Tag: Lightforce

Mortification – Break The Curse 1990 – 1994

This album is partially a rerelease of the 1990 Lightforce demo Break The Curse. It includes 4 other tracks from the period as well as a bonus track. I read a few reviews of this album and it appears to have been well received. One of the stranger things I read said “The album focuses on Mortification’s thrash metal style rather than their later death metal.” I have to be completely honest and say that I don’t even really know the difference. In fact I just have no knowledge of this genre at all. I can definitely hear some talent on this album especially the guitar work of Cameron Hall. I read the lyrics are pretty good too but unfortunately my ears are just not tuned to this style of music. Anyway the album is well liked by people who like this style so if you are a thrash kind of person this is one you should give a listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Blood Sacrifice – 3:35
2 – Brutal Warfare – 4:02
3 – Impulsation – 4:29
4 – Turn – 0:57
5 – New Beginning – 2:37
6 – Break The Curse – 2:38
7 – Illusion Of Life – 4:56
8 – Your Last Breath – 3:24
9 – Journey Of Reconciliation – 4:27
10 – The Majestic Infiltration Of Order – 1:08
11 – Butchered Mutilation (Bonus Track Recorded 1993) – 4:46

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Steve Rowe
Drums – Jayson Sherlock
Executive-Producer – Markus Staiger
Guitar – Cameron Hall
Producer, Engineer, Remastered By – Doug Saunders

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – SPV GmbH – CD 077-140832
Pressed By – Pilz Compact Disc – K 40303 A
Remastered At – Toybox Studios
Recorded At – Timbertop Studios

Lightforce – Battlezone – 1987

This was the first full album release from Lightforce but it was self released. I’m not really sure where the line is between a demo and a self released album but anyway I digress. Originally this was released on cassette only but a vinyl version appeared in 2019 courtesy of Soundmass records. It was also included in a 2003 compilation entitled 1986 To 1989. This album has a pretty raw feel which I believe was entirely intentionally. Though this is an early version of Mortification the Lightforce had their own sound and it is a little more commercial. While metal is not one of my preferred styles of music I quite liked the track “Reigning With The King”, I think it cold have been a pretty popular track if it had wider distribution.

Tracklist
1 – Choose To Win – 4:31
2 – Evil Desires – 2:54
3 – Reigning With The King – 5:40
4 – Eyes of Destruction – 5:42
5 – I Won’t Conform – 2:41
6 – The Day Is Near – 2:34
7 – Battlezone – 2:44
8 – Fast Lane – 3:52

Credits
Bass – Steve Rowe
Cover, Layout, Design – Scott Waters
Drums – Errol Willenberg
Guitar – Cameron Hall
Vocals, Keyboards – Steve Johnson

Lightforce – Mystical Thieves – 1989

In researching this album I was surprised by the polar opposite reviews I read. It was either loved or hated.

The general consensus was that this was a jumping off point for Steve Rowe who later went on to be a member of the far more popular Mortification.

My take on the album is that the mix was horrible. It feels like the engineer was trying to give the album a Hard Rock sound when in reality it was a Heavy Metal/Thrash album, leaning closer to Thrash.

I was not impressed with the vocals either but that wasn’t the fault of the mix. That said the album does have a spot in the genre so some will probably love this album.

Track Listing:
1 – Mystical Thieves – 8:05
2 – Crossfire – 4:15
3 – City Streets – 4:35
4 – Metal Missionary – 5:25
5 – Children Of Sorrow – 3:54
6 – Searching – 5:30
7 – Fast Lane – 3:52
8 – Babylon – 7:00

Credits:
Artwork [Cover] – Jan Alphic, John Alphic
Backing Vocals [Backup Grunts, Groans And Squeals] – Mark (B.B) Hamilton
Bass [Bass Grinding], Backing Vocals [Backup Grunts] – Steve Rowe
Drums, Backing Vocals [Backup Grunts] – Errol Willenburg
Engineer – John Bosua
Engineer [Assistant] – Andrew Horne, David Asender, Mark Donaldson
Graphics – Mike Maxwell
Guitar [Guitar Abuse], Backing Vocals [Backup Grunts] – Murray Adams
Keyboards, Wind [Lead] – Gary Shepherd
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Steve Johnson
Management – Allan Thomas
Photography By – Colin Mann, Natalie Smith
Producer – John Bosua, Lightforce

Various – The Axemen – 1988

This is a 1988 sampler from Pure Metal Records (a division of Refuge Music Group). It features some of the best heavy metal bands of the late 80’s.

Track Listing:
1 – Whitecross – Shakedown – 4:13
2 – Bride – Hell No – 3:50
3 – Saint – Returning – 4:45
4 – Force 3 – Warrior Of Light – 5:32
5 – Lightforce – Babylon – 6:54
6 – Jerusalem – Covered By Blood – 3:34
7 – The Daniel Band – Party In Heaven – 2:57
8 – Rosanna’s Raiders – Serve Someone – 4:04
9 – Novella – Running Home – 4:49
10 – Scarlet Red – You Live Fast – 4:46
11 – Bjorn Stigsson – Come Together – 2:59