacrifice was Slayer-stye thrash-metal and this is my favourite. The next two, Nonexistent and Inhabit, were brutal death-metal, and then from Reborn (1997) onwards a more modern style of thrash-metal / metalcore was adopted featuring harsh screamo vocals. The band could be accused of just following trends. They will be remembered for very direct and challenging Christian lyrics and for being an incredibly brutal band no matter which style they adopted. I wish they had continued on in the thrash-metal style of the debut album but by the early-1990s this style was becoming very unfashionable and most bands were shifting over to death-metal or to black-metal or to industrial metal. This debut album was out-of-print for a long time but now available again. I think it is a very strong album which stands up well against any other thrash-metal album Christian or secular (except perhaps early Metallica who were just a class above everyone else at the time). The best comparison is Slayer for the debut album - the band is very fast and aggressive but very self-controlled and measured (compared to say Exodus' Bonded by Blood or Overkill's Feel the Fire). The band split up for a time and then reformed but may split up again for the last time soon.

Living Sacrifice (USA)

6 Living Sacrifice - Reborn (1997), a lot of mainstream metal fans were surprised when the guitarist Marcos left POD to be replaced by Jason Truby. Marcos was well known for his Spanish-funk style of guitar playing and it really worked in POD. By contrast, Truby was an extreme-metal guitarist and wile technically very strong you can argue his style did not fit POD as well as Marcos' style. Many mainstream fans did not know about Truby's other band Living Sacrifice, one of the heaviest and most brutal bands in all of metal. With the Reborn album the band really returned, after a two-year absence, with an album that is crushing in its brutality. The thrash-metal is mixed with metalcore and the vocals are screamo. It is hard for me to like the screamo vocals but you have to take the album as a complete package. The black and grey album cover, the nails pictured on the back cover with the blurry band picture, and the harsh music represented some sort of inner rebirth for the band with renewed determination and energy and focus. The album is trail-blazing in heaviness with just a few short acoustic sections to calm things down. Lyrics are boldly Christian once again although mostly you can't work out what is being shouted. The opening two songs "Reborn Empowered" and "Truth Solution" are two of the most brutal left-right punches to the head you will ever experience with each being aggressive but very different from each other. This album did divide the scene with the death-metal people being disappointed that the band did not continue in the style of the strong Inhabit album but the new style won a lot of younger fans for the band. Then there was a third group of fans, the old-school thrashers, who were happy to see death-metal gone but would have preferred a return to the Slayer-style of the debut album. This album had a new vocalist with Bruce Fitzhugh taking over from  DJ.

7 Holy Soldier - Last Train

8 Whiteheart - Powerhouse

9 Guardian - Fire and Love

10 Ordained Fate - Ordained Fate 

Best wishes to all Christian readers over Easter, "we live by faith not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

Yahnes of Tenggorokan in Kediri, East Java. Not many people know this but Yahnes was part of a Christian metal band once called Pentecost (now inactive).

Yudi (Sereignos); Yahnes (Tenggorokan); Dimas (Valerian); and Jack Frost of Busuk Webzine in Kediri, 26/1/2014.

METAL HISTORY: Rare live picture of Vengeance Rising, during Released Upon the Earth tour 1992

Vengeance Rising 1992: Daniel Cordova (guitar), Mike Wagel (bass), George Ochoa (guitar), and Roger Martinez (vocals). Drummer Johnny Vasquez is hidden behind George Ochoa and Martinez.

Vengeance Rising is one of the legendary bands of Christian thrash-metal. At the time of the release of their debut album Human Sacrifice in 1988 they were the most aggressive Christian band ever up to that date. The band released four albums: Human Sacrifice (1988), Once Dead (1990), Destruction Comes (1991), and Released Upon The Earth (1992).

Vengeance Rising on Wikipedia:

Vengeance Rising was an American Christian thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Fronted by vocalist Roger Martinez, they originally formed as Vengeance in 1987, but changed their name in 1989 to avoid conflict with another band from the Netherlands. Band members Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso left following Once Dead and formed the band Die Happy. Roger Martinez stayed on to record two more studio albums, but aside from him, Vengeance Rising's lineup changed for each subsequent album. While the group was a ground breaking Christian metal band, today Vengeance Rising is known for vocalist Martinez's turning from Christianity to Satanism to atheism, since he has continuously done interviews about it. AllMusic describes Vengeance Rising's history as "one of the most entertaining and bizarre stories in the realm of heavy metal.

