| Musical Style: Melodic Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Frank Mono |
| Record Label: RCA Europe | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1988 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 43:40 |
The brainchild of UCLA pre-med student turned guitar virtuoso Joshua Perahia, Joshua formed in 1980 ahead of debuting two years later on Engima Records with the Steve Fontaine fronted six-song EP The Hand Is Quicker Than The Eye. Entitled in reference to Perahia’s renowned fleet guitar abilities, the album saw a 1984 re-release as a full length effort in Japan on Far East Metal Syndicate Records and included the No. 1 hit (in Japan) “November Is Going Away”. A salvation experience in 1983 at a Hal Lindsey led Bible study preceded 1985 Virgin Records sophomore album Surrender in which Perahia partnered with vocalist Jeff Fenholt, who played the title role in the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and future Shout members Ken Tamplin (guitar & vocals), Loren Robinson (bass) and Jo Galletta (drums).
Subsequent to a successful European headlining tour in 1986, Perahia met with Scorpions producer Dieter Dierks to listen to the group’s three demos, which piqued Dierks’ interest to such extent he offered his own studio to record additional demo material. The impressive nine songs recorded in one week led to Joshua signing with RCA Records six months later. Before the group could begin recording, however, it had to wait two years for the Scorpions to get out of the studio while working on 1988 release Savage Amusement. Meanwhile, all members from the Surrender lineup left and were replaced by vocalist Rob Rock, keyboardist Greg Shultz, bassist Emil Lech and drummer Tim Gehrt, whom joined forces with Perahia to record 1988 Joshua third album Intense Defense. The recording process, it deserves note, took an additional year at a cost of $700,000.
Intense Defense is highly regarded in ranking among the finer albums within the eighties melodic metal and hard rock genres. Heaven’s Metal magazine, for instance, placed it 47th in its countdown of the top 100 Christian metal albums of all time, while Angelic Warlord rated it third in an article outlining the top 50 Christian metal albums of the eighties (Surrender placed 31st) and second in a similar article listing the top albums of 1988. Kerrang!, Metal Forces and Aardshok magazines even go so far as to declare it ‘the best AOR hard rock album ever’.
A good measure of the albums acclaim attributes to the world class partnership between Perahia and Rob Rock, aptly renown as the ‘voice of melodic metal’. Opener “Reach Up” does a choice job punctuating the abilities of the two, mirroring daring and ambitious melodic metal in which Perahia delivers brimming rhythm guitar and meteoric soloing but also elegant AOR as Rock vocally switches between profoundly lower register tinctures and heightened soaring. Gehrt sets the anthem like foundation with his uniform timekeeping. Lyric snippet:
I'm moving higher, to the top,
I need the spirit, ain't never gonna stop now
Take me with you, someday,
Way out 'till the stars touch my face
In the morning, with no warning,
See it turn, it's coming your way
Fast as lightning, in a flash,
Raise your arms, it's coming down fast
Ensuing cut “I’ve Been Waiting” trends towards an AOR basis. Keyboards accordingly play an advanced role, almost bordering on the symphonic, albeit rhythm guitar does not fail to distinguish by elevating above the mix in concise fashion. The dignified but somber backdrop to impart lightens as Perahia bursts forth with his hammer on driven soloing.
Guitar plays an added role on “Only Yesterday”, a dashing hard rocker compelled its three and half minutes by surging guitar riffs and lucid bass. Strident hooks to demand attention coerce at once, as does candescent harmonizing. Albums unblemished production to see just enough polish but not enough to detract from the group’s vibrant edge separates in the process. Lyric snippet:
I’ve tried so hard, to tell you everything
What can I say, to make you stop and think
You never listen, it doesn’t mean a thing
Until it changes, you kill what hope can bring
I don’t know what it is that you’ve been told
Those liars talk and now your misinformed
The word is solid, it cuts you down to size
Why live in darkness, it’s time you realize
“Crying Out For Love” is lone track to represent a downturn, albeit a slight one. If albums better material grades in the 9 to 10 range, “Crying Out For Love” is an 8 to 8.5. In other words, it is still quite good! Musically, it represents reserved and laid back melodic rock with subdued guitars and satiny vocal melodies, while presenting with the type of intriguing melody inbred to the Intense Defense material.
“Living On The Edge” contrasts as one of albums heaviest. Surmounting rhythm guitar plays a principal role songs length - unguarded, out-front and plainspoken - alongside towering momentum drawing upon straight on metal territory. Moments prior to the rapid-fire lead guitar instrumental run hit particularly hard. Yet, a contrasting ornate element allows the varnished hooks to stand apart that much further.
