| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Bill Grabowski |
| Record Label: Pure Metal | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1986 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 8 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 43:00 |
The Messiah Prophet 1986 Pure Metal Records sophomore effort Master Of The Metal is an enticing amalgamation of melodic, traditional and speed metal, putting it at the forefront of the top albums to come out of the ‘white metal’ scene of the time. Released in follow up to 1984 Mirada Records debut full length Rock The Flock, Master Of The Metal is not without its share of accolades, including placing sixty-fourth in a Christian Metal Realm countdown of the top 100 Christian metal albums and sixty-fifth in a similar list at Rate Your Music. An Angelic Warlord article outlining the top 50 Christian metal albums of the 80’s ranked it twenty-seventh, while an article specific to 1986 rated it third.
Messiah Prophet, truncating its name from the Messiah Prophet Band moniker used for Rock The Flock, faced lineup changes in the form of departed guitarist Rob Clark and his replacement rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist Brian Nicarry, while bassist Dean Pellen and drummer Dave Daubert were supplanted by Joe Shirk and David Thunder, respectively. Holdovers in the Messiah Prophet lineup include vocalist Charlie Clark and guitarist Andy Strauss.
Perhaps it is the continuity from a revamped roster or maturity bands commonly make between their first and second albums, but Master Of The Metal finds Messiah Prophet making significant musical step and strides post Rock The Flock. The group, for instance, is not afraid to stretch and push itself musically and expand beyond the Rock The Flock musical boundaries. Aftermath is more consistent songwriting revealed in stronger hooks and melodies alongside greater depth to song structuring.
Opener “Heavy Metal Thunder” is a good indicator of the newfound Messiah Prophet musical acumen. Despite the clichéd title, song unleashes the straight on metal goods in form of impudent rhythm guitar and brassy low end to go alongside unabashed mid-paced impetus. Vocally, Clark ranges from lightly woven almost spoken word phrasing to high-end and soaring.
Catchy speed metal territory ensues on “The Friend”. Song launches in instant form, rushing headlong to the magnetic guitar riffs urging the breathless verse sections and equally rapid fire (and instantaneously memorable) refrain. Cacophonous vocal melodies expand upon the incessant energy. Likewise, the combustible duel lead guitar of Strauss and Nicarry. Lyric snippet:
Blinded eyes down a one-way street,
Darkened by their own defeat,
Wisdom lost, hunger for a need,
Promises caught up in their greed.
When you think you're at the end, and your life's just one big sin,
Just reach out and grab a hand, and you know there is a friend,
And you know there is a friend.
“Battle Cry” rates with my favorite eighties metal ballads. It touches upon a technical form, agglomerating lushly done acoustic undertones for the articulate first two minutes and jagged rhythm guitar the four that follow to create a demonstrative effect not unlike lengthy Bloodgood ballads “Top Of The Mountain” and “Changing Me” (off Out Of The Darkness from 1989). Multiple arresting lead guitar instrumental runs tie everything together. Vocally, Nicarry’s classic tenor form lends to the unreserved emotion prompting the prestigious refrain.
Seven minute “Voice That’s Calling” embodies the Messiah Prophet progressive side. It proves slowly moving with a darkly woven if not portent allure, emanating its length to convulsive rhythm guitar (heralding the constant verse sections) but heartening as glassy vocal melodies flow in (identifying the magnanimous refrain). Powerful final two minutes see the phrase ‘Jesus, Jesus I will have no Gods before you’ continuously repeated in between intense lead guitar runs. Lyric snippet:
Sometimes we walk in circles,
A thousand leagues have passed us by,
But when we get to where we started, we just break down and we cry,
Can't you hear a voice that's calling?
It's calling out from deep inside,
If you'd only stop to listen, he'll bring new life to what has died.
There's a light shining out to the world,
In the darkness, by his power, we are hurled.
“Hit And Run” hearkens back to “The Friend” as a fast-paced heavy hitter. With drum solo and wailing sirens to start, song cuts ahead to keen harmonies in setting a fierce tone as vocals wail with validity and hooks embrace in immediate fashion. Boundless vocal melodies help set a feverish tone, as does the high-strung bass work.
Similar to “Heavy Metal Thunder”, “Master Of The Metal” falls victim to a clichéd title but is otherwise a powerhouse. Albums title track breathes of mid-tempo traditional metal muscle, crunching with implacable abandon but also snarling in light of the vehement backing vocals furthering the earnest refrain. Yet, a softer side to the song emerges in the form of recurring outlying keyboards. Lyric snippet:
Jesus said upon this rock
My church will stand
And for my church
I'll come again
He's the Master
The Master of the metal
For Him I sing
He's the Master
The Master of the metal
Christ, my Lord, my King
He's the Master of the metal
“For Whom Does The Bell Toll” ranks among the finer Psalm 23 inspired metal cuts I have heard. It comes across in the form of a melodic metal ballad, untroubled with the ringing bells and church organ to start but soon joined by choral keyboards and still harmonizing. The collected melancholy, however, preserves until shaken by the rhythm guitar bursting forth to heighten the ‘yea though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil’ refrain.
Album seamlessly transitions to closer “Fear No Evil”. Song contrasts with its whirlwind form, launching at once in full abandon to storms of rhythm guitar - the Strauss and Nicarry guitar team shine in this regard - and maintaining the furious mindset its seven-minute span. Halfway point finds guitar dropping from the mix and leaving drums to join with haunting laughter ensued by a fierce instrumental run: bass solo gives way to an extended stretch of duel lead guitar (sort of like Bride’s “Heroes” from Live To Die). Lyric snippet:
Racing along at break-neck speed, running for your life,
Wolves have bared their teeth again; moon shines full tonight,
You see their faces twist and turn: creatures of the night,
Bloody hands and blood-stained fangs challenge you to fight.
No, there's no more need to run,
Fight, stand up for the Son,
He has given you the sword,
Fight, He's given you his word
If interested in a metal album with variety - again, melodic to traditional to speed - look no further than Messiah Prophet sophomore effort Master Of The Metal. The group is on fire throughout, brimming with youthful energy but also creativity found in varied and well-conceived songwriting not to mention a prime duel lead vocal and guitarist approach. Album more than deserves the accolades it has received.
That said, best of luck finding Master Of The Metal due to the fact it has been an out of print and hard to find (not to mention pricey) collectors item for decades. It is long overdue to be re-mastered (which would correct any minor production thinness standing in way of a higher score) and re-issued with improved packaging (lyrics on the Pure Metal CD insert are in a fine nearly impossible to read font).
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Musicians
Charlie Clark - Lead Vocals
Andy Strauss - Guitars
Brian Nicarry - Guitars & Lead Vocals
Joe Shirk - Bass
David Thunder - Drums & Percussion
Guest Musicians
Bill Grabowski - Guitars
Alexander Paul - Guitars
Track Listing: “Heavy Metal Thunder” (5:32), “The Friend” (3:44), “Battle Cry” (6:25), “Voice That’s Calling” (7:00), “Hit And Run” (4:17), “Master Of The Metal” (4:59), “For Whom Does The Bell Toll (Psalm 23) (4:10), “Fear No Evil” (6:49)
Reference List
Muttillo, David. "Whatever Happened To... Messiah Prophet?". Heaven's Metal 54 (1995): 35.
