| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 3-Disc Set / 40 tracks | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: |
It had to happen eventually. The Malachia 1986 debut EP Under The Blade and 1987 full length offering Red Sunrise have finally been re-issued, courtesy of Roxx Records in the spring of 2018 as part of a 2-CD set entitled Red Sunrise… The Complete Anthology. I always lumped Malachia together with other talented unsigned ‘white metal’ from the period such as Soldier, Cross, Paradox, Crossforce and Taker, all of which previously had their demo material and custom cassette releases re-issued in one form of another. Malachia, on the other hand, remained the lone holdout that is until now when Roxx Records stepped to the plate and amassed literally its entire back catalog.
In addition to re-mastered versions to Under The Blade and Red Sunrise, which encompass the first disc, a high volume of unreleased demo material is comprised as well, attributing to the second. Included along with the first Malachia demo from 1985 are several lost garage/basement recordings and the demo it recorded with stand-in vocalist Donnarae Gaby. You will also find two versions to “Runaway”, the track the group recorded in 1988 under the Vision moniker, with the first re-mastered (as found on the first disc) and second as it appeared on the California Metal II compilation (second). A third disc limited to the first 100 orders also features the audio of the bands performance at the Metal Mardi Gras Festival from 1987, which is an official bootleg pulled from a hand held recording.
It is tempting to label Malachia as another ‘hair metal’ band in light of its image, but that might be limiting in that there is so much more to it musically. It begins with how it makes generous use of keyboards but in a complementary sense to create a landscape at times dark, moody and even Goth-like, noting how Malachia separated itself when factoring few bands from the time made keyboards such a focal point to their sound. It also includes the manner in which the three and a half octave vocal range of front man Ken Pike helps invite the group’s comparison to Queensryche. It adds up to how I have come to better identify with Malachia as ‘keyboard driven metal with a progressive edge’ as opposed to ‘hair metal’ instead.
Why the long delay in Malachia re-releasing its back catalog? I cannot help but think it was waiting for the right label. Enter Roxx Records, whom deserves commendation for the overall quality to the final product that is Red Sunrise... The Complete Anthology, and not just in terms of re-mastering and volume of material (it is not labeled ‘complete’ for nothing) but also packaging.
The multi page mini booklet deserves an A+ for the depth of its detail, including extensive liner notes from Malachia members bassist Wade Little, vocalist Ken Pike, guitarist Jeffrey James, keyboardist Steve ‘Chima’ Ayola and drummer Dave Devaughn. Each provides his most memorable Malachia moments, many of which trace to the groups beginnings but also include favorite songs and shows, recording the “Runaway” & “Lonely Is The Night” videos, change to the Vision moniker and working with brothers Elefante (for California Metal II). You will even find detailed commentary about not only each song from Red Sunrise and Under The Blade but the demo material as well! Vintage band photos and scans of ticket stubs and concert flyers further round things out.
Due to such a high volume of material, I thought it would work best to forgo one of my standard track-by-track breakdowns in favor of devoting several paragraphs to each disc instead.
Disc One
My history with Red Sunrise dates to the turn of the century when I picked up a used cassette copy at a thrift store and later acquired the vinyl via eBay, but a lack of a working cassette player and turntable relegated it to the backburner until the Roxx re-issue. Given opportunity to reacquaint myself with Red Sunrise, I gained further appreciation for its production, with re-mastering realizing a more polished sound to feature better-defined guitars and keyboards, and bass that makes a more pronounced low-end statement.
Malachia reveals its heavier side on Red Sunrise opener “In Christ We Rock”, which despite the clichéd title proves a metal anthem inherent to a high-energy refrain and several falsettos to find Pike revealing the full breadth to his voice. A darker tone embodies follow up cuts “Red Sunrise”, a melodic amalgamating of organ and laid back tempo to create a 70’s effect, and “Lonely Is The Night”, a moody semi ballad starting to eerie keyboards that segue to bombastic guitars and profound bass. The driving metal to “Let It Go” ensues, as intense guitar riffs and swirling keyboards build upon the catchy melody at hand.
Red Sunrise second half starts to the Queensrche influenced “Sightless Eyes”, an upbeat but emotional three minutes innate to hooks non-stop and Steve ‘Chima’ Ayola’s mesmerizing keyboards. Subsequent cuts “Heaven Or Hell” and “Mark Of The Beast” combine for a two-song suite. Former sleekly flows its distance in imposing fashion in touching upon power metal, while latter tempers impetus and ups aggression to deliver a rawer metal based sound. Commonality between the two is ample doses of Jeffrey James’ neo-classical lead guitar work. Malachia saves its best for last in classy ballad “Master’s Call”, as piano, orchestral keyboards and violin coalesce with Pike’s towering vocal presence to make an intrepid statement.
Six of the eight Red Sunrise tracks made their initial appearance on Under The Blade with “Lonely Is The Night” and “Sightless Eyes” the holdouts. When placed alongside, Under The Blade features the more stripped down and bare bones sound to highlight fewer keyboards and a rawer edge in terms of guitars. With the exception to the backwards masking narration at the start, main changes to report include the accompanying audience track on “In Christ We Rock” and violin missing on “Master’s Call”. Otherwise, the Under The Blade tracks pretty much stay true to their Red Sunrise equivalents.
“Runaway”, which actually appears between Red Sunrise and Under The Blade on the Disc One track listing, remains a high-energy melodic metal piece in which a soaring tempo and exquisite keyboards join with an elaborate instrumental proclivity. Both versions sound fine, although the re-mastering allows bass to better reinforce the low end.
Disc Two
As one might expect, the demo material has some rough production edges, but that is not the point. Rather, it is a pleasure to hear such a high volume of long, lost Malachia tracks (many of which are high quality) that otherwise might have sat in the vault indefinitely.
