| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Joey Powers & James Erdman |
| Record Label: Pure Metal / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1990 / 2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 39:37 |
We had high-hopes for the Pure Metal Records 1990 Xalt debut full length Under The Ruins, and deservedly so. The group was riding a wave of success following the 1988 independent release to its critically acclaimed full-length demo custom cassette entitled Dark War. Actually, I use the term ‘demo’ loosely in that Dark War stands apart as a ‘professionally packaged cassette’ in which ‘cover art looks great’ and ‘production sounds full’ (quoting the review from Heaven’s Metal issue 18). Angelic Warlord got in the act as well with an 80% review to the August of 2017 Retroactive re-issue in which we suggest “(to say Dark War impresses) would be an understatement in that (we) took to the Xalt penchant for blending various forms of metal and first class manner in which it performed and recorded its material.’
Specifically, Dark War featured a spiritual warfare infused neo-classical sound to touch upon power, progressive, melodic and bluesy metal with a strong instrumental emphasis. Under The Ruins, on the other hand, backs, from the musical variances to Dark War in taking a straightforward metal and hard rock stance but also finds Xalt distancing from some of its innate creativity in the process. Upshot is by no means bad - a ‘medium to good album’ to again note the Angelic Warlord review - that captures the brilliance of Dark War when at its best but otherwise presents with the more inconsistent and uneven package of songs.
The May of 2021 Retroactive CD and vinyl re-issue to Under The Ruins improves upon things. Along with enhanced cover art and multi-page mini booklet home to a montage of vintage band photos and concert flyers (courtesy of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics), Under The Ruins was also re-mastered (noting the work of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound). Rounding things out is a Xalt trading card in addition to the bonus track “Take A Look”.
Credit Colwell for as fine a re-mastering job I have heard. What amounts plain and flat production to the original, comes alive with a significant dose of polish to realize better the true Xalt sound. Low-end in particular comes across fuller with bass and drums cleanly separating in the mix and guitars delivering a pronounced crisper and rawer edge.
Albums first seven songs realize that brilliance in question, starting with the upbeat energy of opener “Through The Night”. With classically influenced guitars leading the way, song powers to larger than life drums and headlong bass, noting the work of Todd Gleason and Randy Carlson, respectively, in setting a victorious of not what amounts an anthem-like tone. This is classic eighties metal all the way. Lyric snippet:
Standing on the Rock of my salvation
Closing my eyes I sing to You
Living your life is my dedication
I know Your love will see me through
The love of Jesus, that's guiding me
Through the darkness of the night
Chasing away all my reasons to fear
Bringing guidance to my life
“Forgiven” ups heaviness with a rawer and more aggressive sound better drawing upon traditional metal. Guitarist James Erdman stands out accordingly, with riffs of a snarling capacity and soloing to touch upon the bluesy. What is not lost in the process is the hook driven tone.
“Under The Ruins” impresses as every bit no-nonsense in aligning equal parts heavy and melodic. Albums title track maintains the hard-hitting intensity throughout, pummeling through its animated verse sections only to culminate for the punchy hooks to its acute refrain. Effective range exhibited by smooth, mid-ranged vocalist Scott Doerfler. Lyric snippet:
March through the valley of the shadow
Persecution comes from every side
When I'm down I'm not defeated
In His presence that I hide
When I'm weak
That's when I'm strong
It's Your love that keeps me hanging on
A trace of power metal on stomper “Waste Your Life Away”, as a return to a commanding direction reveals toiling riffs to slam with authority and focused spoken word delivery bringing to mind a combining of Barren Cross and eighties era Bride, very good company indeed. Impetus only slows for the shred lead guitar instrumental section.
Xalt proves it is ballad proficient as well on “Lost Without Your Love”. Song comes across stylishly done with acoustic guitar and keyboards to start, picking up impetus a minute in to rhythm guitar only to return to an acoustic direction- back and forth and back again, all the while upholding a high melody. FM radio, where were you back in the day? Lyric snippet:
All my life I searched for only You
Waiting on a vision that was true
Now I think I've finally come to see
Your love was always waiting there for me
On that evening when I heard You call my name
I knew right then that I would never be the same
Now every day we spend, I'm held within Your love
And having You with me will always be enough
“Piercing The Darkness” impresses as an anthem rocker in the truest sense. It jump-starts to lively bass conjoined with bombastic riffing, cultivating the grandiose qualities found in the imperious refrain and victorious vocal delivery with a lofty bent. Erdman’s pointed lead guitar further reinforces the high-energy form.
Also good is “Fortress”, a short but curt powerhouse hard rocker with an elevated disposition and rough-hewn hooks to speak of the resolved. Periodic choral like backing vocals lean towards a power metal bent, and touch upon some of the classical elements to Dark War accordingly. Lyric snippet:
Praise your deliverer
The fortress of authority
Filled with His spirit
Transcending all iniquity
Facing destruction
Your victory is won
Take up to the sky
Upon the Lord's return
Final three cuts mirror albums uneven side, beginning with five-minute “Wounded Heart”, which opens and closes to a minute of acoustic guitar to reflect a semi-ballad aspect. In between, it proves a bare bones metal piece, basic and no frills in not exuding the catchiest hooks but not lacking warmth and promptness all the same.
“The Kingdom Within” represents albums lone instrumental metal attempt. Song reveals as medium good in lacking the intuitive flair to the Dark War instrumentals but otherwise highlights solid melody alongside guitar harmonies galore. Lone complaint is that I wish group had carried it out further than three minutes.
Up-tempo metal piece “Lift Him Up” is lone track to skirt filler territory. Impression is on the rudimentary side with song structuring a bit rudimentary for my taste and lacking the hooks to draw in with repeat play. Likewise bonus track “Take A Look”, a blues infused boogie rocker with complementary female backing vocals but also on the short side at just two and a half minutes.
As a full-length debut, Under The Ruins presents with its share of choice songwriting moments but not enough in my opinion to rank alongside initial custom cassette offering Dark War. Obviously, Xalt continues to leave little doubt as to its instrumental and vocal proficiency. Any drawback to production on the original are offset by the magnificent Colwell re-mastering, while top-notch packaging to the Retroactive re-issue further enhances the final product. Overall, on Under The Ruins Xalt exhibits the significant potential it went on to reach on 1991 Pure Metal Records follow up effort History, which I hope is next in line for re-issue.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Through The Night” (3:47), “Forgiven” (2:49), “Under The Ruins” (4:03), “Waste Your Life Away” (3:32), “Lost Without Your Love” (4:06), “Piercing The Darkness” (4:51), “Fortress” (2:49), “Wounded Heart” (4:48), “the Kingdom Within” (2:53), “Lift Him Up” (3:34), “Take A Look” (2:26)
Musicians
Scott Doerfler - Lead Vocals
James Erdman - Guitars
Randy Carlson - Bass
Todd Gleason - Drums
