| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1988 / 2018 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 43:46 |
Despite the fact it included as part of its line up guitarist Robert Gutierrez, whom many will recognize for his work in Albuquerque, New Mexico based thrash act Ultimatum, Angelic Force went largely unnoticed and to this day has fallen beneath the radar of the hard music community. With New Mexico also as its home base, Angelic Force came together in the mid-eighties in joining a host of other ‘white metal’ bands that followed on the heels of the commercial success of Stryper. Some signed (Angelica, Guardian, Whitecross) and some unsigned (Soldier, Crossforce, Taker), but not quite matching the popularity and acclaim of the yellow and black decked out Orange County, California four piece either way.
Whereas Angelic Force falls within the latter (unsigned) category, it remained productive in recording a pair of obscure custom cassette releases, beginning in 1988 with 8-song full length offering Soldiers Of The Cross but also including a 2-song demo from the following year. Obscure being the key word in that I had previously never heard of Angelic Force despite keeping my ears closely in tune with the eighties Christian metal scene, noting how (far as I can tell) neither of the groups releases were reviewed in two of the leading ‘zines from back in the day, Heaven’s Metal and White Throne. Good news, however, is that both Soldiers Of The Cross and the two song demo were re-mastered and re-released by Roxx Records in the spring of 2018 with revised cover art and an 8-page booklet exclusive to band photos and liner notes from Robert Gutierrez and vocalist Stacy Carrera.
Where Angelic Force breaks from the mold of its previously referenced contemporaries is musical direction, in that instead of a bearing mostly in line with the melodic metal popular at the time, it draws upon a basis of straightforward heavy metal with leanings towards the power and progressive side of things. Carrera had the right idea when in the liner notes she described the Angelic Force sound as ‘just north of Iron Maiden’. In terms of specifics, Carrera brings a fiery vocal style not that far removed form Nancy Jo Mann of Barnabas. No, I am not inviting comparison, but if into Barnabas, particularly its final three albums, Approaching Light (1984), Feel The Fire (1985) and Little Foxes (1986), then I can see Angelic Force being of strong interest.
Before moving on to the track by track, it deserves note that some thinness is to be expected production wise, but when factoring Soldiers Of The Cross and the demo are self-financed released recorded using late-eighties technology, they sound quite good, which is credit to the re-mastering of Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound. In other words, these are NOT a bunch of cheaply recorded garage demos muddy to the point of being unlistenable.
The Roxx Records re-issue begins to the eight songs off Soldiers Of The Cross, of which the first two in my opinion are the best. Angelic Force reveals its progressive side on albums six-minute opening title track, which begins to eerie keyboards and militant drums before doom-like riffs crush in. Moving forward, “Soldiers Of The Cross” plays a more assuming role with technical drum rolls and fills and anthem-like guitars standing alongside a catchy ‘so call on the name of Jesus, all you soldiers of the cross’ refrain. Bristling guitar leads carry the final instrumental minute.
“Children Of The Night” is shorter at roughly half the length but of similar quality. I identify with it as traditional metal instead, elevating rhythm guitars but also without sacrificing melody, as found in the punch-driven hooks to the every bit-engaging refrain. I can see Time’s End era Saint doing something along these lines.
“Runaway” is also quite good in touching upon similar musical territory. Also three minutes and of a riff driven capacity, it contrasts understated harmonies and melodies with guitars of an unabashed form to make an unambiguous statement. Three songs in and I am impressed with the intense and impassioned vocals to Carrera.
“One More Change” is lone song in which I pass. Perhaps it is due to lacking the immediate hooks to its predecessors, but I find it to come across a bit plain despite upholding a similar straightforward heavy metal basis. I do, however, like the interplay between the intricate drums and heavy hitting guitars.
Final four Soldiers Of The Cross cuts are all solid. “In His Name” gets things going as another traditional metal assault, assertive and headstrong without coming across repetitive all the same. Gutsy refrain aligns with the keen setting in giving prominence to lightly done backing vocals. Of note is the extended stretch of melodic guitar leads.
The high-energy “Jaime” presents with its share of variations. On one hand, it is heavy as anything here (noting the besetting guitars adorning the verses); on the other, it also presents with its share of melody (referencing the tempered feel to the refrain). Again, Angelic Force feels right at home within a progressive setting.
Album heads in a melodic metal direction with “Real Love”. The song comes across pointed and focused with its up-tempo air, as belaboring drums carry its length and guitars make an assaulting statement to produce a churning inclining either way. Impetus periodically slows for passages on the tempered side of things.
“I Am” represents a first rate power ballad. The song upholds a strong melody in advancing its length transitioning between smoother moments borne by gentle guitars and bass and others in which starker guitars cut in and extend the elevated mood at hand. Of note is how it closes its final minute instrumentally to melodic guitar leads.
Two demo cuts rate with the Angelic Force best. First, as its title implies, “The Power” draws upon a power metal basis not unlike classic Sacred Warrior track “Bound In Chains” (off Master’s Command). Cutting in to lambasting guitars from the get go, the song proves keyed up in form with its pronounced bass line and barbed refrain, which resolutely reinforces how ‘Christ has the power!’ Lead guitar during the instrumental stretch would give Bruce Swift (Sacred Warrior) a serious run for his money!
Seven-minute magnum opus “All I Need” closes things. The song gives prominence to abundant melody in taking a semi-ballad form, opening its first minute to reserved guitars and elaborate drumming prior to metal edged guitars kicking in to hold up the all-encompassing refrain to make a faith-based statement:
Your love is all that I need
Your love is all that I want
Your love can set me free
The dual lead guitar work to carry the final minute and a half is near jaw dropping.
Soldiers Of The Cross proves solid musically when factoring the Angelic Force youth at the time, noting how several of its members were still in high school at the time it was recorded. Band turnover, nevertheless, reared its head in that a completely different line up recorded the two-song demo, with Guiterrez and Carrera being the holdovers between both releases. That said, the Angelic Force material reflects its musical maturity at the time regardless of age. Which begs the following question: why wasn’t Angelic Force signed? It is a shame one of the better labels of the time such as Intense or Pure Metal did not pick the group up in that it exhibited significant potential I see fulfilled if given opportunity to record multiple full-length albums. This brings us back to the Roxx Records re-issue in which I give a strong recommendation as a long lost and overlooked gem making out of print material available for the for time in literally decades.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Soldiers Of The Cross” (6:07), “Children Of The Night” (3:19), “Runaway” (3:19), “One More Change” (3:21), “In His Name” (4:01), “Jaime” (4:00), “Real Love” (4:01), “I Am” (3:41), “The Power” (4:51), “All Need” (7:06)
Musicians - Soldiers Of The Cross
Stacy Carrera - Vocals
Robert Guiterrez - Guitars
Joe Whitford - Guitars
Rory McManus - Bass
Joseph Olona - Drums
Musicians - Two-song demo
Stacy Carrera - Vocals
Robert Guiterrez - Guitars
Steve Trujillo - Guitars
Jud Wilhite - Bass
Rick Campbell - Drums
