Torah

Item: Torah
Author: Daniel Baillod

Torah

(1988)

Reviewed by Daniel Baillod

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Label Precious Metal MusicAdonai Metal Rock #3July 1989

heavy metal speed metal

Translated from the original French

This new WM band out of Illinois hits hard for a first demo of good heavy. "Rock And Roll Warriors" opens fire with a good track in the same line as "Soldiers Under Command" (STRYPER), riffs all the way. TORAH's female vocals are beefy, and recall, in certain respects, Nancy Jo Mann (BARNABAS). The only criticism on the subject of the vocals: the lack of savagery. One would have liked some little vocal skids up in the high notes, above all on the pseudo-thrash "Pray For The Children". The players have real muscle and allow one to envisage an assured future for TORAH. "Dreams" is a slower track, heavier. The choruses are fairly catchy ("Rock And Roll Warriors", "Don't Reign On My Parade"). The track that stands out most on this demo is "Pray For The Children": a real turbo heavy, hammered along by Doug Rudow's drums, and Gary-O's cutting rhythm work. I am not talking about thrash, but about a track that is properly speed!! The bridges are excellent on every track. The guitarist holds the road well. The demo is strangely well recorded (excellent sound). No slow, no keyboards... Nothing but good heavy, which will switch on every longhair for certain!! The lyrics are very good, based on the Bible, and get away from the clichés of the "Jesus rocks" style. For example, "Pray For The Children" is a cry of alarm on the subject of the manipulation of children in our society... "I don't swing in the trees, and I don't like bananas... But maybe for you, Mr Darwin, that's your case..." A very good four-track demo. And a band to watch closely in the future.