UMUR
"Take Command - The Demo Years" is a vinyl only compilation release by US power metal act Mystic Force. The compilation was released through C.M.F.T. Records in 1990. "Take Command - The Demo Years" features all four tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo and all four tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP. They are presented here in a historical wrong order with the tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP first followed by the tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo. As the two original releases are very rare items, this compilation was shortly a good way to get a hold of the tracks from those releases (it should be noted though that the tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP are also featured on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990)"). These days "Take Command - The Demo Years" is probably as rare as the original releases though.
The band play a US power metal style with nods toward traditional progressive metal not completely unlike artists like Queensrÿche, Fates Warning and Lethal. The tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP feature a semi-progressive edge while the tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo are more "straight" US power metal. The sound production on both releases were of good quality for the time and the musicianship excellent. Heavy riffing, blistering solo work, high pitched clean vocals and a tight playing rythm section. In other words: Quality US power metal.
Considering how rare the original releases were (and still are), the idea to release "Take Command - The Demo Years" was good. The compilation has successfully served the purpose of making rare material more available instead of being just another "best-of" compilation type release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.