| Musical Style: Melodic Heavy Metal | Produced By: Mercy Rule & Rick Young |
| Record Label: R.E.X. Music / Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1989 / 2023 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 /15 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 37:57 / 54:56 |
On the surface, the Mercy Rule 1989 R.E.X. Music debut full length Overruled has a lot going for it: catchy songwriting, a young band brimming with potential and top-notch musicianship and vocals. What it doesn’t have is up to standard production, well thought out packaging and musical consistency. Taking into account good far outweighs the bad, it adds up to a slightly uneven albeit very commendable release.
Mercy Rule traces to the early eighties and Detroit, Michigan, where Aaron Byrnes (lead vocals and guitars) and brothers George (guitars and vocals) and Rich (drums) Favazza founded it under the name Black Ace. Unbeknownst to one another, the three made decisions of faith, which according to Byrnes in an online interview ‘was the start of trying to find our new path’. This led to the acquisition of bassist and keyboardist Bruce Tordrup, whom rounded out the Black Ace lineup previous to it changing its name to Aziz in 1982 and pursuing a musical direction on the ‘subdued side” (again, quoting the interview). The mid-eighties advent of Stryper, however, inspired the group to embrace a heavier sound in addition to the Mercy Rule moniker.
Whereas Mercy Rule reflects a strong eighties influence, it would be a misnomer to use the melodic metal and hard rock label with the pop, hair and glam trappings to go in hand. Rather, what I hear in Mercy Rule is straightforward heavy metal with a melodic edge, which while not inviting direction comparison brings to mind early Stryper, Messiah Prophet, Emerald and Rage Of Angels. A good indicator of such is the track “Cities Are Burning” that Mercy Rule placed on the 1988 Underground Metal compilation to join technically heavy but melodic songwriting with solid production. Unfortunately, Overruled fails to capture similar levels of production aptitude despite the group hiring the same producer it worked with on “Cities Are Burning”.
Good news is the Roxx Records spring of 2023 re-issue to Overruled improves production from how the Bombworks Sound re-mastering sidesteps the flat and muddy original release by lending a dose of polish to result in a cleaner mix of drums, firmer guitars and better balance of vocals. Also taking a step up is the No Life Til Metal Graphics packaging to feature a mini booklet home to vintage band photos alongside lyrics and liner notes in an easy to read font. Bonus material comes in the form of “Cities Are Burning” and the groups pre-Overruled four-song demo.
Albums first eight songs capture that catchy songwriting, potential and top-notch musicianship and vocals in questions. There is not a skip button among them, beginning with “You Lied To Me”, a barn burner whose blistering opening seconds remind of Stryper’s “Loud ‘N’ Clear” and remaining minutes are awash with razor edged guitars, instant hooks and searing guitar leads. Standing out in the process are Byrnes’ complementary at times mid-ranged and others high-end vocal qualities. Lyric snippet:
Death cannot hold me down
Lies cannot turn me around
The chains are broken now
I know the living way
I'm telling all my friends
Of this victorious end
The Saviour calls today
I hear his voice
And now I can say
“Cecilia” ensues as a guitar harmony driven monster - the professionalism to the Byrnes and Favazza team cannot be understated - rooted in draw you in at once sensibilities but in a mid-paced form upheld but driving momentum and the ever-present Mercy Rule layered vocal melodies. A dark and gritty element to the song would allow it to sound at home on Bride’s Silence Is Madness.
“Lonely Heart” is first of two stunning ballads. Good news it is a metal ballad, beginning in a heavier rocking form only to decelerate to airy keyboards and acoustic guitar as lightly woven harmonies propel the reflective scene. At moments notice, staunch rhythm guitar returns to impel the way to the breathtaking refrain and bristling lead guitar to ensue. The improvements from the Bombworks re-mastering particularly stand out on this one. Lyric snippet:
You look good outside
fake smile with tears inside
you hide the real person in
Look at you
you're living with yourself.
you need a friend
you need the living King
Whoa, you've got a lonely heart
With clashing symbols to start ensued by Tordrup’s powering bass, “Real Love” smoothly flows to glistening keyboards until rhythm guitar steps in to make the more persuasive statement. The song seamlessly maneuvers in steadfast fashion as commercial but not to fault vocal melodies make periodic appearance. Four songs in and I cannot help but be impressed with Rich Favazza’s technical timekeeping.
