AGENT STEEL

Thrash Metal / Speed Metal • United States

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Agent Steel are a speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums and one EP before ending in 1988. They were most notable for John Cyriis's high-pitched vocals, catchy songs, melodic riffs and fast tempos mixed in with their unusual (in heavy metal) UFO imagery. The band reformed in 1999 and has released three full length albums since.

History In 1983 a demo was released by a speed metal band named Sceptre which contained two future Agent Steel songs: Taken By Force and 144,000 Gone. The guitarist on this demo was John Camps who is believed to be John Cyriis, a founder of Agent Steel. Taken By Force also appeared on the Metal Massacre IV compilation from Metal Blade.

John Camps left Sceptre (which then disbanded) and went on to join read more...

Thanks to Stooge, UMUR for the updates

AGENT STEEL - It's Not What You Think online metal music video by AGENT STEEL

AGENT STEEL - It's Not What You Think
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Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force online metal music video by AGENT STEEL

Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force
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Agent Steel - Agents of Steel online metal music video by AGENT STEEL

Agent Steel - Agents of Steel
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AGENT STEEL Discography

AGENT STEEL albums / top albums

AGENT STEEL Skeptics Apocalypse album cover

3.70 | 20 ratings

Skeptics Apocalypse
Speed Metal 1985

AGENT STEEL Unstoppable Force album cover

3.88 | 18 ratings

Unstoppable Force
Speed Metal 1987

AGENT STEEL Omega Conspiracy album cover

3.56 | 9 ratings

Omega Conspiracy
Thrash Metal 1999

AGENT STEEL Order of the Illuminati album cover

3.50 | 7 ratings

Order of the Illuminati
Thrash Metal 2003

3.58 | 6 ratings

Alienigma
Thrash Metal 2007

AGENT STEEL No Other Godz Before Me album cover

3.50 | 1 ratings

No Other Godz Before Me
Speed Metal 2021

AGENT STEEL EPs & splits

AGENT STEEL Mad Locust Rising album cover

3.64 | 6 ratings

Mad Locust Rising
Speed Metal 1986

AGENT STEEL live albums

AGENT STEEL demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

3.00 | 1 ratings

144,000 Gone
Speed Metal 1984

0.00 | 0 ratings

Second Demo
Speed Metal 1984

0.00 | 0 ratings

Agents of Steel
Thrash Metal 1998

AGENT STEEL Agents of Steel 1998 demo album cover

0.00 | 0 ratings

Agents of Steel 1998 demo
Thrash Metal 1998

0.00 | 0 ratings

Deny the Poison
Thrash Metal 1999

AGENT STEEL re-issues & compilations

AGENT STEEL singles (1)

0.00 | 0 ratings

Earth Under Lucifer
Thrash Metal 2003

AGENT STEEL movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

0.00 | 0 ratings

US Speed Metal Attack
Speed Metal 1986

0.00 | 0 ratings

Mad Locust Rising: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon June '87
Thrash Metal 1989

0.00 | 0 ratings

Live at Dynamo Open Air
Thrash Metal 2005

AGENT STEEL Reviews

AGENT STEEL Unstoppable Force

Album · 1987 · Speed Metal

UMUR

"Unstoppable Force" is the second full-length studio album by US, Los Angeles based power/speed/thrash metal act Agent Steel. The album was released through Combat Records in March 1987. It´s the successor to "Skeptics Apocalypse" from 1985, although the two full-length studio albums are bridged by the 1986 "Mad Locust Rising" EP. There have been two lineup changes since the debut album as guitarist Kurt Kilfelt has been replaced by Bernie Versailles and bassist George Robb has been replaced by Michael Zaputil.

Both of the two preceding releases are raw speed/thrash/US power metal in the most fierce and hard edged end of the spectrum, and the basis of that sound is continued on "Unstoppable Force". The material on "Unstoppable Force" are maybe slightly less savage, a little more polished and melodic, but still filled to the brim with aggressive and raw speed metal riffs, blistering leads and harmonies, and a raw and organic playing rhythm section. John Cyriis strong voice and ultra high pitched delivery are of course also a defining feature of the band´s sound. I´m honestly blown away by his performance on this album. He is definitely up there with the greats of the genre like Midnight from Crimson Glory and John Arch from Fates Warning (...and I´d mention Rob Halford of Judas Priest as an influence here too).

