AGENT STEEL — Skeptics Apocalypse (review)

AGENT STEEL — Skeptics Apocalypse album cover Album · 1985 · Speed Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Windhawk
Agent Steel is a US-based thrash/sped metal band with a long and quirky history. Skeptics Apocalypse is their début album, and it caused quite a stir when released in 1985.

Musically Agent Steel play some sort of speed metal or thrash metal. Fast paced, melodic riffing over simple and at times primitive rhythms, with fast paced melodic soloing in the middle and John Cyriis melodic wailing combined with aggressive sneers is what's on offer on this release. Speed is more important than complexity on most tracks here; and the melody lines are simple and quite straight forward. This limits the bands opportunities when writing songs, as there are few options to create variations here. The band tries to slow down a bit on a few songs, but at this point in time are unable to utilize the slower pace for much more than showing that they probably are quite familiar with NWoBHM in general, and Iron Maiden in particular. Which probably are among the bands greatest influences musically.

The songs on this release are varied. The limitations of the bands style and songwriting skills makes the short songs the most interesting on this release; as the songs ends before the melody patterns becomes repetitive and uninteresting. The pure energy and enthusiasm of the band also sees to it that these rather limited songs comes across as interesting rather than primitive; and ultimately results in a release worthwhile adding to your collection if speed metal or thrash metal is to your liking.

On newer releases of this album a couple of bonus tracks is added. None of these are any good though; but should be of interest to fans of this band.
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