Altar Boys – Forever Mercy – 1989

This was the last real studio album from Altar Boys though they did come together in 2018 to release an album. At this point they simply weren’t the punk powerhouse they once were. If anything at this point they were more new wave than punk. That said I missed this one in the 80’s and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. The band were super tight at this point and Steve Griffith was an excellent choice as producer. Though I preferred their commercial punk sound this album is good too.

Tracklist
1 – Forever Mercy – 4:20
2 – Listen Up – 4:28
3 – Faith! – 4:03
4 – The Meaning Of Life – 4:26
5 – Ride This Train – 4:26
6 – World Burning – 4:00
7 – Here Ends The Night – 3:53
8 – Love Eternal – 3:55
9 – More Than Words – 3:48
10 – Silent Night – 4:13

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Bass – Ric Alba
Drums – Jeff Crandall
Drums [Additional] – Steve Griffith
Engineer – Steve Griffith
Engineer [Additional] – Dave Jahnsen
Guitar – Mike Stand, Ric Alba
Guitar [Additional] – Steve Griffith
Harmonica – Mike Stand
Lead Guitar – Mike Stand, Steve Pannier
Lead Vocals – Mike Stand
Percussion – Jeff Crandall
Performer [Altar Boys Is] – Jeff Crandall, Mike Stand, Ric Alba
Photography – David Dobson
Producer – Steve Griffith
Vocals – Jeff Crandall, Ric Alba
Vocals [Additional] – Steve Griffith

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Frontline Music Group
Copyright © – Broken Songs
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Alarma Records
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab
Marketed By – Frontline Records
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Liaison – Urgency – 1991

Brothers Larry and Tim Melby are back with their second album and in my opinion it picks up where the first one left off. Others however feel it has a heavier feel but everyone hears things a little different. Bill Baumgart is back in the producers seat but also gets credited as the keyboard player for the album. The album did well with 2 radio hits, “Free Will” made it to #9 and “Friend To The World” to #14. All in all it’s a great album but I feel it might have been a little late in 1991 but as I love all things eighties I don’t care.

Tracklist
1 – Urgency – 4:17
2 – Ocean View – 3:47
3 – Luwenda – 4:26
4 – Listen Up – 3:44
5 – The Hardest Part’s The Waiting – 4:59
6 – He Smiled – 4:34
7 – Lay Our Weapons Down – 4:48
8 – Free Will – 4:06
9 – All I Have To Offer You – 3:56
10 – Friend To The World – 4:28

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Tim Melby
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangement], Keyboards – Tim Heintz
Art Direction, Design – Ed Mc Taggart, Joe Potter
Bass – Kelly Burns
Drums – Doug Matthews, Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Dave Jahnsen
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Glenn Pearce
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Lary Melby
Photography – Michael Seeley
Producer, Engineer, Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangemen], Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement], Keyboards – Bill Baumgart
Production Manager [Production Coordinator] – Beth Wisner
Vocals [Additional Vocals], Acoustic Guitar – Rick Elias

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab
Mixed At – Front Page Recording
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Modest Attraction – Get Ready – 1992

Modest Attraction Featured Christian Liljegren (Narnia) and Mick Nordstrom (Leviticus) and rose from the ashes of Swedish band Borderline. This album is actually their first 2 Demos put together. These may have been demos but the production is fantastic. Mick Nordström is credited with production and this was one of the first albums he produced and he nailed it. This was only released in Sweden until 2021 when Retroactive Records did a U.S. re-release so you may have missed this one. This is without a doubt one of my favourite Metal albums I’ve reviewed yet. Everyone knows that Metal is not my preferred genre but wow this album is just so good it doesn’t matter. If you like hard rock I think you’ll like this one as its well produced and the guitar is decipherable so give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Action – 3:30
2 – King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll – 3:47
3 – Get Ready! – 4:31
4 – Come On! – 4:08
5 – Unfailing Love – 3:25
6 – Be Your Child – 2:40
7 – Love Shot Me Down – 4:08
8 – Calm Before The Storm – 4:47
9 – Shake The World – 3:29
10 – Down On My Knees – 4:11

Credits
Arranged By – Modest Attraction
Artwork [Album Cover By] – Jonatan Samuelsson
Bass, Vocals – Simeon Liljegren
Drums, Keyboards [Keys], Vocals – Mick Nordström
Engineer [Engineered By] – Mick Nordström, Peter Jingsäter
Executive-Producer – Matthew B. Hunt
Guitar [All Guitar Parts on Side A Played By] – Stefan Selvander
Guitar [All Guitars] – Stephan Mohlin
Layout, Design – Scott Waters
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Christian Liljegren
Liner Notes – Christian Liljegren
Producer [Produced By] – Mick Nordström

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Retroactive Records
Licensed To – Retroactive Records
Recorded At – PLC Recording Studio Hultsfred
Mixed At – PLC Recording Studio Hultsfred
Designed At – NoLifeTilMetal
Manufactured By – The ADS Group – 24379-CD-0085