THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(24-TRACKS)
1-THE MONEY MASK
2-MERCENARIES OF INJUSTICE
3-MORE THAN CONQUERORS
4-LOOKING OUT FOR YOU
5-THE SHIP OF CHANGES
6-LIBERATION FROM(THE BLAZING WASTELAND)
7-NIGHTLIGHT
8-GIVING IT TO YOU
9-THE JUDGE
10-WE'RE OUTTA HERE
11-LIBERATION FROM(THE BLAZING WASTELAND)(East Coast Metal Version)
12-LOOKING OUT FOR YOU(Rough Mix 1989)
13-WE'RE OUTTA HERE(Rough Mix 1989)
14-MORE THAN CONQUERORS(Rough Mix 1989)
15-MONEY MASK(Rough Mix 1989)
16-SHIP OF CHANGES(Rough Mix 1989)
15-NIGHTLIGHT(Rough Mix 1989)
16-MORE THAN CONQUERORS(Rehearsal)
17-WE'RE OUTTA HERE(Rehearsal)
18-MONEY MASK(Demo)
19-NIGHTLIGHT(Demo)
20-GET IN LINE(Demo)
21-IN YOUR FACE(Demo)
22-BLAZING WASTELAND(Demo)
ARMAGEDDON-THE MONEY MASK-1989
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-THE MONEY MASK
2-MERCENARIES OF INJUSTICE
3-MORE THAN CONQUERORS
4-LOOKING OUT FOR YOU
5-THE SHIP OF CHANGES
6-LIBERATION FROM(THE BLAZING WASTELAND)
7-NIGHTLIGHT
8-GIVING IT TO YOU
9-THE JUDGE
10-WE'RE OUTTA HERE
CREDIT:
Mike Vance-lead and backing vocals
Joe Hasselvander-drums
Dan Wilkinson-bass
Robby Lee-guitars
Charlie Philips-guitar, backing vocals
Mark Miley-Drum
Janusz Smulski-Keybords
OND CHANCE-LATER
ARMAGEDDON - THE BLAZING WASTELAND/1988
THIS DEMO CONTAIN(3-TRACKS)
1-THE JUDGE
2-IN YOUR FACE
3-BLAZING WASTELAND
SECOND CHANCE-LATER(ARMAGEDDON-SECOND CHANCE-1987
THIS DEMO CONTAIN(4-TRACKS)
1-MONEY MASK
2-NIGHTLIGHT
3-GET IN LINE
4-PREPARE THE WAY
CREDIT:Last known line-up
Mike Vance - Vocals
Robby Lee - Guitar
Robert "PJ" Bussey -Guitar(Attic Symphony)(Taker)And(Crown of Thorns (USA)
Dan Wilkinson -Bass (Attic Symphony)And(Taker)
Scott St. James - Drums
American Christian metal band. Started under the name Second Chance. These guys weren't as familiar as their fellow white metal bands.They have been compared to old Savatage and Metal Church. But also Saint,Titanic and maybe Mercy Rule. Their drummer went on to play with Raven.If you are into 80's powerf metal.This is a fantastic Heavy Metal band in the same vein as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. From the penetrating "wuh" of the opening track to the "Master of D-aw-kness" in Nightlight to the backmasked lyrics on We're Outta Here--THIS is classic Heavy Metal! Brilliant! An unknown classic which gets ignored by
dilletantes who think it has too many hooks.With A Great lead singer, Mike Vance,
Armageddon came together in the early eighties while initially under the moniker Second Chance. A group originating in the Washington D.C. area, Second Chance started out as a project when vocalist Mike Vance and guitarist Robby Lee met through an ad placed in a local newspaper. The duo soon joined forces with bassist and drummer Mark Miley and began work on the material that would make up the Second Chance demo tapes. After placing the track “(Liberation From) The Blazing Wasteland” on the East Coast Metal compilation in 1988, the band permanently changed its name to Armageddon before signing with Talkingtown Records the very next year. The Money Mask, Armageddon’s full length Talkingtown debut, came out in 1989 but subsequently went out of print several years later. A hard to find and highly sought after collectors item, The Money Mask was re-issued in late 2007 by Retroactive Records with a bonus disc made up of rough mixes of six tracks, two rehearsal outtakes and the bands demo material,which includes two unreleased songs in “Get In Line” and “In Your Face”.
