Xalt – Dark War

Description

Dark War is the debut album by the American hard rock/metal band Xalt, self-released on cassette only in 1988. The album was remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued on CD for the first time by Retroactive Records in 2017.

Dark War is an unabashedly “old school” metal record, and for as much as collectors have sought out this near impossible find, this 1988 cassette only album was an independent release put out by a band that was leading a Christian metal movement in Michigan, Ohio and the surrounding areas! The band would not have the support of a label (Pure Metal) until their sophomore release, Under the Ruins. Dark War has consistently been on the the most requested (and bootlegged) Christian Metal reissues list because the songs are nothing less than lumbering beasts with monolithic slabs of rhythm guitar, and hooks that bring to mind 1980s Dio – especially his work with Black Sabbath during their Heaven & Hell era. Its literally impossible to listen to such epic tracks as The Cross, God In A Box, and Dark War and and not imagine how easily Xalt could have become the next MTV sensations right alongside Stryper, Judas Priest, and Dokken. Yes, Dark War is THAT good! And, for almost 30 years its never been officially available in any format but cassette…until now! The official 2017 Retroactive Records, Dark War (Retroarchives Edition) features a complete remaster at the hands of Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound), as well as 6 previously unreleased bonus demo tracks the band recorded in preparation for their Under the Ruins (1990) release on Pure Metal Records. We packaged this metal masterpiece in a 12 page booklet / jewel case with lyrics, including six pages of detailed liner notes and reflections from Xalt’s elite axeman, James Erdman. This 500 unit CD pressing resurrects one of Christian Metal?s greatest moments.

Xalt 10-10-87

Cassette tracklist: Ariel / On the Cross / Dark War / Palace Daydream (Instrumental) / Angry Fire / Ready for the Fight / God in a Box / 19:13-14 (Where Victory Storms) (Instrumental) / Looking Down a Loaded Gun / A Warriors Honor.

So this is an interesting tape. As you can see by the label, it claims to have unreleased songs by several bands and people. It is really an early version of Dark War as well as the last demo by Armada (and the names listed on the spine are people in those bands). I will review them separately here. I was quite surprise by this version of Dark War – it actually has a different vocalist than the official release. Heald is a much grittier, gruff, deeper voice than Scott Doerfler (who is the vocalist you have heard on the official release). The instruments are also a big tougher here. I might actually like this version better than the officially released version. Heald and Englerth were members of Armada that might have just been brought in for this recording to help. The instrumental called «Rev. 19:13-14» above was renamed to «Where Victory Storms» on the official release, and another instrumental called «Soldiers in the Midst» was added to the official release as well. Also, the song order was changed some on the official release. [Christian Tape Underground, February 11, 2020]

CD tracklist (2017 Retroactive Records Edition):

01. Ariel
02. The Cross
03. God In A Box
04. Where Victory Storms
05. Angry Fire
06. Ready For The Fight
07. A Warrior’s Honor
08. Looking Down A Loaded Gun
09. Palace Daydream
10. Soldiers In The Mist
11. Dark War
1989 DEMO
12. Under The Ruins
13. Wounded Heart
14. The Kingdom Within
15. Lift Him Up
16. The Fortress
17. Through The Night

Note: Remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records in 2017, entitled Dark War – Retroarchives Edition and featuring 6 previously unreleased bonus demo tracks the band recorded in preparation for their Under the Ruins release on Pure Metal Records in 1990. Also re-issued on 12-inch vinyl LP by Retroactive Records.

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