THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-SOMETHING NEW
2-LET IT GO
3-ONLY YOU
4-MUSIC MAN
5-LONG AWAITED LOVE
6-KATHLEEN
7-OVERFLOW
8-DREAM
9-ROCK THE HOUSE
10-DADDY'S GIRL
CREDIT:
Chris Hicks – drums, vocals, and keyboards
Rusty Rhodes – lead vocals and keyboards
T. J. Taylor – bass, vocals, and acoustic guitar
Geoffery Taylor –lead guitar, rhythm guitar,acoustic guitar,And vocals
MESSIAH PROPHET-COLORS-1996
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-KEEP THE FAITH
2-TOMMY
3-1 LIVE 2 CHOICES
4-REMAIN IN ME
5-ALL OF YOU
6-LOST & FOUND
7-MELINDA
8-HOLY ONE
9-TAKE ME BACK
10-COLORS
MESSIAH PROPHET-MASTER OF THE METAL-1986
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(8-TRACKS)
1-HIT AND RUN
2-MASTER OF THE METAL
3-FOR WHOM DOES THE BELL TOLL
4-FEAR NO EVIL
5-HEAVY METAL THUNDER
6-THE FRIEND
7-BATTLE CRY
8-VOICE THAT'S CALLING
CREDIT:line up:
Charlie Clark – Lead Vocals
Andy Strauss – Guitars
Brian Nicarry – Guitars & Vocals
Joe Shirk – Bass
David Thunder –Drums
Guest Musicians
Bill Grabowski – Guitars
Alexander Paul - Guitars .
MESSIAH PROPHET-ROCK THE FLOCK-1984
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-ROCK THE FLOCK
2-LABOR OF LOVE
3-TRY TO UNDERSTAND
4-TRAVEL THE ROUGH ROAD
5-WHY MUST YOU RUN
6-TO THE ROCK
7-ANSWER OUR CALL
8-RIDING OUT THE STORM
9-SING
CREDIT:line up:
Charlie Clark – Vocals
Andy Strauss – Guitars
Rob Clark – Guitars
Dean Pellman – Bass
Dave Daubert - Drums
In early 1988 Charlie Clark and Ray Fletcher form a new line up of Messiah Prophet. Tennessee native drummer CT Cash, from New York bassist Scott Gunther and guitarist Mike Balleitt, and from Duluth Minnesota lead guitarist Todd Bergren. Holed up in a barn in Northumberland Pa. the new line up start writing material for a new Messiah Prophet release to be titled 'Living On The Edge'. The band was also rehearsing for an up coming string of shows opening for Barren Cross on their Atomic Arena tour. The band played a few local warm up gigs and then hit the road playing colleges in Ohio, Pa., Massachusetts and West Virginia. Also in 1988 the song Heavy Metal Thunder was included on the Pure Metal compilation Heavy Righteous Metal. By mid-'88 Refuge was in financial trouble and couldn't get the band into the studio for its next release. Refuge started negotiations with StarSong for a buy out of the Pure Metal label. During this time Charlie Clark entered into Susquehanna Studios with unknown musicians and recorded the song "Blinded" which ended up on StarSongs compilation Ultimate Metal. Because of family obligations Ray and Charlie ended Messiah Prophet. Guitarist Bergren and bassist Gunther head to Duluth and start the band Reign Of Kings, opening shows for various CCM artists. The band released a custom cassette titled EPAT OMED (demo tape backwards). In 1992 Heavens Metal editor Doug Van Pelt chose to put the song Heavy Metal Thunder on his box set salute to Christian metals pioneers, called The Heavens Metal Collection.In 1995 a new Messiah Prophet lineup was formed around one time touring guitarist Frank Caloiaro. In 2002 German metal label Shark Records included the songs "Hit and Run" and "Master Of The Metal" on their Rusty Diamonds compilation, along with tracks by power metal band Powerlord and Maxx Warrior, an early incarnation of the pop metal band Firehouse. In 2002 the compilation fortified label Madacy Music Group included the song "Heavy Metal Thunder" on their Christian Loud compilation.Master of the Metal is an energetically performed dose of pure headbangery that bears an incredibly strong resemblance to Screaming for Vengance-era Judas Priest. Though lead singer Charlie Clark's vocals are a dead ringer for those of Rob Halford, the strength of Pennsylvania-based Messiah Prophet's material occasionally manages to lift the group above tribute-band status. Main writer Andy Strauss has strong pop instincts and his songs often recall the better work of Def Leppard. The production is also Leppard-like, with lots of arena-size reverb, drums that sound like World War II canons, and heavily effects-processed twin guitar leads. There's some good playing here, especially in the guitar department, including a particularly ripping, Iron Maiden-esque breakdown at the end of "Fear No Evil." Unfortunately, though, despite the back cover's somewhat comical band photos (the drummer, David Thunder, looks like a middle-aged accountant let loose on a Frederick's of Hollywood shopping spree), Messiah Prophet is seriously lacking in the sense-of-humor department. For a Christian band, the guys just don't sound too joyful, and the album falls kind of flat as a result. In the end, however, even though Master of the Metal is thoroughly average, it doesn't sound quite as dated as some metal and should appeal to fans of early-'80s British heavy metal, as well as harder-edged Christian rockers.Messiah Prophet can be traced back as far as the late 70's, but their first album didn't see the light of day until 1984. Since then they released another album, broke up, reunited in 1999, and releases yet another album. Entitled 'Colors', this album did not sit well with the old fans, so the band once again v
