Musical Style: Melodic Metal	Produced By: Bradley S. Hamilton
Record Label: Mellinium Eight	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2002	Artist Website:
Tracks: 20	Rating: No Quote
Running Time: 70:73

The origin of the Bay Area melodic metal band Soldier can be traced back to a top-40 band named Rexx that included vocalist Jimmy Arceneaux (pronounced Are-sen-nah) and bassist Marc Allyn.  Following the break up of Rexx, the two decided to form a new band and soon recruited a talented guitarist by the name of Rick Hunter.  On the same night he joined forces with Arceneaux and Allyn, Hunter received a call from drummer Al Whalen who said he was looking for a band. The rest, as they say, is history.  Soldier proceeded to put together its first demo Louder Than Hell before recording its second, the full length and critically acclaimed Babylon.

While Soldier might best be described as heavy but melodic eighties influenced commercial metal, you can hear elements in their sound as diverse as classic metal, melodic hard rock, blues and even a few moments that touch upon speed metal.  Ultimately, I always identified with Soldier, who played live with the likes of Vicious Rumors, Vain and Y&T, as the Bay Area's answer to Stryper.  Yes, the quality of the music and musicianship were that high.  Arceneaux brings a very fine melodic flavored voice with just a slight touch of grit in addition to filling in on rhythm guitar.  Hunter is a mean and nasty in your face guitarist with a fast paced and aggressive style.  Marc Allyn and Al Whalen round out a tight and solid rhythm section.

Please note that the 2002 M8 release The Definitive Collection consists of all the material appearing on both of Soldier's demo, Louder Than Hell and Babylon, tapes in addition to the two tracks the band recorded for the California Metal II compilation.

An overall element of muddiness characterizes the production to Babylon, particularly its low end.  On the other hand, I can honestly say its sonics are some of the finest I have heard on a demo from its era.  (Please keep in mind this was a self-financed project by an unsigned band recorded using late-eighties technology.)  

The brief (1:30) instrumental "Babylon" opens the album to blowing wind before an acoustic guitar backed by a bit of distorted rhythm guitar carries it forward.

Kicking in to a fast paced riff bordering on speed metal, "Louder Than Hell" advances in an energetic manner until it reaches a powerful chorus bolstered by deep sounding vocal harmonies.  Hunter's mean sounding lead guitar work gives way to a bass solo and a pounding riff.  "Louder Than Hell" refers to being louder than the satanic forces of the world:

Salvations a step away, we're not playing games
We'll be forever young, forever strong
Scream & shout- Heavens coming down
Cry out- Louder than Hell

The superb Dokken-ish melodic metal of "Deadly Weapons" progresses through its first verse at a steady mid-tempo pace until it gains momentum for a chorus with a great catchy hook.  The song slows just before Hunter cuts loose with a fiery solo underscored by a muscular bass line.  As its title implies, "Deadly Weapons" talks about spiritual warfare:

Don't turn your back
Once you let down defenses, he will attack
And as the trouble goes on, we will be strong
Beat down the forces of the lying one
Deadly weapons- to strike the enemy

Moving the album in a more commercial melodic hard rock direction, "One Of A Kind" immediately takes off in up-tempo fashion as a crunchy rhythm guitar quickly propels it to a good non-stop hook filled chorus.  Several seconds of melodic flavored lead guitar work brings out the best in a song talking about God's love:

A different kind of love affair between You and me
Everyone can say this love lasts for eternity
You bring me to Your Light, Jesus' Holy Light
As the world keeps on turning

After "Priceless Heart" gets going at a driving mid-tempo clip, it tapers off as an edgy blues flavored guitar riff sustains its first verse.  The huge anthem-like chorus that follows will refuse to leave your head upon repeated listening.  Hunter's aggressive lead guitar work perfectly complements the songs bluesy feel.  "Priceless Heart" talks about God's faithfulness during the trials and tribulations of life:

Sometimes those dreams die hard, they die alone
Don't you remember those empty nights
You still remember those tears that you cry
But through it all God held you close, He kept you alive

Carried through its first verse by an acoustic guitar, “Where Have All The Children Gone” picks up in pace as the rhythm guitar kicks in and shores up a melodic flavored chorus delivered at an upbeat tempo.  Hunter contributes several seconds of blues based lead guitar work to a song whose subject matter is self-explanatory:

She wakes up in a cold sweat,tears have filled her eyes
Hoping to hear her daughters laugh, even to hear her cries
She disappeared from the school yard, no one can do a thing
Gone without a trace, can't you hear the voices scream

The powerful "King Of The City" is by far the albums strongest track.  Subsequent to a metal edged rhythm guitar driving the song ahead with a ton of upbeat energy, a trace of vocal harmonies underscores a superlative chorus that, if given the opportunity, would have dominated MTV and FM radio.  Hunter graces the scene with several seconds of intense lead guitar work.

"Borderline" moves forward hard and heavy as the rhythm guitar bounces in and out of the mix at the start of its first verse.  The rhythm guitar, nevertheless, remains a steady presence as the song attains a strong hard hitting chorus.  Hunter furnishes several seconds of the albums best lead guitar work.

I have never been able to warm up to the commercial flavored pop metal of "Angel".  While by no means a throwaway, the songs chorus is not quite strong enough to always keep my attention.  That being said, I can see how other fans of Soldier would find "Angel" appealing.

