| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Apostle |
| Record Label: Independent / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1985 / 2026 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 8 / 12 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 22:25 / 37:40 |
If a joining of classic US power and traditional metal, high-end vocals and shredding lead guitar are at the top of your hard music wish list, Apostle 1985 full-length custom cassette release White Metal is a solid choice. The group traces to 1983 and Jacksonville, Florida when vocalist, guitarist and founding member Matt Harding joined forces with bassist David Lawson and drummer Bill Box with the goal to ‘take the gospel wherever people would listen’ (quoting its press material). The Apostle self-titled four-song debut demo followed a year later ahead of it fulfilling said calling by literally playing ‘anywhere and everywhere- clubs, reformatories, outdoor parks, churches, coffee houses and skating rinks’.
With Mark Borrero supplanting Lawson on bass, Apostle recorded White Metal and follow up releases King Of The Saints and Chariots Of Iron from 1986 and 1987, respectively. Despite being out of print and hard to find collectors items for decades, White Metal and Chariots Of Iron were re-mastered (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) and reissued on Retroactive Records in February of 2026 on CD and vinyl. Eye catching new cover art and upgraded packaging including a detailed band history attributes to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal graphics. White Metal includes the four debut demo songs as bonus tracks.
The White Metal title leaves initial impression as contrived but going beneath the surface reveals a bit more than meets the eye. Based upon my research, the ‘white metal’ indicator traces to White Throne magazine, which in an Editorial from issue #1 denotes it as ‘the proper term for Christian heavy metal’.1 When further factoring White Throne magazine began publication in 1986, the Apostle use of the White Metal title the previous year is actually unique and cutting edge!
White Metal allows Harding to put his multidimensional talents on display. On one hand, I find him capable of shredding with the best of them, exhibiting a fast fingered and technical touch hinting of Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri), Brian Belew (Barnabas) and Carl Grimmark (Narnia). Yes, some big names to invite comparison, but close listen in my opinion reveals him to be that good! Consider in such regard opening instrumental “Apostle” in which Harding delivers equal parts intricate riffs and distorted soloing with a classical edge. The songs darker aspect hints of Barnabas instrumental “Prelude” (off Feel The Fire from 1984).
On the other, he proves an equally capable vocalist with a high end and soaring delivery in somewhat similar vein as Manuel Castillo (Paradox) and Vett Roberts (Recon), albeit I am not inviting direct comparison. Initial White Metal vocal cut “Bread Of Life” sees him in top form, imbuing a Maiden-esque power metal galloper with his ascending reach for the sky style in lending the occasional stinging falsetto. Box builds upon the overflowing verve with his intense timekeeping. Lyric snippet:
“Come To The Truth” follows suite as a hard charging straight on metal cut, bursting of maximized guitar walls - the mid-tempo initiative is nothing less than endearing - and high end energy that reminds of eighties ‘white metal’ cohorts Paradox. This one in particular digs and bites in darker traditional metal fashion akin to Time’s End era Saint.
God so loved the world
He gave His only Son
Whoever believes in Him
Shall not die but live eternally
Come to the truth and live
Come to the light and give
Come to the Holy One
Come to the Truth
Albums lengthiest in the five minute “The Witness” ensues. What we have is a technically complex and varied piece, weaving its span between moments plodding with a doom like allure and others bursting to raised stamina as an escalated melody takes control. The intense soloing covering the final minute and half is jaw dropping. I wish White Metal included a few more lengthier cuts along this line, noting much of its material is in the two and half to three minute range. Lyric snippet:
There is none righteous
No not one
For all have sinned
If you confess with your mouth
That God raised Him from the dead
For the wages of sin is death,
But the gift of God is eternal life
Following “Eruption” inspired instrumental “Armageddon” covers its minute and half to neo-classical inspired open-air guitar interspersed with outbursts of the group’s explosive low end. “Armageddon” is further groundbreaking due to potentially being first of its kind in the ‘white metal’ scene- noting how Rex Carroll’s “Nagasake” did not appear until two years later on the Whitecross self-titled debut.
“King Of Kings” hard charges its two and half minutes to freight train like momentum, barebones with its powerhouse metal mentality hinting of Sacred Warrior but also skirting the repetitious as tersely done hooks draw in from the prompt exuberance. The Apostle firepower is off the charts on this one. Lyric snippet:
He’s the King of Kings
Power in His hands
Since the world began
He lives eternally
Power to set you free
Here the angels sing
“Born Again” carries over the jarring aptness as a straight on and no frills power metal cut brimming of paramount energy. Monumental bass and complex timekeeping sets the concentrated tone, with the resounding ‘born again, you must be born again’ refrain reaching for the ascending. There is a bit of an early Leviticus flair on this one.
Book Of Exodus inspired instrumental closing cut “Parting The Red Sea” is one of my favorites. With drum solo to start, it exuberantly explodes to the enlivened guitar riffs - staunch, heavy hitting and catchy as all get out - invigorating its three minutes. The blistering lead guitar over equally ferocious double kicks drum over the final half is worth the price of admission alone.
Note: When I first saw the song title, I expected a vocal cut, so I was somewhat taken aback by the instrumental execution. Nevertheless, I think Moses would approve!
Production is understandably of demo quality but also sound in light of how White Metal is a self-financed recording using mid-eighties technology. Keep in mind I do not own an original copy comparison purposes, I am certain the Retroactive re-mastering plays no small role in the album sounding clean as it does. That said there is a drop in production quality as it pertains to the demo cuts, but it is not a steep fall from a cliff in that the four are more than listenable.
Musically, I find the demo material more than holds its own when placed alongside White Metal- if Apostle signed a label deal the combined twelve songs would equate to a very solid debut album. “Overcomer” gets things going as a classic melodic metal cut with complementary cowbell and multiple instrumental runs, while “The Light”, with several high-pitched falsettos and unwavering energy, and “He’s The Power”, a barebones but very good eighties style hard rocker, are in similar vein. My favorite is “The Teacher”, with its creative Rush style rhythms and eloquent groove and classy execution to go in hand.
If similar to this reviewer, you missed on White Metal and the debut demo back in the day, the Retroactive reissue represents an immediate purchase. The Apostle flair for power and traditional metal not to mention multifarious abilities to Matt Harding provides for a project in which you cannot miss. Likewise, songwriting is of a high level with a choice offering of instrumental and vocal cuts with no skip buttons among the twelve. Give credit to Retroactive for making the long out of print Apostle back catalog available after being out of print for literally decades!
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Apostle” (1:52), “Bread Of Life” (2:30), “Come To The Truth” (2:54), “The Witness” (5:15), “Armageddon” (1:17), “King Of Kings” (2:38), “Born Again” (3:04), “Parting The Red Sea” (3:09), “Overcomer” (3:28), “The Teacher” (4:01), “The Light” (3:20), “He’s The Power” (4:10)
Musicians
Matt Harding - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Mark Borrero - Bass
Bill Box - Drums
Reference List
1. Johnson, Dave. (1986 ). “Editorial”. White Throne, pp 4.
