6.19.2018

AGENT STEEL - Skeptics Apocalypse

Artist:  Agent Steel
Album: Skeptics Apocalypse
Year:  1985
Genre:  Thrash Metal

Agent Steel are a band that clawed its own little niche in metal by using elements that were not typical of the burgeoning thrash movement in 1985.  My assumption is that they are one of those love ‘em or absolutely hate ‘em bands amongst metalheads.  The main reason is the polarizing vocal style of John Cyriss.  Lyrically, he intentionally strayed from the popular Satan/violence combination that dominated thrash and chose Sci-Fi, aliens and ancient rituals as his subject matter which were just as dark and fit the music perfectly.  Cyriss is a talented man whose vocals soar in the Rob Halford range for the majority of this record.  Now if you’re playing straight up power metal, that vocal delivery may sit a bit more comfortably when chugging along at a Maiden or Priest pace.  But, Agent Steel were not playing power metal; they were a full-bore thrash assault in league with Exodus, Razor and Slayer.  Skeptics Apocalypse is fast.  Very fast.  Yet, it is also musically brooding and violent, just as any thrash album worth its weight should be.  The riffs and song structures are tremendously akin to “Bonded By Blood” era Exodus and “Hell Awaits” era Slayer.  Then you add in the vocals, which, to these ears were initially a bit confusing, yet, ended up sounding exciting and original.  This record is a bulldozer.  Their second record is just as good, if not even more powerful with its superior production.  Although thrash was only a few years old in 1985, Agent Steel were already a welcomed change.  Like most bands, they did not get the recognition they deserved and called it quits a few years later.  Too bad.  They were on to something good.

Listen to "Bleed For The Godz" here.

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