| Musical Style: Power Metal | Produced By: Caesar Kalinowski |
| Record Label: Intense | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1988 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 42: 53 |
The history of Sacred Warrior dates back to the mid-eighties when vocalist Rey Parra, guitarist Bruce Swift and drummer Tony Velazquez played together in a Chicago based secular band name Nomad. After Swift was the first of the three to become a Christian, he played an influential role in Parra and Velazquez later making a decision for Christ. Subsequently putting together a band to make music reflective of their new faith, the three began praying for a bass player and soon met Steve Watkins at a local bible study. Keyboardist Rick Macias was later recruited when he rededicated his life after attending a jam session with the band. The five decided on the name Sacred Warrior because it reflects not only that their commitment to Christ is sacred, but that as warriors they need to put on the armor of God and prepare themselves for battle on a daily basis. Rebellion is Sacred Warrior's Intense Records full length debut after signing with the label on December 10, 1987.
I might describe Rebellion as heavy but melodic double bass driven power metal certain to appeal to fans of Queensryche, Fates Warning and Jacobs Dream. Parra's high pitched and operatic classic tenor vocal style, naturally, helps invite the comparison to the three previously mentioned bands in question. Swift, who lists Randy Rhodes as a musical influence, contributes a nice crisp rhythm guitar sound in addition to an abundance of fluid and fast paced lead guitar work. In terms of talent, the aptly named Swift is more than a match for current power/progressive metal guitarists such as John Berry (Jacobs Dream), Pete Southern (Balance Of Power), Karl Groom (Threshold) and Eduardo Parronchi (Destra). Drummer Tony Velazquez literally steals the show with an impressive non-stop double bass driven performance. Keyboardist Rick Macias effectively enhances the bands sound without unnecessarily dominating it.
While Rebellion was recorded in less than ten days and on a minimal budget, it features a warm and refined professional sounding production job. A full and crisp rhythm guitar sound stands alongside a clean mix of lead guitar. The drums evenly stand out in the mix, while the bass comes across tight and solid.
The only complaint worth mentioning is that the album cover, featuring a concert photo of Steve Watkins and Bruce Swift, is on the plain side. It is this reviewer's opinion that any band calling itself Sacred Warrior and releasing an album entitled Rebellion deserves album artwork reflecting a medieval and/or high fantasy theme similar to that used by Blind Guardian, Rhapsody or Seventh Avenue.
Opening the album to clashing symbols, "Black Metal" moves forward to a combination of crisp rhythm guitar and double bass before evenly flowing to a catchy melodic flavored chorus. Once "Black Metal" slows to a quietly played guitar line, Parra displays his high pitched vocal style as he sings about the importance of Christ-likeness:
You've gotta want to be like Jesus the Messiah
He is a jealous God, He wants you
To serve Him with your life
Swift ensues with forty seconds of bluesy lead guitar work.
After a heavy duty riff backed by a bit of lead guitar gets "Mad, Mad World" underway, the rhythm guitar drops from the mix at the start of its first verse. The rhythm guitar returns to the songs forefront, however, as it gains momentum for a strong double bass driven chorus. Swift contributes a minute of fast fingered lead guitar work.
The brief (2:45) but fast paced "Stay Away From Evil" takes off to a crunchy rhythm guitar perfectly accentuated by keyboards, the two driving the song with a ton of energy to a chorus with a huge catchy hook. Swift's lead guitar work is on the short side but in perfect unison with the songs pace and feel. "Stay Away From Evil" exhorts its listeners to do just that:
The evil one is the great deceiver
He'll steal your soul when you turn around
But there is One who can lift you up
Take you away from this life of sin
He's the One, He's the God above
He wants to take you into His kingdom
Ooohhhh, Stay away from evil
Keyboards convey "He Died", the albums lone power ballad, through its first verse as Parra sings about Christ’s work on the cross:
He died for you and I
Oh, Jesus
On that day
As He hangs on the cross
For you and I
He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"
As the song picks up in pace, the rhythm guitar kicks in at the start of the second and carries it to a chorus giving rise to an emotional feel:
And He died for you and I
Oh, Jesus
He died for you and I
Oh, Jesus
"He Died" peaks during its third verse as it details the crucifixion:
And when they hung Him on the cross
His face they did not recognize
And when they saw Him hanging there
Oh, the pain
Swift follows with thirty seconds of melodic based lead guitar work.
