AGENT STEEL — Unstoppable Force (review)

AGENT STEEL — Unstoppable Force album cover

Album · 1987 · Speed Metal

4/5 · 2024-08-30
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 There have been two lineup changes since the debut album as guitarist Kurt Kilfelt has been replaced by Bernie Versailles and bassist George Robb has been replaced by Michael Zaputil.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.