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vengeance_Rising

See: Live footage, Guatemala tour 1992

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mua5TH_7Cb4

Vengeance Rising 1992 line-up, with Roger Martinez in the centre.

Vengeance Rising 1988-90 line-up

Vengeance Rising 1988-90 line-up

INTERVIEW: My interview with EKKLESIA (Christian progressive / death-metal from Costa Rica)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Jack Frost1: Hi mate first can you can introduce yourself and your band for the readers -  

Juan: Well I am Juan Cortes singer and guitarist from Ekklesia a Christian death metal progressive band from Costa Rica, Andres Castro (guitar) and Angel Loaiza (bass) are also in the band, we are searching for a drum player right now so we don´t have! Jajaja. 

JF2: What made you first get interested in metal music and why did you start this band? 

Juan: like in many cases, we start in high school following a dream, passing by the time, we focus on Christ and what the Spirit says, and we felt that is necessary a Christian band different of what already exist, is another way to see the things of this world, with metal in our veins. 

JF3: What is your metal genre and is true you are changing genres now? - 

Juan: We have a deathcore/metalcore demo recorded in my house, with a underground sound jaja but is understandable in terms of I'm listening, so this year we take the decision to be death metal progressive, with big influence by opeth and gojira, impending doom and many bands around the world jajaja but the first influence is the Holy Spirit because is the one that gave us all the ideas and stuff!. 

JF4: What is your view on being a Christian in the metal scene? - 

Juan: Is a ambient totally difficult because people don't want to hear about Jesus and His message, so we don't search wash any brain, just share his love and what he can do with your life if you decide follow him. 

JF5: What is the scene like in your country now, both secular and Christian? - 

Juan: The most difficult is the Christian scene because most of all there are many hardcore bands and don't support other genres, that is the reason why we want to play in the secular scene, but very good bands like Raising The Fallen, Faithful and True, Reforma Protestante, etc. And in the secular scene is totally different, they support almost all the bands in the country, so is comfortable and a good way to start, there is a lot of good bands too like Pneuma, Sight Of Emptiness, Times Forgotten, etc.

JF6: what are your goals and dreams for the band? - 

Juan: The first is worship before the fame and glory, and let the world know what Jesus says in spiritual terms, musically seek a unique sound and is something difficult to achieve with many bands in the world, play in some of the most importants events of metal (W.O.A, Rock Am Ring, Bloodstock, etc) we want to hunt the big ones! 

JF7: Tell me your favourite - Iron Maiden or Judas Priest? - 

Juan: Oh! I would say Judas Priest because is more heavy. 

JF8: Exodus or Slayer? 

Juan: - I don´t like any jajaja but I choose Slayer!!

JF9: Gamma Ray or Helloween>? - 

Juan: This is the most difficult! is like choose a ferrari or a lambo, I would say Helloween but close enough Gamma Ray! Hail pumpkins!!! 

JF10: Number of the Beast or Powerslave? 

Juan: - The number of the beast. 

JF11: Master of Puppets or Reign in Blood or Peace Sells? - 

Juan: Master of Puppets. 

JF12: Bruce Dickinson or Rob Halford or Ronnie James Dio? 

Juan: - Dear Lord!!! Another one!!! Definitely Dio! (R.I.P) 

JF13: Have you any message for Indonesian metalheads? - 

Juan: We send a big hello to everyone! and we hope you like our music and really hope see you all someday! blessings to everyone! 

JF: Thankyou vey much for this interview.
[Band contact: https://www.facebook.com/juan.cortess]

[Note: Thanks also to Christian Thrash Metal Alliance Facebook Group which is where I met Juan - Jack Frost.]

INTERVIEW: My interview with PERPETUAL FAITH (Christian thrash-metal from Brazil), 25/8/2013

Interview Questions Busuk Webzine 

Jack Frost1 How are you guys? We are honoured to do this interview with me. Please tell us who you are and what is your band history. 

Wanderson (guitar / vocals, PERPETUAL FAITH): We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this interview and we hope you enjoy our work.
We are a Brazilian  thrash metal 80's band from state of Pará, in the city of Belém. Which began its work in mid-2005, which is characterized by the influence of the thrash bands of the 80s and the Christian theme. has presented at local and national underground scene, and consolidated its presence in many festivals and concerts.
The band is formed by: Aj-bass; rafael - Drums and Wanderson-guitar and vocals.
Our album will be released by Eternal Records of Mexico.

