Chris Bennett – New Material

Chris Bennett
New Material
199? (no label)
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Side 1:

1. Can’t Say
2. Close Your Eyes
3. In the Game

Side 2:

1. Real
2. Far From Nowhere
3. Despair

This is a solo tape from former Glorious Thunder singer Chris Bennett. It is kind of alternative / progressive like his former band, but with more of a King’s X vibe. It’s not really heavy, so maybe more like a serious PFR or less heavy Believable Picnic. At times he also reminds me of a lighter Novella as well. Sadly, Bennett has passed away recently, so this seems to be his only solo output. Its pretty catchy – you wish there was more. Not sure of the date, but the video description places it at possibly in the mid-90s. Also don’t know if this was a “one person band” project, or if others helped.

Missing Information: What year was this released? Did anyone else play on this tape?

Glorious Thunder – Demo

Glorious Thunder
Demo
1996 (no label)
Shelby Twp, Michigan, USA

Dave Ybarra – Lead Vocals
Dale Wilstermann – Drums, BGV’s
David Wilstermann – Bass, BGV’s
Aaron Waite – Guitar, BGV’s
Tim Lemke – Keys, BGV’s

1. I Give It to You
2. Comfort Me
3. Unglued

I didn’t think this band did much after 1993’s Twice Told Tale – but I guess I was wrong. This 1996 demo showed up in the Scene and Unseen Music Club. I wonder if there is anything more before or after this one? It seems that the Wilstermann brothers have assembled a new band around themselves. I wasn’t sure what style they were specifically going for on their 1991 demo Altoculumus, but this demo is mostly alternative rock. They do rock out in the last song “Unglued,” so it seems they are also slightly hard rock as well. But if that is their last song, its quite the rocker to go out on.

Glorious Thunder – Altocumulus

Glorious Thunder
Altocumulus
1991 (no label)
Shelby Twp, Michigan, USA

Chris Bennett – Vocals, guitars
Ryan Gilbert – Keys, vocals
Dave Wilsermann – Bass, vocals
Dale Wilsermann- Drums, vocals

Side 1:

1. Unfailing Love
2. Live What You Believe
3. Don’t Fall
4. Flood My Soul
5. Light of Your Path

Side 2:

1. Not Gonna Change
2. Save Another Life
3. Hiding
4. I’m Gonna Go

I’m not really sure what style this is when the tape starts – a hard rock sound that might be a bit alternative rock? They go acoustic rock on the next track. The third song is more acoustic rock. But the fourth track is definitely a metal song, but with some keyboards that pull it back into hard rock? They kind of go back and forth between styles – the keyboards and acoustic guitars make it sound a bit progressive or alternative, while the crunchy guitars and song writing give it a hard rock/heavy metal feel. They have at least one release after this tape called Twice Told Tale in 1993 and a 1996 demo.