The best way to describe Armageddon would be classic metal inviting comparison to Saint, Judas Priest, Barren Cross and Sardonyx.This is best demonstrated on the albums pull no punches title track and the high energy sounds of“Mercenaries Of Injustice” and “More Than Conquerors”. “Looking Out For You” moves in a more melodic based direction while “The Ship Of Changes” is the bands lone
attempt at a ballad.“(Liberation From) The Blazing Wasteland” delivers a heavy handed (almost thrash-like)sound and the Priest influenced “Nightlight” an excess of non-stop hooks that almost come across mesmerizing in feel. Closing things out is the speed metal juggernaut “We’re Outa’ Here”. Only “Giving It To You” and “The Judge” fall short of the mark, two tracks lacking that extra ounce of energy and inspiration the albums better material brings to the table.Lead vocalist Mike Vance contributes a gritty and gut level vocal style that trends towards the mid-octave side of things.Think Josh Kramer (Saint), Tom Denlinger (Sardonyx) or even Anders Johansson (Green Sleeves)A total of three guitarists perform on the album: Robby Lee, Charlie Phillips and Phil Zeo. The trio combine to provide for the upfront crunch on rhythm guitar in addition to lead guitar of the fast paced and aggressive variety.Dan Wilkinson (Taker) performs steadily on bass, while Mark Miley handles drums on seven tracks and the incredible Joe Hasselvander(Raven) the other three.Production values come across crisp but raw in giving rise to a slight touch of thinness (particularly in the low end).
The Money Mask The albums energetic title track begins to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar before kicking into high gear at the start of its first verse. Gaining further initiative throughout the second, “The Money Mask” quickly drives ahead to the catchy but resolute chorus that follows.Several seconds of blistering lead guitar brings out the best in a song dealing with religious leaders out to make a buck at the expense of others:
“Mercenaries Of Injustice” opens as Mike Vance’s voice bounces between the left and right channel. The song proceeds to power through its first verse to a sledgehammer-like riff, not culminating until gaining hold of an aggressively delivered chorus shored up by vocal harmonies.Lee and Philips add to the spirited scene with a fiery dual lead guitar trade off.The metal anthem “More Than Conquerors” jumps out of the gate to a charging rhythm guitar.Stepping up the pace at the start of its first verse, the song maintains the ardent momentum on the way to an unwavering chorus talking about victory in the life of a Christian:
Lee and Phillips combine for more blazing dual lead work.Hasselvander tears it up on drums as well.The eerie keyboards at the start of “Looking Out For You” give way to a voice counting down from five and a drum solo.The pace
immediately picks up,however, as the rhythm guitar steps forward and compels things to a spirited chorus mirroring itself with the up-tempo environment.The melodic based lead work of Lee and Phillips helps put things over the top. The power ballad “The Ship Of Changes” opens to several seconds of pouring rain that gives way to an acoustic guitar.Gracefully drifting through its first verse, the song picks up in pace as the rhythm guitar takes over just prior to a background vocal driven chorus of a near commercial variety.The acoustic guitar returns as “The Ship Of Changes” moves on to an instrumental section carried by an emotionally played guitar solo. What we have here is a song talking about the trials and tribulations of life:
The heavy duty – almost thrash influenced(Liberation From)The Blazing Wasteland" comes across about as subtle as a punch in the mouth.Introduced to a drum solo, the song races ahead with a fury of abandon prior to acquiring an impassioned chorus sustained by Vance’s robust vocal delivery.Robby Lee adds to the ardent scene with a stretch of torrid soloing.The focus of "(Liberation From) The Blazing Wasteland" is on the One who is the source of our salvation:
“Nightlight” is by far the strongest track on The Money Mask. The song gets underway to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar before pummeling through its verse portions in authoritative fashion. After making an even transition to a chorus with a huge catchy hook, “Nightlight” breaks for just under a minute of the albums best lead guitar work. This song just plain kicks.“Nightlight” deals with being a light in the midst of darkness:
The pedestrian “Giving It To You” does not quite make the grade.The song almost borders on the lackluster, failing to showcase that extra punch and power
characteristic to the albums better material.Vocal harmonies back a chorus I might describe as average at best.It does not help matters that the lyrics here are on the trite side of things,ance, appropriately, shouts “Honor in your court!” to open “The Judge”.Things go downhill from there. Similar to “Giving It To You”, the song lacks a notable chorus hook while the band does not quite deliver the all out raw and inspired energy it is best known for. It’s lyrics,however, are quite good:"We're Outa' Here" launches into a double bass driven speed metal riff after opening to acappella vocal harmonies. Advancing through its first verse at breakneck speed,the song swiftly flows to an energy laden chorus back enaciously by pounding drums.A lighting fast guitar solo stands out cleanly in the mix.
