| Musical Style: Metal / Hard Rock | Produced By: Terry Taylor |
| Record Label: Intense / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1993 / 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 / 10 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 28:13 / 30:19 |
As its namesake implies, the Intense Live Series proves exactly that- a ‘series’ of bargain priced EP’s released by Intense Records in 1993 to highlight the live talents of its rosters better known acts. Rather than recorded in a live concert setting, however, each of the five installments in the series - to include Deliverance, Die Happy, Mortal, Rose and Tourniquet - were recorded live in the studio instead. Fans as a result receive an inside view into the band experience to capture in studio jamming without benefit of an audience, bantering and laughter between songs and spontaneity and improvisational feel of a live performance without overdubs, extraneous production tricks or edits. Upshot is a raw and stripped down recording that captures the tightness and energy of a band in its natural live studio element!
Good news is that despite being out of print and hard to find collectors items, Volume 1 and Volume 4 in the series from Deliverance and Die Happy, respectively, saw re-issue on Retroactive Records in February of 2024. Improved packaging in terms of a 6-panet insert to feature a detailed breakdown of instruments played by individual band members attributes to Scott Waters (No Life Til Metal Graphics) and upgraded re-mastering to Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound).
Difference to re-mastering is night and day and makes the Retroactive re-issues a necessary purchase. In terms of specifics, each album receives a needed dose of polish to result in a fuller and better-rounded listening experience. Upshot is thicker bass, weightier rhythm guitar, cleaner lead and acoustic guitar and added clarity in terms of drum sound.
Volume 1: Deliverance
According to the original Intense Records release liner notes, Deliverance recorded its live studio tracks over a three-day span in October of 1992 using a 24-track machine at Mixing Lab Studio B in Huntington Beach, CA. The group rehearsed each song once or twice with tape rolling. Those included represent the first or second takes and recorded as you hear them, with amp noise, finger buzz and frequent laughter included. In the words of producer Terry Taylor: “I didn’t want every hair in place. What we captured with Deliverance was flawed, rock and roll perfection, stripped down and passionate”.
Stryper cover “Surrender” gets things going as front man Jimmy P. Brown II leads off with his best Michael Sweet like falsetto scream, as Deliverance lends its signature technical metal acumen to see Kevin Lee make a battering impression behind the drum kit and Mike Phillips perfectly duplicating the distorted lead guitar work. “No Love” ensues in an expeditious thrash heading as Brian Khairullah’s bass leads the way through a simmering joining of headstrong guitar and impeccable melody. Separating in the process is an unfiltered feel (in a positive sense) when compared to its Deliverance counterpart.
The rawness carries over to thrash monster “This Present Darkness”, realizing the bands keyed up energy and stripped down lower register angst, and sophisticated “Stay Of Execution”, upping heaviness and emphasizing shouted backing vocals as Deliverance revels in double kick drum and unified rhythm guitar of Brown and Phillips. Either way, both songs elevate the angst in making heated but unrefined live studio statements.
“The Call” and “No Time” close the EP as a quintessential one-two punch. I appreciate how up to a minute and half has been added to each (compared to their studio equivalents), with former also closing to an instrumental jam but lengthier as signature chugga-chugga-chugga guitars are ensued by a wonderfully protracted lead guitar run. Latter separates with an opening stretch of open air guitar (not present on the studio version) along with another extended instrumental break as Phillips again takes opportunity to exhibit his deft licks and chops (by far my favorite Deliverance guitarist).
Deliverance remains in fine form from a live studio standpoint in that each of its members is literally on fire musically. Individual take on songs are similar but different all the same from how the group provides a unique live studio experience allowing each to stand apart from its album equivalent. Lone complaint is that I wish Deliverance included at least one more from iconic sophomore release Weapons Of Our Warfare, but as an overall package of songs Volume 1 is a winner.
Volume 4: Die Happy
After experiencing the at times thrash based and others technical metal sensibilities to Deliverance, I found it necessary to take a deep breath and step back a few minutes prior to approaching the more composed but no less able sounds to Die Happy. Recorded over a two week period in February of 1993 at The Green Home, Volume 4 remains true to the groups two albums, Die Happy (1992) and Volume II (1993), with a similar bluesy seventies hard rock yielding.
Nowhere is this better realized from how soaring vocalist Robyn ‘Kyle’ Basauri reaches for the sky on uplifted opener “Justified”, a bottom heavy groove rocker to also see Greg Chaisson’s eminent bass play a prominent role. Improvisational jamming and vocals close the final seconds. “Painted Truth” ensues in a heavier direction, as Doug Thieme’s bluesy rhythm guitar leads the way until Larry Farkas takes over with an equally gritty soloing run. One cannot deny the Die Happy in studio professionalism.
Hence, subsequent haunting ballad “Temple Of Soul”, which when placed alongside the Volume II rendering is entirely acoustic in providing a cool Led Zeppelin vibe, particularly for the fusion based instrumental run. Final minute sees Basauri singing in a lower register. “Celebration” carries over the acoustic sentiments in staying true to the Die Happy version with similar bluesy guitar soloing but separating with a more forthright bass line.
One of the treats to Volume 4 is previously unreleased track “Endless Time”. It drifts its elegant distance to acoustic guitar and bass interplay, pointing to the ethereal with a poignant melody but picking up pace over the final minute to rolling drumbeats. I can see this one fitting in as the tenth song on Volume II.
Closing the album is a fantastic six-minute cover to the Petra classic “All Over Me” (off More Power To Ya from 1982). It further elevates the bluesy aspects, drawn upwards by Basauri’s paramount vocals and grainy rhythm guitar in representing heaviest of the Volume 4 cuts. Die Happy imparts a high level of inspiration to the song by building upon its already profound emotional allure.
Die Happy provides significant technical expertise on Volume 4 in walking a fine line between driving hard rockers and melodic based acoustic pieces. Not unlike Deliverance, Die Happy also takes liberty to expand upon the album versions by allowing creative live studio nuances to separate. It also cannot be understated the prime Die Happy musicianship. That said I wish the group had covered another of its heavier cuts (“Cage” and “Slide Rule” from the debut come to mind) or at the very least my favorite Volume II number “Eden”. Still, you cannot beat the live energy and in step feel to the Die Happy in studio performance.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Volume 1): “In Studio” (:53), “Surrender” (5:00), “No Love” (3:20), “In Studio” (:15), “This Present Darkness” (2:40), “In Studio” (:57), “Stay Of Execution” (4:19), “In Studio” (:23), “The Call” (4:57), “In Studio” (:11), “No Time” (5:17)
Musicians
Jimmy P. Brown - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Mike Phillips - Lead Guitar
Brian Khairullah - Bass & Vocals
Kevin Lee - Drums
Track Listing (Volume 4): “Justified” (3:58), “In Studio” (:07), “Painted Truth” (3:48), “In Studio” (:08), “Temple Of Soul” (5:58), “In Studio” (:10), “Celebration” (5:40), “In Studio” (:36), “Endless Time” (4:17), “All Over Me” (5:58)
Musicians
Robyn ‘Kyle” Basauri - Lead Vocals
Doug Thieme - Rhythm Guitar
Larry Farkas - Lead & Acoustic Guitar
Greg Chaisson - Bass
Glen Mancaruso - Drums & Percussion
