HISTORY
|
|
Band typical of the dawns of the Thrash, the
AS have had glory and fall in John Cyriis, a vocalist of Los Angeles that in
84, together with the drummer Chuck Profus, he's founded a band that seemed
destined, since the beginnings, to a radiant career. Their demos had done the
joy of the tapes traders, almost as those of the contemporary Testament. Not
that Cyriis was an illustrious stranger: you/he/she had belonged to the
Abattoir, another group to his way he who anticipate. And from them you/he/she
had gone for problems of incompatibility bringing himself behind Profus and
Juan Garcia. When the band had put under contracted by the Combat Rec, the
game seemed fact. Together with Cyriis and Profus we find the guitarists Kurt
Kilfelt and Juan Garcia and to the lower part Gorge Robb. The band proposes a
Metal that crosses the style typical of the NWBHM, with heaviness purely
thrash. Made the debts proportions, they are almost more ahead than the
Metallic one. The first album went out with various problems of the banal
production (flat sound and insufficient mix) to the delayed exit. The label
always in conflict with Cyriis, he has caused many problems to the band,
denying a tour in Europe and sabotaging the exit of the EP Mad locust rising.
And also the their according to album went out with 8 months, with the entry
of Bernei Versailles to the guitar and Mike Zaputil to the lower part for the
defection of Kurt and Kilfelt that considered John a psychopath with manias
of greatness. AGENT STEEL 'Back To
Reign' Agent Steel,
known only for 2 albums, an EP, a couple of compilation tracks and two video
releases (all within a 4 year period), have, thanks to their great talent,
withstood the test of time and can now be recognized as one of the definitive
American power metal bands. Perhaps considered too 'different' in their
heyday (popular between 1985-1987), Agent Steel's main uniqueness came from
singer John Cyriis' astounding voice (a Halford/Tate amalgam) and his
speculatative lyrical ideas, as well as the fast, crunchy, hookladen and
surprising melodic guitar work that recalled the best of the then-popular San
Francisco Bay Area thrash metal scene as well as the exquisite axework of
prime Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Alas, this unique approach was probably
one of the key elements that led to the downfall of the band, as Cyriis and
company, ever progressing (and too heavy for the mainstream while not
aggressive enough for the underground), were eventually met with an eroding
fan base that was looking for more brutal sounds. Agent Steel got their start with the
compilation album Metal Massacre Volume 4, courtesy of Metal Blade Accords.
Though 'Agent Steel' cannot be found in the credits, 2 songs paved the way to
the formation of the band: First, the Sceptre track "Taken By
Force" (later to became an Agent Steel favorite): the guitar player for
Sceptre was the Sao Paulo, Brazil-born John Camps, a student of G.I.T. in
California. Camps recorded a 3 song demo with Sceptre, which included the
Camps penned "Taken By Force" and " 144,000 Gone . Leaving the
band, Camps auditioned for the vocalist opening with the band Abbatoir,
acquiring the stage name 'John Syriis' (soon changed to John Cyriis). At the
time Cyriis joined Abbatoir, the group (which also had soon-to-be Agent Steel
guitarist Juan Garcia in its ranks) already had a demo recorded; a Metal
Massacre slot accepted, Abbatoir recut the vocal tracks on their song
"Screams From The Grave" with Cyriis singing. Amazingly, the former
guitarist Camps was also an amazing singer as well. But his tenure with Abbatoir was short; after
6 months Cyriis left Abbatoir, and hooked up with drummer Chuch Profus.
Cyriis and Profuse come up with the band name 'Sanctuary,' but soon scrapped
this in favor of the more straightforward Agent Steel monicker (the religious
implications of 'Sanctuary' unwanted by the two men) With guitarists Mark
Marshall (preSavage Grace) and Sill Simmons, plus bassist George Robb, the
group recorded the demo '144,000 Gone' in the Summer of 1984, and quickly
gained great reviews for their Maiden-meets-thrash melodic speed metal
approach. Guitarists Marshall and Simmons were soon out
(a fellow named John Gott was also in and out pretty quick) and the line-up
of Cyriss, Profuse, Robb, plus new guitar recruits Juan Garcia (exAbbatoir:
he played on the debut Abbatoir LP 'Vicious Attack,' but was not credited)
and Kurt Colfelt ('Kiltelt' being his stage name; preHoly Terror) recorded
the debut Agent Steel album 'Skeptics Apocalypse' for Combat Records (released
on Roadrunner in Europe) in August of 1985. Originally meant to be a 12"
EP, 'Skeptics Apocalypse' turned into a short 8 song (plus intro) LP, yet can
now be considered a heavy metal masterpiece. Built upon relentless speed,
hugely inspired Maidenesque guitar harmonies, and Cyriis' mesmerizing
multi-octave talents, plus some of the catchiest writing in metal history,
'Skeptics Apocalypss' stood alone in 1985, Bernard Doe, the publisher of the
popular 80's British metal magazine Metal Forces voted Skeptics Apocalypse as
one of the top 10 albums of 1985, well above Slayer, Pantera, and Megadeth in
the standings. Singer Cyriis was also voted as the 04 vocalist of 1985 by the
readers of Metal Forces, only beaten by Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), Tom Araya
(Slayer), and Ronnie James Dio. Behind Cyriis in the poll were Geoff Tale
(Queensryche), Eric Adams (Manowar), and even Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden). A falling out with Cyriis led to the
departure of Kurt Colfelt, who soon formed his own band (now of cult status)
Holy Terror. In came the gifted teenage guitarist Bernie Versye/Versailles to
fill Colfelt's shoes. Skeptics Apocalypse was quickly followed up with the
12" EP 'Mad Locust Rising' that was recorded in late 1985 and relsased
in early 1986 through Combat (USA, on blue vinyl; promo copies on black) and
Music For Nations (Europe). In Europe the 12" contained just 3 full
songs: "Mad Locust Rising!The Swarm Is Upon Us," "Let It Be
Done," and an excellent cover of Judas Priest's "The Ripper."