2 What are your main musical influences - bands, vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers? 

Our main influences are the thrash metal bands of the 80s, do not have a direct influence of any specific band but appreciate bands like Exodus, Slayer, Living Sacrifice; Deliverance ... and others.

3 What is your motivation for mixing your Christianity with your metal music?

We believe that every band talks about what he believes, and we believe in salvation through Jesus Christ and nothing better to send that message with what we like to do and that is: playing metal.

4 Tell us more about the scene of metal in Brazil these days?

Since the 80s in Brazil have emerged as major bands: Sepultura; Ratos de Porão; Antidemon; Angra and this has strengthened the scene and showed the quality of the bands worldwide. Nowadays, with the help of the internet scene has grown and many new bands have emerged and achieved national prominence. believe that bands need support to have quality material and thus, show your talent with quality in new places.

5 Why do you like to play thrash instead of more new styles like metalcore or melodic death metal etc? 

Something we have in common is the band good old thrash metal '80s, and each one touches like that, we like to THRASH, is something that runs in our veins. So do not play other newer styles, but we do not have problems or prejudices with bands that play these newer styles, we have been presented with several bands which play since punk, nu metal, metal core and even extreme metal.
We believe that the scene should be united no matter what sound you play from.

6 Who writes the lyrics and what themes do you like to write about? How do you get inspiration? 

Usually I (Wanderson) and Aj, but we like to have the ideas together in compositions of the songs. The inspiration comes from everyday life: the problems of society, violence and especially the holy bible.

7 What are your plans and goals for the band now? 

The release of our album and publicize our work. record a clip and do some presentations in and out of Brazil and dvd recording of our 10 years of band.

8 What jobs or other activities do you guys do outside of the metal scene? 

There is life beyond the metal? (Hahahaha) Each has his private life, his work and private activities. I (Wanderson) am Network Computer Administrator; Rafael works with  computer database; and Aj works in a health company.

9 OK, pick a favourite: black album versus Countdown to Extinction?

Countdown to extinction without doubt. Black album for me, does not sound like Metallica's other albums.

10 Pleasure to Kill (Kreator) versus Bonded by Blood (Exodus)?

Bonded by Blood, Paul Ballof was and will always be the guy from the Bay Area thrash metal.

11 Sepultura, Arise versus Beneath the Remains?

Can I keep the 2 (HAHAHAHA). Two great discs from Sepultura, but I get the Arise!!

12 Iron Maiden, Powerslave versus Number of the Beast?

You're kidding, another big doubts!! We get the energy from the Powerslave album!!

13 Mortification, self-titled versus Scrolls of the Megilloth?

Scrolls fo the Megilloth to mark the death metal scene with this great album, full of speed, blast beats and great songs!

14 Do you know any Indonesian metal bands? In power-metal genre I recommend to you Umbra Mortis from Jakarta and Valerian from Surabaya. 

we do not know yet, but we will appreciate your recommendations and, of course, we like power metal!

15 If you can choose any band in any genre to open up for who would it be?

there are so many bands of various styles, we would like to choose one but, we would like to one day opening for Megadeth!!

OK, thats all, thankyou again!
Greetings to Brazil from all at Busuk Webzine and throughout Indonesia.

Again, we glad to do that interview, and hope for another opportunity.
God Bless you all people, stay metal, stay heavy in Christ.

MORTIFICATION at time of Scrolls of the Megilloth (1992) album - Jayson Sherlock, Mick Carlisle, Steve Rowe.

REVIEWS: Classic album review: REBELLION by SACRED WARRIOR (1988, reissued with bonus tracks 2010)

SACRED WARRIOR (USA), around 1989-91

Rating: 86%.

Genre: Progressive melodic power-metal (Christian metal)

Original album (1988)

This is one of the best metal bands that very few people have ever heard of. It was part of the white-metal or Christian metal scene of the late-1980s associated with Pastor Bob Beeman of The Sanctuary in Hollywood, CA.

Reissued album, Intense Millennium Records (2010)

I've heard three of its four albums (not Wicked Generation, but I heard the songs that made it on to Classics). Unlike most people, Rebellion is my favorite album, due to its sheer raw energy, freshness, spontaneity and passion.

The band that I thought of when I first heard this CD in 1998 was Iron Maiden, as they both play progressive technical power metal. Both have shocking intensity, great musicianship, and fine melodies especially in the choruses. There is a huge variation on this disc, ranging from mid-paced power anthems such as "Mad Mad World" (my favorite song on the album) to a power-ballad about the sacrificial death of Jesus ("He Died") to well-executed speed-metal ("Children of the Light").