"Unstoppable Force" features 9 tracks and a total playing time of 38:04 minutes, and while the pace is not quite as frenetic and the atmosphere not as savage as on the debut album, the listener is still treated to highly energetic and aggressive speed/thrash metal on most tracks. The acoustic power ballad intro to "Chosen to Stay" is longer than most intros, but the remainder of the song is in speed metal territory, and the 6:31 minutes long instrumental "The Day at Guyana" is not exactly a breather either, as it´s quite the busy and almost semi-progressive track. The latter is a re-arranged and reworked version of the last part of "Let It Be Done / The Day at Guyana" from the "Mad Locust Rising (1986)" EP. Album closer "Traveler" is the closest you come to a tranquil power ballad breather moment on the album. Other than those tracks there is simply no letting up on "Unstoppable Force" as Agent Steel keep producing strong riff after riff, pummeling rhythms, and great melodic guitar work, and of course top it off with Cyriis incredible vocals and paranoid sci-fi/UFO/Alien lyrics.

The album features a well sounding production, which is more detailed and clear sounding than the sound productions on the two predecessors, but raw enough to not ruin authenticity and power. It´s a sound production suiting the material perfectly. Upon conclusion "Unstoppable Force" is a high quality sophomore studio album by Agent Steel and it´s a real shame they disbanded in 1988. They would reunite in 1998 under the Agents of Steel monicker (without Cyriis), release a comeback album in 1999 under the Agent Steel monicker, work under the Order of the Illuminati monicker from 2001-2003, release another album under the Agent Steel monicker in 2003 and again in 2007 and finally launch a new version of the band with Cyriis in 2010. A complex band history, but "Unstoppable Force" is where the classic era ended for Agent Steel. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

2 months ago
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Report #881092

AGENT STEEL Mad Locust Rising

EP · 1986 · Speed Metal

UMUR

"Mad Locust Rising" is an EP release by US, Los Angeles based power/speed/thrash metal act Agent Steel. The EP was released through Combat Records in early 1986 and it bridges the gap between the band´s debut- and sophomore full-length studio albums "Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)" and "Unstoppable Force (1987)". There has been one lineup change since the release of "Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)" as guitarist Kurt Kilfelt has been replaced by Bernie Versailles.

"Mad Locust Rising" features 4 tracks and a total playing time of 11:43 minutes (the original cassette version of the EP features the bonus track "Taken by Force", which is culled from "Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)"). The EP contains 3 originals (one of which is a very short intro track), and a cover of "The Ripper" by Judas Priest. "Mad Locust Rising" and "Let It Be Done / The Day at Guyana" are both incredibly raw and nicely fast-paced speed/thrash metal tracks with lead vocalist John Cyriis´s high pitched screaming vocals in front. Both tracks are in many ways a natural continuation from the material on "Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)". Raw, aggressive, and almost unhinged in nature, but still with a melodic sensibility, which makes both tracks catchy and memorable. Agent Steel´s cover of "The Ripper" is very true to the original and while the cover version is well performed, Agent Steel fail to put much of a personal touch to the song.

"Mad Locust Rising" features a very raw sounding production. What it lacks in clarity, it makes up for in power and savagery, and the sound perfectly suits the material. Upon conclusion "Mad Locust Rising" is a high quality release and a great addition to the band´s early discography. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

1 year ago
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Report #865315

AGENT STEEL Skeptics Apocalypse

Album · 1985 · Speed Metal

UMUR

"Skeptics Apocalypse" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Los Angeles based power/speed/thrash metal act Agent Steel. The album was released through Combat Records in June 1985. Agent Steel formed in 1984 and "Skeptics Apocalypse" was preceded by a couple of 1984 demos.

