East Coast Metal

Description

East Coast Metal is a multi-artist compilation featuring various American metal bands, released on Regency Records in 1988. The album was engineered by Paul Kreuger, Gary Fulton and Bill Burke, and was produced and mixed by Doug Mann.

Regency Records, after seeing the highly-successful sales of the ‘California Metal‘ album, has been cranking out Christian metal albums for an eager and ever-expanding audience. ‘East Coast Metal’ is the latest dosage of decibels to this market.

This album follows the tradition of ‘California Metal’ and introduces several relatively-unknown bands to the public. Unlike ‘California Metal’, which had a very homogenized sound, ‘East Coast Metal’ sports a diverse sound. There’s something for every type of headbanger here.

Apostle has a neo-classical guitar sound, along with wailing, multi-octave vocals. Matt Harding, the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist for this three-piece band from Florida, takes his lyrics completely from Scripture.

Hailing from Connecticut, Rage of Angels plays a rhythm and blues style of metal similar to Motley Crue. Their song, «Reason to Rock», is the standout cut on this album.

Believer churns up a speed-metallers delight with «The Chosen», making this Pennsylvania quartet the third Christian thrash metal band to be released on vinyl (behind Deliverance and Vengeance).

Taker puts Virginia on the metal map with a nice ballad, along with a screaming power anthem called «Living by Faith».

Arsenal, also from Florida, has a female lead singer. They perform two straight-ahead rockers: «Message of Love» and «Stand Strong».

Second Chance, from Northern Virginia, delivers a fast and crunchy sound similar to Saint.

The Lead, another band from Florida, represent the hardcore punk sound as they emphasize living out the Word of God in a street-level manner.

Besides offering a smorgasbord of metal styles to choose from, Regency Records must also be applauded for digging through the Christian metal underground to introduce these seven hard-rockin’ bands to the public. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, December 1988]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Apostle – “The Sword” – 3:36
A2. Rage Of Angels – “Reason To Rock” – 4:04
A3. Arsenal – “Message Of Love” – 3:56
A4. The Lead – “Tunnel Vision” – 4:45
A5. Taker – “Yesterday, Today & Forever” – 4:32

Side Two
B1. Second Chance – “The Blazing Wasteland” – 3:45
B2. Arsenal – “Stand Strong” – 2:38
B3. Believer – “The Chosen” – 4:05
B4. Taker – “Living By Faith” – 3:55

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Regency Records.