“Don’t Cha Know” delivers big doses of low end groove and matches it with a boogie-flavored ardor. Mercy Rule reveals its youthful angst in the process, found in the brash ‘don’t cha know he’s making a fool out of you’ refrain that refuses to go away presumptuous demeanor throughout. The songs audacious momentum proves unyielding. Lyric snippet:
Just take a look at you
You've got it figured out
You spin your wheels
Laughing, joking, playing
Playing in this life
Trapped in a dream of his lies
Trapped in a dream
You're having such a good time
Surely it's okay
You think you'll be just fine
In flaming walls of pain
“Black And White” is first of albums three best cuts. It begins to open air guitar that gives way to the forceful impetus to carry its distance, an almost traditional metal yielding prevails, and expansive vocals to walk a fine line between Michael Sweet (Stryper) and Dale Thompson (Bride), melody is not forsaken in the process. Group’s musicianship is over the top, with accelerated lead guitar carried over manifold drumming.
“Prodigal” is a three minute stomper to touch upon speed metal. The catchy riffs powering its span join with galloping underpinnings, combining for an intense acumen resulting in some of albums heaviest and most melodic moments. It is a challenge to keep this one out of my head. Lyric snippet:
I've been away too long.
Now I'm homeward bound.
I am weak make me strong
I've been away long
Oh I can't believe
You're running out to me
I was blind now I see.
You're running out to me
“If You Only Knew” is as fine as it gets Scorpions style ballad. Gently done guitars and acoustic sentiments gracefully impel things from the get go, reflecting upon the calmly reticent for the brightly keyboard laced verse sections but echoing of the inspired as rhythm guitar cuts in and leads the way to the prevailing commercially tinged refrain. Where is FM radio when you need it?
Sadly, a pair of filler tracks close out Overruled, “There’s A Love” and “Stand Up On The Rock”. I hesitate to label either as terrible but they do not do anything for me either from lacking the technical flair and staunch hooks to albums better material. Not to be harsh but the two feel forced or rushed at the last minute to complete the track listing. Replace both with “Cities Are Burning” and you end up with as close to perfect a nine-song track listing you will find.
Speaking of which, “Cities Are Burning is a quintessential example of metal with a melodic edge Mercy Rule songwriting. The drum solo opening that gives way to bruising guitars mirrors the metal side of things, while the ‘whoa-whoa-oh’ backing vocals to ensue along with the prevalent catchy hooks point to the melodic aspect. Maturity of the group’s songwriting cannot be questioned.
I am not going to go into a lot of detail regarding the four demo cuts but to say that “Cities Are Burning”, “You Lied To Me”, “Cecelia” and “Lonely Heart” pretty much stay true to their Overruled counterparts. Lone difference is the rawer and thinning feel to production. Nothing wrong with that in that I am glad for their inclusion by representing the earliest efforts of Mercy Rule.
If the first eight songs to Overruled are any indicator of the Mercy Rule potential, the group easily would be mentioned in the same sentence as contemporaries Barren Cross, Bloodgood, Bride, Whitecross and others if given opportunity to record a follow up or two. Yes, in my opinion the songwriting and musicianship is of such high quality and foreshadows of bigger and better things from Mercy Rule, which unfortunately never came to fruition. Whereas production and packaging represent downturns, the Roxx Records re-issue upgrades either area, which accordingly makes it a strongly recommended purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "You Lied To Me" (3:13), "Cecilia" (3:33), "Lonely Heart" (3:35), "Real Love" (3:37), "Don’t Cha Know" (3:53), "Black And White" (4:46), "Prodigal" (3:21), "If You Only Knew" (6:02), "There’s A Love" (3:11), "Stand Up On The Rock" (2:48), “Cities Are Burning” (4:04), “Cities Are Burning” (4:05), “You Lied To Me” (2:54), “Cecelia” (3:21), “Lonely Heart” (3:25)
Musicians
Aaron Byrnes – Lead Vocals & Guitars
George Favazza – Guitars & Lead Vocals
Bruce Tordrup – Bass & Keyboards
Rich Favazza - Drums