Opening to several seconds of melodic rhythm guitar harmony, "First Time" moves through its verse to a crisp sounding rhythm guitar.  Background vocals accent the song as it attains a chorus giving rise to a good commercial feel.  As its title implies, "First Love" talks about returning to your first love:

You've turned your back again, you want to be on your own
You've given up on your friends, given up on His love

Love Him like the first time
To turn your back is worse than any crime

He's standing there arms open wide
You won't give in, your stupid pride

Once an acoustic guitar introduces "Promises", a hard hitting riff steadily conveys it to a very fine emotionally charged chorus.  I like how "Promises" closes Babylon in the same manner it opened to an acoustic guitar backed by blowing wind.  "Promises" details how God always keeps His promises:

Into the Light I have found my Way
No tears or pain I hear the Words You say
Please don't turn away from the things I say
My Heart goes out for you, no matter what you do
I keep my promises forever

As for the two tracks appearing on the California Metal II compilation, "Borderline" and "Tears", White Throne editor Dave Johnson sums it up best:

     Indeed Soldier was an excellent band but even the best of 'me are
     Pachyderm Studios production crew.  This crew transformed an
     energetic heavy metal band into an overproduced, gutless, sicken
     sweet, background vocal laden club of jelly.  The producer's job
     is to capture the band's sound and get it down on tape, not to
     change it to please the ears of the producers.  I saw Soldier no
     less than 15 times live in concert and this is not how Soldier
     sounds.  The studio re-recorded Soldier's background vocals and
     remixed their songs after the band returned to the Bay Area and   
     boy was Soldier upset.1    

I could not have said it better myself.

The material from Louder Than Hell is a bit rough around the edges production wise but showcases the bands promise.

After fading in to several seconds of keyboards, "Heart Of Stone" launches into a fast paced riff that pushes it to a chorus backed by a touch of vocal harmonies.  Hunter nails a blistering guitar solo that bounces between the left and right channel.

The pop metal of "Somebody New", similar to "Angel", has never grown on me.  Perhaps it is the weakness of the production, but I find that the songs chorus to be not quite strong enough in order for it to always hold up under repeated play.

Since "Angel" also made its way onto Babylon, there is no need to comment further.

While the live versions of "King Of The City", "Glory & Honor", "Priceless Heart" and "Heart Of Stone" appearing on Louder Than Hell lack a bit of polish, I am certainly glad the band chose to include them. 

The upbeat melodic metal of "Glory & Honor" is the only song on The Definitive Collection never recorded by Soldier in the studio.  Advancing through its verse at an upbeat tempo, the song culminates for a chorus delivered with an abundance of the bands trademark energy.  "Glory & Honor" stands out as a Christian metal anthem:
 
We rock for His love
We play for the One above

Be part of the master plan
Righteously we'll rock the land

Finally, Hunter's amazing minute and a half long guitar solo at the end of the live version of "Priceless Heart" is worth the price of the CD alone.

Not every story has a happy ending and such is the case with Soldier.  Despite releasing one of the finest demo tapes of its era, Soldier never signed a deal and in the end broke up.  Once again, I will let White Throne editor Dave Johnson sum it up:
 
     So many good songs and such an enthusiastic response from the
     crowd makes me wonder why Soldier hasn't been signed.  Do all A&R
     men have mush for brains or what?  It is not possible to play
     better heavy metal music than Soldier did this show (Metal
     Midnight II) and if this band doesn't get signed to a major
     secular label like Geffen Records, it will be the crime
     of the century!2

Rick Hunter went on to form Regime in the early nineties; an excellent melodic hard rock band that recorded an eight song demo entitled Straight Through Your Heart.  The other members of Soldier were never heard from again.

Please note that Soldier appeared on the Metal Mardis Gras video performing live versions of "Somebody New" and "King Of The City".  Soldier also recorded footage of most of its live performance that hopefully one day will be released on DVD.

Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing (Songs appearing on Babylon): "Babylon" (1:30), "Louder Than Hell" (3:32), "Deadly Weapons" (2:58), "One Of A Kind" (3:01), "Priceless Heart" (4:11), "Where Have All The Children Gone" (3:04), "King Of The City" (2:59), "Borderline" (3:41), "Angel" (3:52), "First Time" (3:38), "Promises" (4:09)

Track Listing (Songs appearing on California Metal II): "Borderline" (4:09), "Tears" (3:32)

Track Listing (Songs appearing on Louder Than Hell): "Heart Of Stone" (3:03), "Somebody New" (3:44), "Angel" (4:05), "King Of The City" (live) (3:13), "Glory & Honor" (live) (3:03), "Priceless Heart" (live) (5:23), "Heart Of Stone" (live) (4:03)

Musicians
Jimmy Arceneaux – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Rick Hunter – Guitars
Marc Allyn – Bass
Al Whalen – Drums
Jason Sousa - Drums

Also Reviewed: Regime – Straight Through Your Heart, Walk The Sky - Walk The Sky

Reference List
Crothers, Kevin. "Soldier." White Throne 4 (1988): 20-21, 25.
"This Soldier Is Holy, But These Are The Other Guys." Heaven's Metal 16 (1988): 11-13.

Endnotes
1. Dave Johnson, “California Metal II review,” White Throne 6 (1990): 16-17.
2. Dave Johnson, “Metal Midnight II review,” White Throne 5 (1989): 31.