anished.Coming out of the growing Christian metal scene emerging in the mid-eighties following the success of Stryper, Messiah Prophet Band plays a combination of commercial metal and melodic hard rock on its 1984 Morada Records debut Rock The Flock. The guitar team of Andy Strauss and Rob Clark perform capably when at their best, but more often than not their lead guitar work comes across in a manner that is sub par if not uninspired. Please note that this reflects less on the ability of the two and more on their lack of experience and the necessary time in the studio. While bassist Dean Pellen puts in a solid showing, the underplayed drumming of Dave Daubert does not always cut it. The strength of the bands sound, however, resides in the first rate melodic flavored but slightly raspy lead vocals of Charlie Clark.Rock The Flock is held back by a low budget and muffled sounding production job. The rhythm guitar would benefit from a bit of polish, while the lead guitar is not placed high enough in the mix. Likewise, the rhythm section ends up sounding thin and muddy.The edgy rhythm guitar at the start of the albums title track plays a reduced role in the mix once the song reaches its first verse. After the rhythm guitar returns to its place of prominence, "Rock The Flock" picks up in pace gains for a good hard hitting chorus. An instrumental passage featuring thirty seconds of insipid lead guitar work does not quite make the grade. The lyrics to "Rock The Flock" do not lack in meaning but could have been written better:
Carried its duration by a restrained mix of rhythm guitar, the watered down melodic hard rock of “Labor Of Love” is held back by a trite sounding chorus with an all around uninspired feel. The band could have improved upon an instrumental passage limited to several seconds of bland lead guitar work. This song is just plain bad. Its lyrics, on the other hand, are quite good:"Try To
Understand" commences to an aggressively driven guitar riff before slowing to a steady mid-tempo pace for its first verse. As the song picks up in pace, the same riff opening it returns to back a strong chorus conveyed in a forceful manner. Strauss and Clark are at their best with thirty seconds of top notch dual lead guitar work."Travel The Rough Road" is held back by its lack of a noteworthy melody line. Opening at an upbeat tempo, the song slows for its first verse only to pick up in pace for a chorus that I might describe as average-to-good at best. The lead guitar work carrying a minute long instrumental passage does not stand out in the mix as it should. "Travel The Rough Road" is a song about faith:
Introduced to a bluesy mix of rhythm guitar, "Why Must You Run" gradually gains momentum during its first verse until it crests with an abundance of energy for one of the albums stronger choruses. The rhythm guitar takes the song through a minute long instrumental passage. "Why Must You Run" details the need for salvation."To The Rock" begins to the sound of a cheering audience that transitions to a combination of pounding drums and vocal harmonies. Once an edgy rhythm guitar kicks in, it quickly drives the song to a chorus with a good catchy hook. I wish the band had elaborated on an instrumental passage limited to several brief seconds of lackluster lead guitar work.A nice blues flavored guitar riff propels "Answer Our Call" from front to back, the song slowly advancing through its verse portions until it builds and peaks for a powerfully delivered chorus coming across in the form of a battle cry: The progressive influenced "Riding Out The Storm" is by far the albums strongest track. Taking off fast and heavy, a ton of guitar driven energy impels the song ahead until it transitions to a chorus that continually repeats its title in an anthem-like manner. Thirty seconds of technical dual lead guitar work follows its second chorus before forty-five seconds of rhythm guitar harmony ensues the third. "Riding Out The Storm" deals with patience and perseverance in times of trial. Due to both the pedestrian feel to its chorus and the fact it comes in at over seven repetitive minutes, "Sing" does not always hold up under continuous play. After the song moves forward to a blend of rhythm guitar and bass, it launches into a sweeping instrumental section featuring an overdone three minute long guitar solo. And while I appreciate it when a band displays confidence in its instrumental sound, the lengthy open air guitar solo closing out the song comes across on the indulgent side.Rock The Flock showcases the talent of a young and energetic band with a bold and upfront message. The album, however,fails to make the grade due to the fact Messiah Prophet Band at this early stage in its career lacked the needed maturity in the crucial area of songwriting. The songs, with a few notable exceptions,are insufficient in depth and fail to hold up under repetitive and trite sounding melodies. The albums low budget production job only compounds the problem. Fortunately, Messiah Prophet Band returned two years later with a terrific sophomore effort entitled Master Of The Metal in which it displayed 110% improvement.