In the US, "Taken By Force" was also added as a bonus track. This
EP, originally planned as a picture disc, only added to Agent Steel's
popularity in Europe, particularly the G.A.S. and Benelux countries. A tour
was called for! After exchanging bass player George Robb for
Michael Zaputil, Agent Steel began tracking their new album 'Unstoppable
Force' at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida in March of 1986. They
interrupted the recording sessions to play the Aardschok Dag Festival in
Eindhoven, Holland in April 1986 with such metal bands as Laaz Rockit,
Helloween, and King Diamond. Staying in Europe, Agent Steel successfully
toured tram May 7 through May 18th with Overkill and Anthrax, before
returning to the States to finish Unstoppable Force in June of 1986. Alas,
the album's release was delayed due to complications with !he album cover
artwork. so a early 1987 offering was planned. In November 1986 major record label Capitol
Records, fresh from signing Megadeth, were eager to add Agent Steel to their
roster. Agent Steel showcased for the label, and an ofter was made. In a
tactical error, Agent Steel's management asked Capitol for more money, which
the label apparently agreed to, with the stipulation that the band wait until
the New Year (and the aquisitition of new department budets). And here is
where Agent Steel'", end can i.e found: Cyriis and Profus decided to
relocate to Florida for various reasons, and Garcia (to form Evil Dead),
Versailles, and Zaputil, frustrater' with the brilliant Cyriis' changing
personality (he was said to have also been going through a very difficult
time in his life as well) decided to stay behind in California, Come January
1987, the Capitol people, suspicious of the many Agent Steel line-up changes,
pulled the offer. Cyriis and Profus, having relocated to Tampa, Florida (as
Cyriis' once explained, to be closer to the Bermuda Triangle and all of its
energies) hired guitarists James Murphy (later to be in Obituary, Testament,
and many others) and Jay Weslord along with bass player Richard Bateman
(exNasty Savage; he later died tragically in a car accident) to do a tour of
Europe. Unstoppable Force garnered an outstanding 91
points in Meta( Forces {Cyriis also earning a place in the top 10 singers
list by the readers for 1886), as well as incredible reviews all across the
rest of Europe. and Agent Steel. at that point, appeared to be headed for the
big time. It's difficult not to agree, as this time the band got the
production they sorely needed from Dan Johnson (Crimson Glory, Death,
Whiplash, etc) as well as even better playing, the sound being heavier and
more accessible at the same time, The album contained superb speed metal
("Unstoppable Force"). crushing anthems ("Rager"). an
epic instrumental ("The Day At Guyana") and even a ballad or two ("Still
'searchin') first showcased the depth of Cyriis' voice. Cyriis' long time
partner Profus' drumming was relentnessly pounding, lending the speed assault
on the title track while adding, with Zaputil's capable bass lines. actual
'groove' into power metal monsters lil e "Indestructive" and
"Nothin' Left." And not only was "The Day Of Guyana" a
work of art by guitarists Garcia and Versailles. but their crushing rhythms
guitars. complementing Cyriis' lungs. dominated the album, galloping with
feeling on "Chosen 'Co Stay" and simply blowing away the listener
on the est anthem "Never Surrender." As always. Versailles and
Garcia incorporated beautiful dual leads and Euro melodies into the mix.
upping the memorablitity factor another notch. Again Agent Steel came through
with a masterpiece, not only one of the top albums of 1987. but in my book
one of the greatest metal alburns of all time, However. though the revamped Agent Steel
gained a voracious response while touring in places like Hollaod and the
German speaking countries in June of 1987, the tour with Nuclear Assault
(capped with a big show at the Hammersmith Odeon that also had Onslaught as
the initial opener) was the final nail in the coffin. as things were
apparently never the same. A video of the Hammersmiih Odeon show was later
released (in October of 1989) and showed the band to be in fine form, but the
fickle audience seemed unable to comprehend the larger than life vocals of
Cyriis and the fine guitar interplay of Murphy and Weslord. Reviews of the
show tell of enthusiastic madness for Onslaught and Nuclear Assault, and of
slight indifference to Agent Steel. The band. Though displaying a new song,
'The Unexpected," knew their time was up. The kids wanted something
taster. heavier. and just more brutal. But Agent Steel. always progressing,
wore not going in that direction. Or at least Cyriis and Proteus were not.
