Zadox – Demo

Zadox
Demo
1990 (no label)
Tyler, Texas, USA

1. The Genesis
2. Answer the Call
3. God Rules
4. Down to the Bone

Not to be confused with Zadok. Another demo rip that should have stopped and then started over. The first half of the first song is warbled until the tape finally cleared up. The first song is also an instrumental intro as well. The sound here is a late 80s thrash metal sound with influences from Metallica to Testament. Although this is a bit more on the groove side than the speed metal side of late 80s thrash. This band (or members of it) used to be called Archangel, and they had a demo of power metal leaning thrash in 1989 before changing names.

Missing Information: Who played on this tape?

Archangel – Demo

Archangel
Demo
1989 (no label)
Tyler, Texas, USA

1. S.O.S.
2. God Rules
3. Answer the Call
4. Out of Control
5. Down to the Bone
6. Your Love

Another Archangel band, but this one has no mailing address or member list as far as I can tell. The picture on the front shows a five-piece band, which is different than the other two four-piece bands named Archangel. This one also starts off a bit heavier and more traditional metal than the other two, and keeps getting heavier and heavier until you start thinking you are listening to a thrash metal band. If you were to mix Iron Maiden and early Metallica, it might sound a lot like this. Depending on the year, I might even say this was a band influenced by the same NWOBHM bands that also influenced Metallica (if it was, say, early 80s). But “Down to the Bone” has a definite Bay-area thrash style to it, so maybe it was later.

Update: It looks like this was released in 1989, and the band changed names to Zadox in 1989 or 1990.

Missing Information: Who played on this?

Archangel – Demo

Archangel
Demo
1988 (no label)
Brandon, Florida, USA

Bucky Diamond – Vocals
Rane Steele – Guitars
Rich Jividen – Bass
Marc David – Power Drums

1. Wastelands
2. Until the Night
3. I.C.U.
4. The Harvest

That is one metal cover! Archangel comes bursting out of the gates with a traditional/power metal sound to match the cover as well. They then jump into a power metal balled (not a metal power ballad – think more like Riot or similar bands). Then they go back to the metal for the next song (“I.C.U.” which is a bit more commercial metal) and then close with another power metal ballad. The big question with this band is if they are the same band that recorded a more thrash metal 6 song demo, or the Burn Burn Burn single in 1989. the song “Burn Burn Burn” was on Big Rage Volume 1, and the liner notes make it clear that it was a different band from Ohio. As far as the other demo, to my ears, it sounds like a different band (or at least, a different singer) doing a different type of metal.

Big Rage! Volume 1 – 1990

Big Rage! Volume 1
1990 Pure Metal Records

Side 1:

1. The Stand – Don’t Look Back
2. Paradox – Give a Listen
3. Zeal – Loner
4. Mitch Bohet – Bottom of It
5. Sanxtion – The Resurrection and Life
6. Heebie Jeebies – Land of the Free

Side 2:

1. Lust Control – Mad at the Girls
2. Torah – Pray for the Children
3. Archangel – Burn, Burn, Burn
4. Repent – Shadows
5. Bryan Whited – Heaven Can’t Wait
6. Outcry – Vessels Unto Honor

Big Rage! was a compilation from Pure Metal that I think was only released on tape. It is technically a label release, but it contained only underground (at the time) bands of various styles. The Stand is the same power pop/alt rock band that also released this song on Heartbreak Town. Paradox is the traditional power metal band from San Antonio – this song has been on many comps and it rocks. Zeal is a power metal/neoclassical metal band that sounds like many similar bands that were influenced by bands like Riot at the time. Mitch Bohet is alt rock artist that had his song produced by Charlie Peacock, and it bears his influence (not a bad thing). Sanxtion is an epic power metal/speed metal band. Heebie Jeebies is an experimental-ish band that uses drum machines, but it is not industrial. I don’t think. Lust Control is, well, Lust Control. Punk and in your face. Torah has been featured here before – female fronted heavy metal. Archangel is a more commercial metal band with AC/DC influence vocals, but a more driving metal sound. Repent is a band that has a regular metal sounding band with kind of haunting vocals that give them a more original sound that others. Bryan Whited is a traditional metal solo project with a full band. Outcry was a one-time name change for Crucifix just for this song – keyboard-laced traditional metal.