Various Artists
California Metal 2
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
This album is an improvement over the groundbreaking Cal Metal album, offering a cohesive direction of melodic metal. Vision, who used to be Malachia - and will probably be something else by the time you read this, debut their "new" sound here, which is downright excellent. They've meshed their technical keyboard sound with high-pitched operatic singing and melodic guitar riffs. "Runaway" is the start for something very new and very good for this band. Emerald makes their national debut with "Traitor" and "Born to Die", two gutsy and passionate songs. Sounds like the band has polished their attack some since their Armed for Battle custom album 2 1/2 years ago. "Light the Fire" by Recon does it for me. It has brilliant high-pitched guitar screams and Vett Robert's piercing vocals. He reminds me of Helloween's lead vocalist on "Light the Fire", especially when he enunciates each word in the line: "Oh, can't you see His light, my friend?" This song and "Dreams" are my two favorite songs on this album. The chorus of "Dreams" sound big and full, just like recent Kiss. This band has something to offer! John and Dino Elefante did a great job getting the tight sound of this band down. John and Dino released some more of their excellent material on this volume. "Get Up" has the most immaculate production here. John's voice glides out of the speakers like clouds over a mountain. The keyboards have a golden touch. Hot stuff! This band could, should, must get massive secular airplay. Soldier finally gets some vinyl recognition, which their professional sound deserves. "Borderline", one of their old standards, shows up here, as well as "Tears". An impressive debut of the band for those who've never heard Soldier. These guys have "Californian fun metal" written all over 'em. Reminds me of Van Halen's early material. Judea delivers a powerful blend of harmonic notes and pounding drums on "Heart of Stone"; and rocks heavy on "Born to Die", which features an articulate message about the purpose Jesus fulfilled while here on earth. The first few times I heard Ransom, I thought, "Wow, this singer's voice is so high that it sounds like a girl." The verses and chorus remind me of Cinderella. Come to find out that the vocalist sounds so much like a girl that she is one. What do ya know? Reading the lyric sheet really helps, huh? Anyway, Lisa Faxon shows that girls can sing metal - and sing it great! This is the first radio single off the album, and ought to attract lots of attention. Overall, this album is a must for metalheads, as was the first California Metal. Pastor Bob Beeman, who chose the roster, decided to give it the melodic direction since they were going to release a compilation thrash album this year.