Fortress Rock

Description

Fortress Rock is the sole album by the American hard rock band Stronghold, released on Tunesmith Records in 1982. The album was produced and engineered by Dwight M. Glodell.

Stronghold is Gary Smith on vocals and keyboards, Pete Moore on guitar, C.C. Cupp on bass, and Jay Molina on drums and percussion.

From the start, “Stronghold” was formed for the purpose of creating quality Christian music. It did not take long, however, for the Lord to expand our direction towards the plan that He had in mind. What was once fleshly desires of fame, recognition and glory were transformed into sacrifice of time, talent, and love. Not only towards the Lord, not only towards each other, but for the people to whom we were called to minister. God the Father has given us the calling. God the Son has given us the inspiration and example. God the Holy Spirit has empowered and filled our lives. Stronghold is more than just our name, for He is our Stronghold.

“For the Lord is good, a Stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth those who trust Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

[A note printed on the back of the album sleeve]

Prior to Christian music’s mid-‘80s flirtation with spandex, big hair and highly oscillated shrieks, there were still a few bands mining the tradition of heavy ‘70s classic rock. The New York male foursome Stronghold certainly do so on this early Tunesmith release and they do so with honors. Dark doomy feel throughout with pounding Sledgehammer riffs, typically slow and grungy, crawling along like Black Sabbath («Barabbas», «No Superstars For Jesus», «Nobody Owes You Nothing»), but also some Jethro Tull-ish hard rock («Stronghold») as well as strutting metal ala early Judas Priest («Desert Walker», «The Call»). Opens with a loud instrumental prelude of the hymn «A Mighty Fortress». Vocoder effects used on several tracks. A real bone-crunchin’ mama. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

Retroactive/Born Twice Records are doing a great job digging up classic albums and making them available again on CD. ‘Fortress Rock’ is from 1982 when the American east coast band Stronghold blended ’70s hard rock influences with a bit of Black Sabbath doomyness and created an emergent Christian metal sound that predated bands like Stryper and Barnabas. There’s even a bit of prog thrown in here and there. The result is an assured album with strong songwriting, creative performances and although here and there the sound is a little thinner than I would like, this was an independent release after all, without megabucks being thrown into the recording. Pete Moore’s aggressive guitar work and fabulous soloing are a joy and Gary Smith’s vocals hold their own against the complex musicianship of his bandmates. Personal favourites are when the band is particularly strident on songs like «Desert Walker» and «The Called» when the punchy riffs come out to play! If you’re looking for classic, hard and heavy, Stronghold deliver. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, February 2014]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/fortress-rock-legends-remastered-volume-six/536564344)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Stronghold” – 4:45
A2. “Barabbas” – 5:35
A3. “Dreams & Pretty Pictures” – 4:31
A4. “No Superstars For Jesus” – 6:55

Side Two
B1. “Daybreak’s Coming” – 6:37
B2. “Desert Walker” – 5:05
B3. “The Called” – 3:59
B4. “Nobody Owes You Nuthin'” – 4:02

Note: Remastered and re-issued on CD by Born Twice Records/Retroactive Records ‎in 2012.

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