Bonus MaterialClosing out disc one is the East Coast Metal version of "(Liberation From) The Blazing Wasteland". The two renditions of the song prove quite similar in highlighting a muscular rhythm guitar sound, plenty of searing lead work and Vance’s commanding performance on vocals. In all honesty I find it difficult to tell the two apart after repeated listen. Disc two starts to rough mixes of six songs from The Money Mask.Production wise the six might lack the polish of The Money Mask material but stillbring a sound I might describe as clean
and professional.Musically, the rough mixes pretty much stay true to the spirit of their The Money Mask counterparts but with a few noticeabledifferences.“Looking Out For You”, for instance, lacks its “eerie” keyboard driven opening. And while the song continues to be an up-tempo and melodic piece, backing vocals no longer stand in support of its chorus. Please note that this is an observation and not a critique, though after listening to “Looking Out For You” with backing vocals for years it seems rather awkward without them.“We’re Outa Here” still comes across in the form of a speed metal romp. The main difference to report, however, is that the rhythm guitar carries the songs instrumental section as opposed to a blistering guitar solo.“More ThanConquerors” maintains its driving impetus but now lacks backing vocals in its chorus and guitar solo in its instrumental section (observation and not critique in both cases).“Nightlight” has been cut by roughly 45 seconds and no longer includes the bizarre bouncing between the left and right channel that takes place at 4:15 on The Money Mask. Otherwise, “Nightlight” has been captured in all its hook driven and rousing glory. Again, the song just plain kicks.The background vocals have also been cut from the chorus to “The Money Mask” but in this case it proves a bit of a distraction. The main reason being is that the key phrases “steal you blind while he’s behind” and “while he smiles he’ll steal you blind” are now missing, leaving one with the feeling the song is not quite complete. Still, these ARE rough mixes so I am sure you can agree it is important to be forgiving in this case. “Ship Of Changes” almost sounds like a completely different song- both musically and lyrically. Its chorus now moves at the much slower tempo while Vance sings in a lower key (not to mention the lack of pouring rain in its introduction).The two rehearsal outtakes, “More Than Conquerors” and “We’re Outa’ Here”, are as rough and raw as you can get but still cool. Both are instrumentals that serve to showcase the bands trademark high energy and tight as a nail rhythm section.The demo material is also a bit thin sounding but very listenable (and good to hear for the first time after all these years)“Money Mask”, “Nightlight” and “Blazing Wasteland”, similar to the rough mixes, stay true to their The Money Mask counterparts. All around, what we have is
Armageddon/Second Chance in its earliest incarnation and, while the element of polish might be wanting, the bands potential shines thru.The highlight to the bonus disc is its unreleased demo tracks,“Get In Line” and “In Your Face”.“Get In Line” is an upbeat hard rocker with a groove based – almost bluesy – feel. The song actually proves the least heavy of all the groups material in that the rhythm guitar comes across on the thin side of things (I am sure better production would have beefed things up). Irregardless, despite being a half a step behind the better The Money Mask Material, “Get In Line” proves an interesting listen as a result of its nostalgic feel.I would rate the aptly entitled “In Your Face” as the better and heavier of the two. Now, this one would sound right at home on The Money Mask with its upfront rhythm guitar and punchy chorus (I definitely would have chosen it over “Giving It To You” or “The Judge”). Vance also shines with a surprisingly smooth sounding vocal performance.Quite the classy piece, “In Your Face” will be stuck in your head in no time..(so if you like this type of music I Have my radio broascast And I Play This Style of music I Have My Personal Website(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
