| Musical Style: Varies | Produced By: Pakaderm Company |
| Record Label: Regency | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1988 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 45:41 |
Similar to its slightly better 1987 sibling California Metal, California Metal: Volume II (CM2) from 1988 pinpoints the various unsigned Christian metal bands from the state in question to hit the scene following the commercial success of Stryper. The second of five such compilation releases on Regency Records, also noting East Coast Metal (1988), Underground Metal (1988) and Underground Metal 2 (1989), CM2 gives rise to varying forms of hard music ranging from melodic metal to traditional metal to power metal to melodic hard rock. It also features three acts that went on to sign a label deal and release at least one full-length album in Ransom, Recon and Mastedon and three others with one independent release to its credit, noting Emerald, Soldier and Vision (previously known as Malachia). Lone holdout not to sign a deal or release any material is Judea.
Please note that CM2 does not encompass tracks taken from thin and muddy sounding demos. Rather, Regency brought each band into the studio to record its material specifically for the project. Results speak for themselves in that production gives prominence to a clean and exact feel, albeit not without a bit of unnecessary polish in places (more on this later).
Lone complaint revolves around CD packaging due to the back of the jewel case not providing a track by track breakdown with song titles and corresponding contributing artists. Backside of the CD insert lists each represented band but without accompanying songs or order in which they appear. Also not to nitpick, but more thought could have gone into bare bones cover art featuring the California Metal logo over a black backdrop.
Opening Vision cut “Runaway” is one of albums most dynamic. As noted, Vision got its start under the Malachia moniker in which it released in 1986 debut EP Under The Blade and 1987 full length offering Red Sunrise (both independent). I find it problematic placing Malachia under a specific style designation in that while ‘melodic metal’ is not far from the mark, there is more to the group in the form of extensive keyboards to the point o approaching the Gothic. When further factoring the three and half octave range to front man Ken Pike, comparison to Queensryche warrants. In quoting my review of The Complete Anthology, a 2018 3-disc Roxx Records compiling to include Under The Blade, Red Sunrise, a slew of unreleased demo-basement recordings and audio to the groups 1987 Metal Mardi Gras performance, ‘I have come to better identify with Malachia as keyboard driven metal with a progressive edge’.
Hence “Runaway”, an exciting five minutes of instant tempos, upraised hooks and even further uplifted vocals that would do proud fans of not just Queensryche but also Sacred Warrior and CM2 cohorts Recon. Yes, keyboards play a forward role but not to the point of overriding rhythm guitar- in other words, production leaves little doubt as to Vision’s credentials as a metal band. Overall professionalism is such a wish Vision had recorded another full-length album in such heading- it would have been a classic. As for fans of Ken Pike, he resurfaced in 2013 with Absolon and its debut full length Darkness Rising: The Tale Of Derek Blackheart, which received a 90% Angelic Warlord review.
As noted Recon delivers an equally notable track in the excellent power to speed metal hybrid “Light The Fire”. It proves lightning like in terms of high-octane intensity but emboldened from high pitched (almost nosebleed level) vocalist Vett Roberts and blistering lead guitarist George ‘Dude’ Zebra (later to change his name to George Ochoa and join Deliverance for its classic 1990 thrash album Weapons Of Our Warfare). He was also part of Worldview at time of its very fine 2015 debut The Chosen Few.
Recon surfaces later in the track listing with mid-paced metal cut “Dreams”, which also graced the top notch (and 90% Angelic Warlord reviewed) 1990 Recon debut Behind Enemy Lines. While not quite on same level as “Light The Fire”, it proves solid all the same with a galloping mentality, choir like backing vocals and underpinning melodic bass.
Traditional metal act Emerald appears with the cuts “Traitor”, a short (two and half minute) but fleet mauler, and “Born To Die”, slower and lengthier (four and half minutes) but more melodic, neither of which appear on the groups independent 1987 EP Armed For Battle. While far from bad, I do not find the two to bring the same sense of hook driven immediacy as better Armed For Battle cuts “Attack”, “Judgement Day” and “Armed For Battle”.
It deserves note Emerald recorded a superior version to ”Traitor” along with another track, “Vengeance Is Mine”, during the Armed For Battle sessions that for whatever reason (my suspicion is budgetary limitations) did not make the final cut. Good news is that the 2018 No Remorse Records reissue to Armed For Battle includes each song along with demo versions to two others, “King Of The Universe” and “Battleground”. Latter initially appeared on the 1989 custom cassette compilation White Metal Invasion, which acted as a fundraiser for White Throne magazine. CM2 versions to “Traitor” and “Born To Die” were not included on the No Remorse reissue.
