Infinity Rocks Volume 1

Infinity Rocks Vol 1
1991 Mosaic Records
Woodhaven, New York, USA

Side 1:

1. Cephas – Close to Me
2. Creator – Faith in God
3. The Solid Rock Band – Raindrops
4. Hearts of Fire – Will You Dance
5. Eternal Destiny – 100 Percent Pure
6. Spirit – Love Casts a Shadow

Side 2:

1. Image – Crossfire
2. The Keys – A Matter of Faith
3. Outwork – When the Walls Come Down
4. Wilderness – Through the Fire (remix)
5. The Shock – I Found My Strength in You

Several of the tracks from this tape have appeared on YouTube, so I was glad to get to hear the rest of them. This appears to be a compilation of bands mostly from New York state, or a few of the surrounding states. The styles range from metal to alternative, but mostly in the heavy realm. Cephas is a traditional metal band that leans towards the neoclassical side of metal. Creator is also a traditional metal band that sounds a bit like early Saint and Leviticus mixed. The Solid Rock Band is a female front rock/hard rock band (they contribute a ballad here, so I can’t tell how much they rock out). Hearts of Fire is another band that rides the line between rock and hard rock, with some keyboard rocking in the background. Eternal Destiny has been covered here before – this track is one of the funkier metal  ones from their Paradise Awaits tape. Spirit has the next ballad, but this seems to be more of a metal power ballad. Side 2 transitions into mostly alternative rock bands. Image is still pretty heavy, but more of a heavy alternative rock sound. This is also not the heavy metal band that was previously reviewed here. The Keys are a bit more of a standard blues-rock sound, with a slight power pop influence. Outwork brings a slower 80s alt rock sound. Wilderness is a standard rock band, maybe even stadium rock. They didn’t get a favorable review in The Cutting Edge in 93, but they aren’t bad here at least. The Shock is middle of the road classic rock band with a bit of boogie here. Their name actually stand for “Sharing Hope Of Christ’s Kingdom,” which reads weird with the “The” in front of it.

Eternal Destiny – Live, Loud & Louderer

Eternal Destiny
Live, Loud & Louderer
1995 (no label)
Valley Stream, New York, USA

1. Love Waits
2. Verbal Sword
3. Just Like U
4. Sinful Society
5. Into the Streets
6. Follow You
7. ‘Tis So Sweet

This appears to be one of the final demos by Eternal Destiny – I’m just not sure if this one or the untitled 3-song demo was released later. This one also starts off with “Love Waits” like many other demos, but they seem to have toned downed the power-pop-ness of it some finally. They seem to go for a slightly heavier, more commercial metal sound here. I see where songs like “Just Like You” draw comparisons to Guns n’ Roses and Guardian. But then songs like “Sinful Society” come out with a 90s funk metal sound.  They close out the demo with a metal version of the classic hymn “Tis So Sweet.”

Eternal Destiny – 1995 Demo

Eternal Destiny
1995 Demo
1995 (no label)
Valley Stream , New York, USA

1. Love Waits
2. Rationalize
3. Give You All

Following up on their 1994 demo, Eternal Destiny released two demos in 1995 – this one, and Live, Loud & Louderer.  I’m not sure which one of these was released first. This tape starts off with a new version of “Love Waits” from 1991’s Paradise Awaits. As with that demo, that song seems to stick out on this demo as well. The next two songs are back to their 90s metal / groove / slightly-funk sound. They seem to be getting more and more confident of their sound as the tapes go along.

Missing Information: Who played on this demo?

Eternal Destiny – 1994 Demo

Eternal Destiny
Eternal Destiny
1994 (no label)
Valley Stream , New York, USA

David P. Moen – Lead vocals, background vocals
John Betz – Lead guitar,  rhythm guitar, background vocals
Chris Cogliano – Bass guitar, background vocals
Anthony Cellucci – Drums

Glen Hansen – Background vocals

1. I Love the Lord
2. Hang in There
3. Why Go to Hell

It seems to have been three years since their last demo Paradise Awaits. Or maybe there is a missing demo out there. But from the beginning, you can tell they have a much better grasp of the sound they want to follow: a mix of 90s metal / non-grunge sounds. There is a bit of the early 90s party metal, some power pop influences, and a bit heavier than their last demo. They tend to favor big Beatles-esque choruses on this demo as well. Even a slight bit of funk metal on the last track. They followed this demo with two demos in 1995 – an untitled 3 song demo and one called Live, Loud & Louderer.

Eternal Destiny – Paradise Awaits

Eternal Destiny
Paradise Awaits
1991 (no label)
Valley Stream , New York, USA

John
Dave
Anthony
Harold

Side 1:

1. Paradise Awaits
2. Greater Love
3. I’ve Got a Ticket
4. The Cure

Side 2:

1. 100% Pure
2. Whenever I Need You
3. ‘Til the End of Time
4. Rock of Salvation

I have to be honest – I was expecting some CCM cheese rock based on the cover. But the first song blasts out with a hard rock / power pop / punk rock vibe. Almost like a more commercial metal Plankeye song from The Spark. That song (“Paradise Awaits“) would be re-recorded on their 1995 demo as well as Live, Loud & Louderer (also in 1995) with a different title “Love Waits.” The rest of the demo seems to reside somewhere between hard rock and 90s groove or funk metal. They seems to be finding their sound a bit on this tape, but by the time of their 1994 demo, they seem to have found it. You can find this demo, as well as their other demos, on their Facebook page.