More inner band frustrations led Agent Steel to disband in June of 1988. Profus and Cyriis, on their way back to
California. got arrested in a Pheonix Hotel. allegedly because they were
performing 'Satanic rituals.' The misunderstandings cleared up, Cyriis and
Profus joined guitarist Michael Hill and his band Pontius Prophet, which
released a 3 song demo tape. In the Summer of 1988 Pontius Prophet dissolved
and Cyriis stated in a press release that he had retired from the music
business. Profus then formed Malfeitor. a group that also included Michael
Hili as well as 'Max Kobol,' which was noise other than John Cyriis/John
Camps. The band planned to write an album. which sadly never surfaced. John
Cyriis. slepping out from his 'Koboll' role. in the Summer of 1989 moved back
to Florida and joined Tampa band Lemegeton. They are said to have recorded a
demo named 'Evil Against Evil.' Cyriis, using the Kobol name once again.
briefly appeared in the Summer of 1990 with theiNew York band Black Reign, A
3 song demo was offered, and was described as Agent Steel type power meta(.
Since ]990. no word on Cyriis' status. As for the other Agent Steel members. Garcia
played on the 1st Abbatoir LP 'Vicious Attack' (Abbatoir released another Lp
'The Only Sate Place' before breaking up) and. after leaving Agent Steel,
formed the thrash band Evil Dead with his friends from the then-defunct
Abbatoir. Evil Dead. signing to Sleamhammer/sPV, released an EP, 2 studio
albums, and a live album before metarnorphoeizing into Garcia's current band
Terror. Kurt Kilfelt/Coltell formed Holy Terror. an excellent
power-speed-melodio thrash metal band with a good singer (who had an almost
hardcore-ish style at times) Two albums were released through Music For
Nations; the first album was reissued in the States in a remixed form. A
third album was planned (and allegedly written) but theo band disappeared.
Bernie Versailles is still active. and a few years back recorded a technical
metal album in the vein of watchtower and Confessor that did not get picked
up. He has a new band now, Mark Marshall joined Savage Grace and played on
their superb After The Fall From Grace album back in ]907. James Murphy went
on to play with Death. Obitluary. Testament. Disincarnate (his own band) and
has even done a solo album or two. |
ALBUM
|
||
|
1985 |
SKEPTIC
APOCALYPSE |
1° |
|
|
(THE CALLING), AGENTS OF STEEL, TAKEN BY FORCE, EVIL
EYE/EVIL MINDS, BLEED FOR THE GODZ,CHILDREN OF THE SUN, 144.000 GONE, GUILTY
AS CHARGED, BACK TO REIGN, CALLING 98 FOR SKEPTICS, THE UNEXPECTED(LIVE). |
COMBAT/RIS.
CENTURY MEDIA |
|
1985 |
MAD
LOCUST RISING |
EP |
|
|
(THE
SWARM IS UPON US) 0.17, MAD
LOCUST RISING 4.20,THE RIPPER 2.33, LET
IT BE DONE/THE DAY AT GUYANA 5.03.
(4) |
COMBAT/RIS.
CENTURY MEDIA |
|
1987 |
UNSTOPPABLE
FORCE |
2° |
|
|
UNSTOPPABLE
FORCE, NEVER SURRENDER, INDESTRUCTIVE, CHOSEN TO STAY, STILL SEARCHIN’,
RAGER, THE DAY AT GUYANA, NOTHIN’ LEFT, TRAVELER. (9) |
COMBAT/RIS.
CENTURY MEDIA |
|
1999 |
OMEGA
CONSPIRACY |
3° |
|
|
DESTROY
THE HUSH, ILLUMINATI IS MACHINE, FIGHTING
BACKWARDS, NEW GODZ, KNOW YOUR MASTER, INFINITY, AWAKEN THE SWARM, INTO THE
NOWHERE, BLEED FOREVER, IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. |
CANDLELIGHT |
NATION
|
GENRE
|
|
U.S.A. |
HEAVY
THRASH METAL |
BAND
|
2000 |
ACTIVE |
ALBUM |
OTHER BAND |
|
VOCALS |
BRUCE
HALL |
3° |
|
|
|
GUITARS |
BERNIE
VERSAILLES |
EP – 3° |
||
|
GUITARS |
JUAN GARCIA |
ALL |
|
|
|
BASS |
KARLOS MEDINA |
3°
|
|
|
|
DRUMS |
CHUCK
PROFUS |
ALL
|
|
|
|
*VOCALS |
JOHN
CYRIIS |
1° -
2°
|
|
|
|
*GUITARS |
KURT
KILFELT |
1°
|
HOLY TERROR
|
|
|
*BASS |
GEORGE
ROBB |
1°
|
|
|
|
*BASS |
MICHAEL
ZAPUTIL |
EP – 2°
|
|
|