Drummer Tony Velazquez steals the show on the fast paced "Children Of The Light", his non-stop work on double bass underlining the energetic riff that drives the song from front to back. After "Children Of The Light" peaks upon attaining its powerfully delivered chorus, Swift nails a blistering pull-out-all-the-stops guitar solo. Lyrically, "Children Of The Light" come across in the form of a battle cry:
With righteousness of the Lamb
We do what is good
For the benefit of others
We are children of the Light
And we do what is right
We are children of the Light
We'll fight the good fight
The bouncing tom-toms at the start of the albums title track give way to several seconds of lead guitar before Parra steps forward with some well timed wailing ("Oh-woah-oh-woah-oh- woah-woah-woah"). Advancing through its first verse at an upbeat tempo, "Rebellion" slows at the onset of a sweeping chorus that picks up in pace in a sublime fashion at its end. Fast paced rhythm guitar harmony underscored by double bass and clanging cowbells holds sway over a minute long instrumental passage. "Rebellion" talks about rebelling against the evil one and turning to God as the answer:
Well you're falling from God
And it's such a shame
You know Satan is the one
That you've gotta blame
Yes, there's an answer
And it's waiting for you
Turn back to Jesus
You know what to do
The keyboards commencing the epic flavored "Day Of The Lord" transition to a dark and heavy double bass driven riff that urges it forward at a mid-tempo pace. Once Parra's high pitched voice smoothly flows into the mix, he takes the song to a bridge in which, as it slows, a majestic atmosphere is created as he details the second coming:
On that day - Oh Lord in the sky
Praise Your name - lift Him up so high
On that day
Swift follows with thirty seconds of fiery lead guitar work.
It does not get much heavier than the combination of pounding rhythm guitar and thundering bass lines conveying "The Heavens Are Calling" forward from the start. Maintaining its aggressive momentum, a portent atmosphere is established as the song advances on to an anthem-like chorus accentuated by Para’s emotional vocal delivery:
Oooooohhh, the heavens are calling
Oooooohhh - so give the glory to the King
Following its second chorus, "The Heavens Are Calling" slows to a near standstill as Parra sings about the second coming over a quietly played guitar line:
Won't you join us all you people
Behold He's coming from above
Father's wrath upon His hands
All the kings shall bow,and all
Authority shall fall, for it is said
That your worldly possessions
Shall fade away!
The song abruptly picks up in pace as Swift follows with forty-five seconds of intense lead guitar work.
"Famine" begins to several seconds of smooth sounding guitar harmony before it slows to some soulful wailing from Parra as Swift cuts loose with some bluesy leads. Subsequent to a quietly played guitar line carrying the song through its first verse, the rhythm guitar moves to the front of the mix to fortify a stylish chorus in which Parra displays the abundant range to his voice.
Starting slowly to a heavy duty mix of rhythm guitar, "Master Of Lies" picks up in pace to an aggressive double bass driven riff that pushes it to a chorus delivered in a good hard hitting manner. The drum solo opening a sweeping instrumental passage transitions to several seconds of rhythm guitar harmony and a blazing guitar solo. The songs subject matter is self-explanatory:
Well, I'm gonna tell ya' a little
Story about a man named Lucifer
He is the master of deception
And he wants to see you burn
Now just remember what
I told you about
This man and what he does
The choice is yours my friend (beware)/Master of lies...
The rhythm guitar harmony introducing "Sword Of Victory" gives way to a crisp sounding rhythm guitar that impels the song hard and heavy to a catchy chorus detailing victory in the life of a Christian:
And we all will walk in victory
With a sword in our right hand
We will stand for all the world to see
That the Truth has set us free
A tasteful keyboard solo opens an instrumental passage culminating with several seconds of energetic lead guitar work.
In combining the bands top notch musicianship and consistent songwriting with a strong production job, Rebellion ranks among the finest debut albums this reviewer has heard. "Rebellion", "Stay Away From Evil", "Children Of The Light" and "The Heavens Are Calling" are by far the albums strongest tracks; however, "Black Metal" and "Sword Of Victory" both stand out with their catchy melodies, while "He Died" is a first rate power ballad with a terrific message. Finally, it is worth pointing out that Rebellion, being a true full length eleven song release, stood out in an era in which many Christian metal albums were limited to just eight or nine tracks.
Rebellion was issued on CD when it was released in 1988; however, it remains an out of print and hard to find collectors items. It is long overdue for the album to be re-issued on CD with better artwork along with the three songs making up its 1987 demo tape.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Black Metal" (4:40), "Mad, Mad World" (4:16), "Stay Away From Evil" (2:46), "He Died" (3:55), "Children Of The Light" (2:38), "Rebellion" (4:29), "Day Of The Lord" (3:36), "The Heavens Are Calling" (4:32), "Famine" (5:12), "Master Of Lies" (3:13), "Sword Of Victory" (3:30)
Musicians
Rey Parra – Lead Vocals
Bruce Swift - Guitars
Rick Macias – Keyboards
Steve Watkins – Bass
Tony Velazquez - Drums
Reference List
Arnold, Christy and Randy Rocker. "Sacred Warrior Interview." Take A Stand (May 1989): 1 & 4.
Hopkins, Bob. "Sacred Warrior Interview." Heaven's Metal 15 (1988): 15-16.
Schmutzer, Steve. "Sacred Warrior: The Secret Of Their Success." Heaven's Metal 18 (1988): 8.
Van Pelt, Doug. "Inside The Warriors Heart: An Interview With Sacred Warrior." Heaven's Metal 20 (1989): 4-5.