The material on "Skeptics Apocalypse" is a raw and powerful type of speed/thrash metal, featuring hard edged heavy metal riffs and rhythms and the occasional thrashy ditto. The music also features quite a few melodic guitar elements like harmonies and leads, so while the music is generally pretty raw it´s not savage and there is a good balance between the raw and the melodic. Lead vocalist John Cyriis has a raw delivery but also a lot of melodic sensibility. He is able to perform some piercing high pitched screams and do it often. The band´s influences range from contemporary US acts like (early) Fates Warning and Abattoir, to UK acts like Judas Priest (the 2008 reissue of the album features a cover of "The Ripper" as a bonus track) and Iron Maiden. The latter influence is for example heard on closing track "Back to Reign", which sounds like early Iron Maiden but with Bruce Dickinson on vocals.

Agent Steel are a tight playing unit and there is quality on all positions in the band. Cyriis of course stands out as his vocals are front and focus of the music, and because of his strong voice and high level performance, but the rest of the band are very well playing too. "Skeptics Apocalypse" also features a well sounding production and upon conclusion it´s a high quality debut album by Agent Steel. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

1 year ago
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Report #864759

AGENT STEEL 144,000 Gone

Demo · 1984 · Speed Metal

UMUR

"144,000 Gone" is a one-track cassette tape demo by US, Los Angeles, California based speed/thrash metal act Agent Steel. The demo was released in 1984. Agent Steel formed earlier that same year and is a five-piece on this demo.

The fact that the band features two guitarists in the lineup is clearly heard on "144,000 Gone", which is a very melodic power/speed metal track in the harder edged end of the scale. Loads of harmonies and great melodic guitar work on the track. The rhythm section is well playing and drive the music forward with great power, while lead vocalist John Cyriis shows off his powerful voice and incredible vocal range. There are some ear piercing screams on this track, which can´t be described as anything else but amazing. Cyriis is a high class vocalist.

The sound production is very rough around the edges, which is to be expected from a demo from 1984, but although some details may be lost in the slightly muddy mix, you still get a good idea of what Agent Steel are capable of both songwriting wise and performance wise. In those departments the band excel on "144,000 Gone", and a 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

1 year ago
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Report #863661

AGENT STEEL Unstoppable Force

Album · 1987 · Speed Metal

Time Signature

CoVinyl Part 4

So I came across an 1987 Music for Nations pressing of the classic album that is Agent Steel's "Unstoppable Force". I figured I might as well pick it up and I'm glad I did.

"Unstoppable Force" is the band's scond full-length effort following up on the debut "Skeptics Apocalypse" and the EP "Mad Locust Rising". While definitely similar in style and sound to the preceding releases in blending traditional metal and speed metal and combining more conventional song structures with more innovative ones, it seems to me that "Unstoppable Force" leans more towards traditional heavy metal than speed metal. Moreover, the song structures also strike me as a tad less innovative.

That said, this is still a magnificent album showcasing great musicianship - in particular on the part of the guitarists Juan Garcia and Bernie Versailles who treat the listener to both great riffing and awesome guitar solos as well as the occasional twin lead melody. In comparison to the debut album, the solos strike me as a bit more melodic with less focus on speed. The drums are also a bit more varied than on the debut. All of this probably owes to the fact that there are more midtempo songs than speed metal songs on this album. John Cyriis' vocals are still in the vein of Geoff Tate on this album, and the lyrics are still in the realm of sci-fi, UFOs and conspiracy theories, so there's not much new here. While all the songs are great on this album, the highlight to me is the instrumental "The Day at Guyana" (which is also found on "Mad Locust Rising"). With its dynamic borderline progressive structure, it's a real musical journey.

The production is very similar to that on the debut and on the preceding EP. So it's very 80s but there is less reverb than on your standard 80s metal release and a bit more richness. Thus, it should appeal to both old school 80s metal fans and younger fans of more contemporary metal.

The cover artwork is kind of weird, depicting what seems to be a bunch of laser beams blasting through rocks. It looks like something out of a sci-fi B-movie, so I suppose it does fit the overall lyrical themes of the album. So, yeah, a bit cheesy looking, but I also kind of like it. The logo still looks awesome in all its 80s glory. I can't decide whether I prefer this gold version or the silver version on the debut album.

In any case, if you are a fan of old school heavy metal and don't mind high-pitched pseudo-operatic vocals, then you should grab this album if you come across a version of it.