| Musical Style: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Michael |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1995 / 2019 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 15 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 78:16 |
Michael and its independently released 1995 custom cassette debut The Battle Rages On led to a style misdirect on our part. With a moniker evoking images of the archangel Michael (‘commanding Gods army against Satan’s forces in the Book of Revelation’) and a title impressing of spiritual warfare, my initial thought is that the group plays either some form of power metal (think Sacred Warrior) or epic heavy metal (not unlike Dark War era Xalt). Further confounding matters is complementary cover art depicting a medieval sword alongside the bands name and album title over a folded out scroll.
Turns out my expectations could not be more off base in that Michael delivers instead eighties influenced AOR and melodic hard rock that brings to mind Sweet Crystal, Idle Cure, Fighter, Petra and others of similar vein. Lyrics are fittingly evangelistic. All the trimmings are present for the styles at hand, including vocals to command a classic tenor to soaring presence but also guitars and keyboards as required, noting the clever instrumental interplay between the two. Songwriting delivers needed goods in terms of notable melodies and catchy hooks to garner the listener’s attention with repeat play.
Good news is that despite its long out of print and hard to find status, The Battle Rages On was re-mastered (by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) and re-issued on Roxx Records in the fall of 2019 with the original 12 songs and 3 live bonus tracks. A professionally done 12-page mini booklet with lyrics and liner notes attributes to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal graphics.
“The Rock” opens The Battle Rages on as a fitting arena rocker, with a high-end falsetto from vocalist Shane Freeman to start giving way to the even mix of crystalline keyboards and crisp rhythm guitar upholding the remaining anthem-like distance. Similar too many of the albums tracks, a keyboard and guitar solo is featured along with a mid-point scripture reading (from Deuteronomy 32). Lyric snippet:
In the master of life you get a clean start
The Rock
Let Jesus Christ autograph your heart
You need a hero, don’t’ turn to men
The Rock
They’ll let you down, they’ll fall to sin
Check Him out, He’s a rebel with a cause
There’s love for you in all that He does
“No Fear” ups heaviness and slows tempo with a gritty (almost blues based) hard rock inclining revealed in guitars playing the more forward role and vocals that lead towards a coarser, middle register bent. The haunting instrumental opening minute to play up ominous overtures alongside choral vocals comes across boding in form.
“Last Days” contrasts with its fast paced tempo, exuding of high energy and vigor its length as an assertive musical statement is made (noting the heavy footed work of timekeeper Dennis Raymond) but can also smooth in burnished fashion (revealed in the even vocal harmonies to close things out). Of note is how “Last Days” is albums first track to feature a stretch of the group’s staple na-na-na-na-na-na-na backing vocals. Lyric snippet:
Look around
Sinners hearts should fear
Those days aren’t close
They’re here
So change your way
Giving God all the praise
Don’t wait for judgment day
Make Jesus Lord of your life, we pray
“Standing Alone” is a customary but very well done AOR ballad defined by acoustic guitar, keyboards and moving vocal performance from Freeman. Narration from Psalm 1:1 closes things out. “Lord Of My Life” ensues as a companion track with its semi-ballad form, joining piano and acoustic sentiments with periodic bursts of rhythm guitar, particularly for the focused refrain. Narration attributes to John 14:21.
“Warriors” follows as a well-timed hard rocker. Opening to the group’s na-na-na-na-na harmony vocals, the song takes off to a groove laden mixture of assertive guitars and profound bass that leads the way through moments driving and thickly woven and those that explode militantly in aligning with the victorious spiritual warfare themes:
We don’t give in to the ways of men
And all his wickedness
There’s nod defeat
In the Kingdom of the Lord
Into the night, dressed full
In the armor of righteousness
The darkness lost at the cross
Like a flood the Holy Spirit poured
Rise up, be counted
Warriors of Christ
Consummate Petra style worship rocker “Praise God” begins to acapella vocals prior to maneuvering its subsequent minute instrumentally to tasteful bass and keyboard solos. Moving ahead, the song decelerates in somber fashion for its blues drenched verse sections only to pick up at once for an exultant refrain exhorting the listener to ‘Praise God, our Savior, our King, Look up, don’t’ look down’. Keyboards return to uphold the instrumental moments.
The keyboards and vocals to start “Stop Wasting Time” transition to an onrush of guitar driven momentum. It mirrors up-tempo melodic hard rock the rest of the way, polished with its generous keyboards (not to mention burnished mid-point keyboard solo) and ample doses of the groups Stryper like harmony vocals. Topping things off is narration from Romans 13:11. Lyric snippet:
Go along, into the night, no regard
What is right
Just how long will you have your fun
You better turn around
Before the damage is done
It’s always the same,
This game that you’re playing
You blame someone else for yesterday
Now won’t you stop and see that He is near
He’ll hold you close and calm all your fear
Ranking with albums heaviest, “Lies” cruises through its ominous verse sections to open air bass as guitars drop from the mix only to burst of initiative with guitars blasting forth to back a perfectly crafted refrain in line with the somber scene. Backing vocals hint of King’s X. “Flames Of Hell” ensues in similar form, equally heavy with its driving sentiments and assertive, lower register vocals but also delivery an affluence of catchy hooks rate to with this reviewers choice tracks. The opening Revelation 12:10-12 narration helps set the caustic tone.
After two cuts on the doleful side, “Don’t Receive That” presents with an uplifting demeanor drawing upon an up-tempo melodic hard rock form. Backing vocals are big as it gets (in a flattering sense) as are engaging melodies and enticing guitar rhythms. Bluesy lead guitar and keyboards trade off instrumentally.
Album takes its lone downturn on closer “Salvation”. Not that it is in any way flawed - it fits within the groups AOR format with its sleek form and decided melodies - but is also held back (and ultimately loses me) with the trite rap vocals to make periodic appearance. In the end, it comes across too cheesy for my taste despite the positive message:
Power & glory, majesty & grace
This is the God Almighty & His holy place
Reach out your hand,
He’ll break the chains
Through the blood of Christ
The Holy Spirit reigns
Jesus is the way
He is forgiveness, He holds the key
Jesus is salvation
He’s the savior, He’ll set you free
As for the bonus tracks, they are (expectedly) a bit rough production wise in including two previously never released cuts in “Generation X”, with big bass and edgy guitars to come across funky and groove based, and “You & Me”, a ballad in which piano gives way to guitars and driving rhythms to highlight pop bases sentiments. Third is a rousing version to “Lies” that does not stray far from the original.
A strong showing by Michael on the ministry based AOR and melodic rock of its debut The Battle Rages On. Give credit to Roxx Records for the re-issue, particularly as it pertains to re-mastering and packaging but also for allowing a previously unheard of album (at least to this reviewer) again see the light of day. It also comes down to quality in that songwriting is widely consistent and all band members prove able performers. In the end, connoisseurs of AOR will find Michael up to standard.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Rock” (5:36), “No Fear” (5:14), “Last Days” (5:17), “Standing Alone” (4:09), “Lord Of My Life” (4:29), “Warrior” (5:15), “Praise God” (4:42), “Stop Wasting Time” (4:13), “Lies” (5:48), “Flames Of Hell” (4:53), “Don’t Receive That” (5:29), “Salvation“ (5:25), “Lies” (live) (6:24), “Generation X” (live) (4:13), “You & Me” (live) (7:10)
Musicians
Shane Freeman - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Todd Waites - Keyboards
Mike Slone - Bass
Dennis Raymond - Drums