“Tearing At My Heart” is first of five superlative songs to close the album. Keyboards to start reflecting upon the symphonic - the quality work of Greg Shultz deserves note in this capacity - transitions to the glossed mid-tempo melodic hard rock posture defining the song. An emotional allure separates in the process, particularly for the abetting refrain to see Rock stretch and exhibit full range to his vocal abilities. Lyric snippet:
In my mind
This feeling licked inside, tearing at my heart
It’s never satisfied, tearing at my heart
Walking from this darkened place, water dripping from my face
Seems I’ve walked alone a million years
You melt away the passions schemes
Lead me from my strangest dreams
To where the eagles fly away
“Remembering You” defines as an elegant five minute AOR ballad. With piano and classical keyboards to start, song streams forward to remote but distinct rhythm guitar as bountiful harmonies and exquisite melody beguile with regular play. Mindset might be taciturn and guarded - in a noteworthy sense - but commercial if not radio friendly all the same. Artist later re-recorded the song (including an acoustic version) for his 2001 solo album Something To Say.
“Look To The Sky” distinguishes as up-tempo melodic metal. Guitars rebound to a place of eminence with momentum aligning to articulate of the plainspoken, albeit the Joshua commercial side rears its head found in the operatic backing vocals adorning the lustrous refrain. Again, lead guitar is nothing less than jaw dropping. Lyric snippet:
In the days of decision, with conflict and vision
There burns a star
Look to the sky for the answers
That you need to know
Start once again, rejecting the friends
Knowing who you are
Your heart is renewed
With the spirit that soon takes control
Similar musical leanings maintain on “Don’t You Know” but with an added aggressive aspect. Song opens to acapella vocals ahead of racing to refined initiative pushed by burnished keyboards and the group’s impertinent rhythm section, not relaxing until procuring a calmer mid-point passage laced with piano. Refrain repeating songs title in compelling fashion hits particularly hard.
Album closes to one of my favorites tracks in “Stand Alone”. First minute maneuvers to classical keyboards as burly rhythm guitar cuts in and out of the mix, with force amplifying to a concentrated inclining that crowns for a courtly refrain embossed with ornate vocal melodies. A hyper-accelerated lead guitar run tempers to a passage aligning bass with angelic choir vocals. Lyric snippet:
Feeling the pressure that surrounds you
Good friends are seldom, often few
And now, taking on a higher change
Reaching for the final stage
I’ve got you on my side
And your telling me
Stand alone, find the power deep inside you
Stand alone, feel the fire burning inside
Intense Defense was initially released via RCA Europe but not domestically due to RCA USA dropping Joshua due to placing the statement ‘this album is dedicated to the Glory of God’ in the liner notes. Which doesn’t make sense in light of the fact at the time Intense Defense saw late eighties release, Stryper had sold millions of records; hence, one would think the suits at RCA USA would understand if music is of high quality people are not going to be shy about purchasing an album with a Christian message. That is beyond the fact following an investment of 700k it seems a petty waste for a label not to support an excellent work of art due to a bands declaration of faith, and all the more so when factoring how such work had potential to sell millions of records.
Good news is Intense Defense saw CD re-issue in 2003 via French label Bad Reputation. Better yet, after being re-mastered (courtesy of Wyn Davis of Total Access Studios), Intense Defense was re-issued by the artist in January of 2022 with repaired cover art and its bass tracks re-recorded.
Sadly, Joshua Perahia passed away in late 2024, which prompted me to re-write my original review from over 20 years ago in tribute. That said questions remain unanswered: what happened to the three demos Joshua recorded ahead of Intense Defense not to mention the nine songs recorded in Dieter Dierks’ studio? In my opinion, it is long overdue for such material to be re-mastered and re-issued under the appropriate title Intense Defense Demos.
If a fan of eighties melodic metal and hard rock, Intense Defense represents a can’t miss prospect. The partnership between Perahia and Rock is nothing less than world class, as is consummate songwriting of equal form. Repeat listen reveals artist literally bled his heart and soul into the project and not just from a musical standpoint but also lyrical. My advice is to make the 2022 re-issue a priority purchase; in the absence of that, pursue the original RCA Europe version- it is a highly prized and hard to find collectors item.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Reach Up" (4:43), "I’ve Been Waiting" (4:23), "Only Yesterday" (3:41), "Crying Out For Love" (4:20), "Living On The Edge" (4:08), "Tearing At My Heart" (3:49), "Remembering You" (5:06), "Look To The Sky" (4:14), "Don’t You Know" (4:08), "Stand Alone" (5:02)
Musicians
Rob Rock - Lead Vocals
Joshua Perahia - Guitars
Greg Shultz - Keyboards
Emil Lech - Bass
Tim Gehrt - Drums
Reference List
"Joshua - Why Surrender Now?" Heaven's Metal 37 (1992): 21-22.
"The Struggles Of Joshua." Heaven's Metal 19 (1989): 27-31.