CM2 also features two sections, “Heart Of Stone” and “Knock”, from what I like to refer to as the projects ‘mystery band’, Judea. Little of anything, for instance, was known about Judea at the time due to it not being featured in any of the ’white metal’ zines of the time and not having any custom cassette releases to its credit (that I am aware). Initially I thought a Judea a studio project specific to CM2 but nothing could be further from the truth.
According to the 2022 Roxx Records rerelease Out Of The Darkness: The Lost Sessions, Judea was an active unit whom in addition to the CM2 tracks recorded alternate versions to “Heart Of Stone” and “Knock”, several unreleased songs from separate Pakaderm Records sessions and numerous demo tracks, including three recorded when the band reformed in 2006.
As for the Judea CM2 contributions, I am going to quote my review of Out Of The Darkness: “Heart Of Stone” impresses as a moody and introspective mid-tempo track to see contemplative bass trade off with gripping rhythm guitar and lush vocal melodies. “Knock” maneuvers at a more forward tempo to a stauncher guitar focus in which airy keyboards and every bit forthright hooks play prevalent roles.
Female fronted Ransom gets in on the act with its solid addition, ”Sin Killer”. Getting its start under the First Aid moniker only to switch to Ransom ahead of releasing a 3-song demo entitled Once And For All, of which “Sin Killer” also appeared, group plays commercial melodic metal and hard rock showcasing the raspy abilities of talented front lady Lisa Faxson. “Sin Killer” follows suite with its driving mid-paced impetus, gritty guitars and instinctive hooks.
For those interested in the Once And For All demo, it was included as part of the 2021 Retroactive Records reissue to the Ransom 1991 self-titled debut. Ransom closed out its career in 1992 with sophomore effort Soul Asylum (also Intense).
Mastedon is lone artist to appear on California Metal (contributing the cut “Wasn’t It Love”) and CM2. Renowned for including former Kansas front man John Elefante, Mastedon traverses AOR-ish melodic hard rock on its contribution “Get Up” innate to layered vocal melodies, expansive melody and soaring vocals. CM2 features same version to the song appearing on Mastedon 1989 Regency Records debut It’s A Jungle Out There.
No, nothing wrong with that, but if you do not take to “Get Up” (I rate it in the medium to good category) it hints of the excellent material gracing It’s A Jungle Out There, which I consider an essential purchase for fans of eighties commercial hard rock. Good news is that It’s A Jungle Out There is not difficult to find in that it has been reissued several times, with most recent by Girder Music in 2020 (on CD & vinyl).
Final CM2 band Soldier is perhaps the most hyped unsigned act to emerge from the eighties ‘white metal’ scene. In the case of Soldier, however, the hype is aptly deserved from manner in which it brings the total package of songwriting, musicianship, vocals and showmanship to deserve a major label deal. When I first heard Soldier 1988 custom cassette Babylon with its professional mix and great song after great song, I anticipated the group moving on to bigger and better things. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be in that Soldier sadly disbanded before it could land a deal.
As for Soldier’s CM2 contributions “Borderline” and “Tears”, I consider each quite good, with former a straight on and no-nonsense metal cut and latter a pop metal piece underlined by recurrent hooks and commercial nuances. Problem, however, is that the two end up layered in too much polish for my taste. “Borderline”, for instance, features an overriding background vocal mix, while “Tears” deserves sturdier rhythm guitar tones. The Pakaderm production team had a tendency to remake a band in its own image at the expense of capturing its true sound.
Good news is that “Borderline” and “Tears” are included as part of the 2018 Roxx Records release Babylon & Beyond: 30th Anniversary, which also encompasses Babylon in addition to initial Soldier demo Louder Than Hell, four unreleased songs and audio to its 1987 performance at HIS Festival.
Despite some packaging and production misgivings, CM2 equates to a solid compilation release, albeit not quite on same level as star-studded predecessor California Metal, which included Barren Cross, Gardian, Neon Cross, Deliverance and others. Helping set CM2 apart and turning it into a collector’s item is manner in which it is unique to material from Vision, Emerald, Recon, Judea and Soldier. CM2 is also home to versions of songs from Ransom and Emerald previously available in demo form. After being a long out of print and hard to find collectors item for decades, CM2 deserves a much-needed reissue.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: Vision - “Runaway” (4:56), Emerald - “Traitor” (2:39), Recon - “Light The Fire” (3:25), Soldier - “Borderline” (3:33), Judea - “Heart Of Stone” (4:32), Mastedon - “Get Up” (3:58), Ransom - “Sin Killer” (4:34), Emerald - “Born To Die” (4:17), Judea - “Knock” (4:24), Soldier - “Tears” (3:57), Recon - “Dreams” (4:59)
