Various Artists – The Heaven’s Metal Collection

Description

The Heaven’s Metal Collection is a double-disc multi-artist Box Set featuring various (mostly) American hard rock and metal bands, released on Pure Metal in 1992, a division of Star Song Communications.

The definitive collection of Christian Heavy Metal. Compiled by Heaven’s Metal editor Doug Van Pelt, this box set takes an historical look at the loudest music in the Kingdom, starting from the blistering Hard Rock sounds of Resurrection Band and going straight through to the Grindcore/Death Metal sound of Mortification today. Also included is a booklet featuring interviews and photos of each band included taken from past issues of Heaven’s Metal Magazine. [Note printed on the back of the Box Set]

Described as “The definitive collection of Christian Heavy Metal… the loudest music in the kingdom”, this pair of discs presents 31 tracks covering a huge spectrum of bands, from Resurrection Band’s «Waves» of 1978 to the grindcore/death metal sound of Mortification. Although the most raucous styles miss the mark for me (I like to hear some of the words!) this collection has introduced new music to me that I would previously have avoided. This is a fine selection of cuts, encompassing groups like Saint, Bloodgood, Shout, X-Sinner, Tourniquet and Believer. Here you can find a wealth of class material to bang your head to, the only problem may be finding somewhere to play it loud enough. Also included in the boxed set is a helpful booklet featuring interviews with the bands taken from America’s fine fanzine Heaven’s Metal, plus photos and background info to clue you up. Doug Van Pelt, editor of Heaven’s Metal, has compiled this collection to bring some of the finest rock music together for your delectation. If you’d thought all Christian metal was AC/DC retreads this superlative compilation is going to shock your socks off. [Ian Bosworth, Cross Rhythms, February 1993]

2CD tracklist:

Disc One – Volume 1

1-01. Resurrection Band – Waves (from Awaiting Your Reply)
1-02. Daniel Band – You’re All I Need (from Straight Ahead)
1-03. Jerusalem – Sodom (from Warrior)
1-04. Stryper – From Wrong To Right (from The Yellow and Black Attack)
1-05. First Strike – Loneliness Kills (from Rock of Offense)
1-06. Barren Cross – It’s All Come True (from Rock for the King)
1-07. Barnabas – Breathless Wonderment (from Feel the Fire)
1-08. Darrell Mansfield Band – Jesus Will Reign (from Revelation)
1-09. Saint – Primed And Ready (from Time’s End)
1-10. Messiah Prophet – Heavy Metal Thunder (from Master of the Metal)
1-11. Bloodgood – Self-Destruction (from Detonation)
1-12. Whitecross – No Way I’m Goin’ Down (from Whitecross)
1-13. Neon Cross – Son Of God (from California Metal)
1-14. Shout – Shout (from It Won’t Be Long)

Disc Two – Volume 2

2-01. Trytan – Genesis (from Celestial Messenger)
2-02. Rage Of Angels – Are You Ready For Thunder (from Rage of Angels)
2-03. Leviticus – The Suffering Servant (from Setting Fire to the Earth)
2-04. Sacred Warrior – Children Of The Light (from Rebellion)
2-05. Vengeance Rising – White Throne (from Human Sacrifice)
2-06. Deliverance – The Call (from Deliverance)
2-07. X-Sinner – Lift Him Up (from Get It)
2-08. Holy Soldier – Love Me (from Holy Soldier)
2-09. Tourniquet – You Get What You Pray For (from Stop the Bleeding)
2-10. Jet Circus – Step On It (from Step On It)
2-11. Guardian – Time And Time Again (from Fire and Love)
2-12. Believer – Stop The Madness (from Sanity Obscure)
2-13. Novella – Give Me Love (from One Big Sky)
2-14. Bride – Troubled Times (from Kinetic Faith)
2-15. The Crucified – Mindbender (from The Pillars of Humanity)
2-16. Ransom – Lasting Love (from Soul Asylum)
2-17. Mortification – The Destroyer Beholds (from Mortification)

Note: Simultaneously released on double-cassette and double-CD by Pure Metal Records, both housed in a long box.