Clark continues to bring to his high quality classic tenor voice. Newcomer Nicarry, however, handles lead vocals on two tracks and proves an equal talent with a similar classic tenor vocal style. Strauss displays demonstrated improvement on lead guitar, proving to be quite the talented musician in bestowing a plethora of his fast paced and fluid soloing abilities. Nicarry helps round out the mix on rhythm guitar, while Shirk and Thunder combine to form a rhythm section defined by steady bass lines and a thunderous (no pun intended) drum sound.The only factor detracting from Master Of The Metal is a slightly thin sounding production job. The bass deserves to be mixed more prominently, while the drums often sound flat and muffled. The rhythm guitar can lack the needed edge and crispness. Only the lead guitar stands out in the mix as it should. Getting the album underway to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar, "Heavy Metal Thunder" advances at a determined mid-tempo pace until it reaches a chorus projecting just the right amount of ardent guitar driven energy. A fiery guitar solo holds sway over the extent of a thirty second instrumental passage.After a choppy rhythm guitar propels "The Friend" through its first verse in up-tempo fashion, it gains further momentum as it obtains a chorus with a huge catchy hook. Strauss really shines with several seconds of fast paced hammer-on driven lead guitar work. "The Friend" is an acronym for Christ:
Nicarry handles lead vocals on the excellent metal power ballad "Battle Cry". An acoustic guitar slowly carries “Battle Cry” through its first and second verse as vocal harmonies accentuate the emotional atmosphere, the rhythm guitar kicking in as the song picks up in pace for the third. Following several seconds of bluesy lead guitar work, "Battle Cry" increases in impetus prior to reaching a chorus of the impassioned variety. "Battle Cry" touches upon the issues of spiritual warfare and the battle scars we received as we go through the trials and tribulation of life:The seven minute epic "Voice That's Calling" moves the album back to a more mid-tempo paced heavy metal direction. Evenly propelled through its first verse in a steadfast manner by a driving guitar riff, the song culminates for a sweeping chorus delivering a powerful message:Strauss once again flashed his brilliance with another display of blistering lead guitar work. I like how the song closes out its last several minutes as Clark continually wails away, "Jesus, Jesus I will have no gods before You." Great song.Opening to a drum solo and a muscular bass line, "Hit And Run" launches into a fast paced riff accentuated by sirens. The song proceeds to move ahead with a ton of hard hitting energy until it culminates for an infectious chorus underlined by deep sounding vocal harmonies. Several seconds of fiery lead guitar work perfectly aligns itself with the songs upbeat momentum.The mid-tempo hard rock of the albums title track commences to a heavy duty riff that fortifies its first verse with a ton of metal edged grace and class. Picking up in pace for its bridge, “Master Of The Metal” evenly flows to a portent chorus giving rise to a deep and heavy ambience. Pounding double bass supports just under a minute of the albums best lead guitar work. "Master Of The Metal" talks about exactly that
The haunting semi-ballad "For Whom Does The Bell Toll" begins, appropriately, to the sound of ringing bells before keyboards slowly carry its first verse as Nicarry sings lyrics taken from Psalm 23:After an acoustic guitar takes the song through its second verse, the rhythm guitar kicks in to drive a melodic based chorus also inspired by Psalm 23:"Fear No Evil" closes the album in good hard rocking fashion. Racing along at breakneck speed (no pun intended) during its first verse, the song picks up in pace as vocal harmonies enter the mix in time to reinforce a chorus carried at an energy-laden upbeat tempo. A bass guitar solo opens an instrumental passage culminating on over a minute of high-octane lead guitar work. The message to "Fear No Evil" ties into that of "For Whom Does The Bell Toll":Master Of The Metal, a terrific work of art giving rise to consistent songwriting backed by first rate lead vocals and equally noteworthy musicianship. Only a muddy sounding production job holds back what otherwise is a top notch effort.By 1989 the musicians performing on Master Of The Metal had departed leaving Charlie Clark as the bands lone member. Clark proceeded to reform the group with an all new line up in time to record the song "Blinded" for the Star Song compilation Ultimate Metal. At the time "Blinded" was recorded, however, Messiah Prophet was still under contract to Refuge, but when the label was unable to get the ball rolling for a follow up release, the band disbanded(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