The vocalist Rey Parra has a strong voice with a great range. He reminds me of Bruce Dickinson of Maiden. His voice perfectly compliments the music. The guitar solos here, especially on the first two songs, "Black Metal" and "Mad Mad World", are full of passion and they are really great.

The guitar solos bring back memories of Dave Murray/ Adrian Smith's solos on those classic Maiden albums of the early 1980s. Absolutely beyond comparison. Until I heard this album, I thought I would never hear guitar solos like that again. The solos fit in perfectly with the mood of the songs here, and are not just a show-off exercise. They are about the best guitar solos I've heard in metal.

All in all, a brilliant album. The lyrics are boldly and openly Christian, but they are not condescending or irritating, just heartfelt. This album is recommended for fans of melodic power-metal, such as Iron Maiden, early Rainbow, HammerFall, and Dio. The follow-up album Masters Command is also great, so it's worth getting the 2-in-1 CD of Rebellion/ Masters Command re-released by KMG Records in 1998 (although the packaging was very poor).

This album was reissued by Intense Millennium Records with bonus tracks in 2010 (two demo tracks from 2001 and 2006, "Day of the Lord" and "Prince of Peace"). The new album cover appears above and a review from another website appears below.

For more information on Bob Beeman, The Sanctuary and the original white-metal scene supported by Pastor Bob see:  

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_metal 

www.metalforjesus.org/history.htm

www.metal-metropolis.com/vengeance_rising.htm

Other recommended white-metal albums:

Master's Command, Wicked Generation and Obsessions by Sacred Warrior [USA] [melodic prpogressive power-metal].

Human Sacrifice and Once Dead by Vengeance Rising [USA] [melodic thrash with death vocals].

Deliverance and Weapons of our Warfare by Deliverance [USA] [thrash-metal].

Die Happy by Die Happy [USA] (the former members of Vengeance Rising excluding Roger Martinez) [hard rock/ groove metal with thrash influences].

Recommended white death-metal albums:

Scrolls of the Megilloth by Mortification [Australia].

Living Sacrifice, Nonexistent and Inhabit by Living Sacrifice [USA].

Burial by Extol [Sweden].

Cold Black Piece of Flesh and Escaping the Stupor by Sacrificium [Germany].

By Jack Frost, first posted on Amazon.com 30 October 2004.

Another review:
Reviewed by EdgeoftheWorld on November 14, 2010

"Sacred Warrior's 'Rebellion' is an almighty rocker that will please prog-metal fans of all faiths."

Starting in 1988, Chicago-based Sacred Warrior decided to use their God-given talents to create a sound that was essentially a Christian take on Iron Maiden and Queensryche. Their well-regarded 1989 debut album, "Rebellion" has been re-released this month, and it definitely stands up well, though the joyful noise is tempered a bit with some overly preachy lyrics and vocals that go a bit over the top.

Guitarist Bruce Swift is definitely the star of this show, with fleet-fingered solos reminiscent of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, and heavy riffs that make songs like "Master Of Lies" come to splendid life. The superb rhythm section of Steve Watkins on bass and Tony Velasquez on drums keeps things moving well.

Rey Parra's vocals are suitably Dickenson-ian on tracks like the galloping "Day Of The Lord" and especially the album's best track, "Children Of The Light." On the other hand, there are tracks like "Black Metal," when Parra seems to lean a little to heavily on the operatic falsetto.

Unlike Jars Of Clay, or recent albums from Blissed or Place Of Skulls, the lyrics are unmistakably religious in nature, with tracks like largely acoustic "He Died" and the pretty extraneous bonus track "Prince Of Peace" feeling more like out-and-out prayers than songs, which adds a bit of weight.

Where things to south is on tracks like "Mad World," in which Parra mourns the loss of morality and righteousness in the world and things feel pretty Sunday School-ish, if not outright condescending. Even worse is the bonus track "Day By Day," which also isn't particularly melodic.

Sacred Warrior's "Rebellion" is an almighty rocker that will please prog-metal fans of all faiths. It's an excellent showcase for the band's chops and beliefs.

Highs: "Children Of The Light," "Master Of Lies" and "Day Of The Lord."

Lows: The by-the-numbers ballad "Day By Day," which also features some overly preachy lyrics.

Bottom line: A mostly great prog-metal album which blends Iron Maiden sounds with a Christian message.