Xalt – Dark War (original version)

Xalt
Dark War (original version)
1987 (no label)

John Heald – Vocals, drums
Jim Erdman – Guitars
Steve Davis – Bass
Ed Englerth – Bass
Todd Gleason – Drums

1. Ariel
2. On the Cross
3. Dark War
4. Palace Daydream (instrumental)
5. Angry Fire
6. Ready for the Fight
7. God in a Box
8. 19:13-14 (Where Victory Storms) (instrumental)
9. Looking Down a Loaded Gun
10. A Warriors Honor

So this is an interesting tape. As you can see by the label, it claims to have unreleased songs by several bands and people. It is really an early version of Dark War as well as the last demo by Armada (and the names listed on the spine are people in those bands). I will review them separately here. I was quite surprise by this version of Dark War – it actually has a different vocalist than the official release. Heald is a much grittier, gruff, deeper voice than Scott Doerfler (who is the vocalist you have heard on the official release). The instruments are also a big tougher here. I might actually like this version better than the officially released version. Heald and Englerth were members of Armada that might have just been brought in for this recording to help. The instrumental called “Rev. 19:13-14” above was renamed to “Where Victory Storms” on the official release, and another instrumental called “Soldiers in the Midst” was added to the official release as well. Also, the song order was changed some on the official release.