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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