Outside of a different version to “In Christ We Rock” under the title “In Christ”, the 1985 Demo is exclusive to three never before heard cuts. My favorite is “Keep The Faith”, an intricate progressive rocker running the gamut from gently done guitars for the opening minute to a near speed metal romp at the mid-point to the doom-ish riffs at the end. Brilliant! This one would sound right at home as the ninth cut to Red Sunrise. Final two are also good, with “Plain Sight” a gritty hard rocker with a catchy hook and “Separate Ways” blues influenced in featuring several scorching lead guitar runs from original guitarist Scott Stewart.
Lost Garage Tapes/Basement Recordings feature six unique cuts. “Change Of Heart” reflects upon melodic hard rock with its pop based leanings, while “What Must I Do” takes a similar stance in playing up a commercial form as does “Loves, It’s Only You I See” in tempering impetus but elevating melody. “Life Giver”, in contrast, ups heaviness with its staunch blues based bearing, and likewise “Light” from its use of hard charging riffs and plundering bass. My favorite is the Guardian inspired “Tonal Intensity” in joining a profound melody with every bit prominent low-end groove qualies.
Closing Disc Two are four cuts fronted by soulful front lady Donnarae Gaby, whom lends a radio friendly element to Malachia, which while not necessarily better is certainly different. Consider in this capacity “We Touch”, a pop metal anthem with a guitar melody hinting of Van Halen’s “Panama”, and “Not Living Without You”, another melodic hard rock cut but with a bluesy edge (sort of like Bride). You will also find different versions to “Tonal Intensity” and “What Must I Do” that align with the accessible bent Gaby brings to the Malachia material.
Disc Three
Cannot say I am the biggest live album fan in that, well, they do not always sound live. All too often, for instance, they end up doctored to such an extent on the back end they come across as compilations of studio versions to songs backed with an audience track. The few live albums I enjoy - can you say Barren Cross, Hotter Than Hell! Live - accurately capture a bands performance, warts and all. Enter Disc Three, and the Malachia appearance at the 1987 Metal Mardi Gras Festival, which, as the liner notes suggest, was ‘recorded from the audience using one device, it is what one would call ‘bootleg’ quality’. In other words, what you see is what you get!
I agree it represents a ‘true piece of Christian metal history’ in finding Malachia ripping through a set made up of seven Red Sunrise cuts (exception being “Master’s Call”) in addition to 1985 Demo track “Plain Sight” and the previously unreleased “Golgotha”.
The group is on fire in opening its set to “Heaven Or Hell” and “Mark Of The Beast”, with Ken Pike particularly standing out in smoothly translating his studio vocal performance live (same range and projection). Also remaining in fine form is Jeffrey James, as his neo-classical guitar playing highlights “Red Sunrise” and “Plain Sight”, and Steve Ayola, whose keyboards add a refined element to “Let It Go” and “Sightless”.
As for “Golgotha”, it is a keyed up (and very good) seventies style hard rock piece in which fitting organ and grainy guitars interweave to initiate a dramatic effect. Musically, it would fit nicely on Red Sunrise. Closing things in follow up is a rousing version to “In Christ We Rock” to feature Pike’s participation with the audience, whom sing along during the anthem-like chorus.
Summary
Highlight for me on The Complete Anthology are the re-mastered Red Sunrise tracks, which in my opinion find Malachia not only at the top of its songwriting game but well ahead of its time as well. If recorded today with its keyboard heavy progressive sound, Red Sunrise would more than likely fall under designations such as ‘European” or ‘symphonic’ in terms of musical leaning. Not that it wasn’t well known back in the day, but I can see Malachia being even bigger in a current hard music scene that places such strong emphasis on a power/progressive based sound. I also appreciate hearing the rawer Under The Blade, which is actually quite the scarce collectors item (due to a limited vinyl print run, copies of Under The Blade can exceed $500 on eBay).
Added treat, of course comes in the form of the previously unreleased demo material of which songwriting quality is such I wish the group had opportunity to record several choice tracks professionally, including “Keep The Faith”, “Plain Sight”, “Love, It’s Only You I See”, “Tonal Intensity” and others. While we are at it, it would have also been nice to hear a bit more from Donnarae Gaby. You also cannot understate how the Metal Mardi Gras performance captures Malachia in its live prime form.
I feel it is sufficient to sum up by succinctly stating that if a fan of Malachia or the eighties Christian metal scene, then do not hesitate to pick up Red Sunrise… The Complete Anthology before it goes out of print. Thanks to Roxx Records for making it available in such a high quality form.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Disc One): “In Christ We Rock”, “Red Sunrise”, “Lonely Is The Night”, “Let It Go”, “Sightless Eyes”, “Heaven Or Hell”, “Mark Of The Beast”, “Master’s Call”, “Runaway”, “Narration”, “Heaven Or Hell”, “Mark Of The Beast”, “Master’s Call”, “Let It Go”, “Red Sunrise”, “In Christ We Rock”
Track Listing (Disc Two): “Runaway”, “In Christ”, “Keep The Faith”, “Plain Sight”, “Separate Ways”, “Change Of A Heart Beat”, “Life Giver”, “What Must I Do”, “Light”, “Love, It’s Only You I See”, “Tonal Intensity”, “We Touch”, “Not Living Without You”, Tonal Intensity”, “What Must I Do”
Track Listing (Disc Three): “Heaven Or Hell”, “Mark Of The Beast”, “Red Sunrise”, “Let It Go”, Sightless Eyes”, “Plain Sight”, “Lonely Is The Night”, “Golgotha”, “In Christ We Rock”
