THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-CHOOSE
2-FUTURE FLY AWAY
3-SECURITY
4-PIZZA DRIVER
5-HELIUM BLUE GAZEBO
6-LOVE WILL
7-FIND A REASON
8-WINGS OF CHANGES
9-WITCH HUNT
10-RIVER
XALT-HISTORY-1991
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-STANDING
2-HEART OF STONE
3-BABEL AGAIN
4-WALK AWAY
5-INCONDITIONAL LOVE
6-HISTORY
7-BUILD MY WORLD
8-THE TREE
9-REFLECTION
10-LORD,LORD
CREDIT:Last known line-up
Scott Doerfler- lead vocals
James Erdman- guitars
Randy Carlson- bass
Todd Gleason - Drums.Former/past member
XALT-UNDER THE RUINS-1990
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-THROUGH THE NIGHT
2-FORGIVEN
3-UNDER THE RUINS
4-WASTE YOUR LIFE AWAY
5-LOST WITHOUT YOU
6-PIERCING THE DARKNESS
7-THE FORTRESS
8-WOUNDED HEART
9-THE KINGDOM WITHIN
10-LIFT HIM UP
CREDIT:
Todd Gleason- drums
Scott Doerfler- lead and backing vocals
Randy Carlson- bass
James Erdman- guitars.
XALT-DARK WAR-1988
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-ARIEL
2-THE CROSS
3-GOD IN A BOX
4-WHERE VICTORY STORMS
5-ANGRY FIRE
6-READY FOR THE FIGHT
7-A WARRIOR OF HONOR
8-LOOKING DOWN A LOADED GUN
9-PALACE DAY DREAM(Instrumental)
10-SOLDIER IN THE MIDST(Instrumental)
11
-DARK WARI liked this trio's debut Pure Metal album which came out in 1989. They've had to wait a fair while, and a record company takeover, for the followup. Judging from this they're another band who are moving away from metal to a more generalised heavy rock sound with at least two songs aimed squarely at AOR playlists. The band's sound has plenty of bite, James Erdman is an exceptional axeman and Scott Doefler a reasonable vocalist though at times his range is exposed a bit. There's not a lot of good white metal around at the moment so this is worth investigating..They started as a traditional metal band, but have changed their style drastically on their third album to commercial AOR/Hard Rock.Then About The Album Helium Blue Gazabo.Aficionados will remember Xalt as a metal hand. Having disappeared for a few years they've returned with a new independent album and the opener sounds extremely similar to Jars Of Clay's "Flood". Despite the zany title this album is a bit of a let down. Firmly entrenched in "80s melodic power rock this album is littered with predictable chord progressions and guitar riffs (with plenty of overdrive) underpinned by thumping bass lines (track four especially). Song six ("Love Will Find A Way"?) is pure Bon Jovi and the token minor key ballad (last track) comes complete with an "80s drum machine. The only passable track (in parts) is the third one - a quasi improvised number with a short jazz interlude and some funky beats. Verdict? Cheesy."Under the Ruins" was Xalt's sophmore release and their first to be released on a nationally distributed record label. "Under the Ruins" is good, no frills, 1980's style heavy metal platter. Comparisons are often made to bands like Judas Priest and Accept, although I honestly don't hear that in this band. I am more inclined to compare them to a band like Riot. For the most part the material here is pretty rockin' save for the power balled "Lost Without You." Unfortunately for Xalt, their best two albums, this one and "Dark War" were very poorly and thinly recorded. Had this one been given a beefier, heavier production it probably would have ruled. As it is, it isn't bad, but hasn't really stood the test of time very well and sounds very dated. Much of this is the fault of the production, over the actual songwriting or musicianship. Actually, the guitar work is very good. James Erdman was a hot lead player who was unfortunately trapped in a band that wasn't give a proper recording budget. Lyrically, Xalt are straight forward, evangelistic, Christian. I have read other reviews that critisize the band lyrically. I can see how some might read the band as being a bit preachy, but to me it just seems the band was expressing their love for their Lord and had an honest desire to share their faith with others. The lyrics were actually pretty typical of the 80's Christian metal scene. The lyrics to "Wounded Heart" for example, "Go and tell the starving millions, that his love is still alive, or how he came back and took up the form of a man, then rose again when crucified...Jesus is still the answer, and he's the only way to start." Similarly "Lift Him Up" is a straight up praise song; "Lift Him Up, give all praise to the Father, Lift Him Up, He is the King of Kings...He's the reason that we sing." I must also make mention that I have always thought that this album had a cool cover."Under the Ruins" as long been out of print and as of 2006 had not been reissued. I've seen this CD sell on Ebay for around $40 - $50. One other note about this album is that song eleven is a CD-only bonus track that is not listed on the track lising.Xalt started life as a fairly proficient heavy metal band. Their first two albums "Dark War" (1988) and "Under the Ruins" (1990) may not have been groundbreaking or innovative, but they were enjoyable, fairly heavy and featured some good guitar work. "History" was Xalt's stab at commercial, pop metal. Personally, I prefer their earlier work as this CD is just sort of generic sounding to me and isn't something I find myself returning to very often. One very positive aspect to this album is that the lyrics are very uplifting. Another postive part of this CD is that guitarist James Erdman cranks out some choice leads throughout this CD. Standout cuts are "Standing" and the titled track.After having there Dark War tape {1988} I was really looking forward to this album. I was hoping that Xalt would become one of the big Christian Heavy metal power houses. Maybe they would spit out some good hard and heavy Christian metal. No, there is not much improvement over Dark War. All the problems with Christian Metal seem to be on this album. Mainly your audience was Christian and every bloody Christian band sang the same thing rock for the rock, find Jesus, Jesus forgives, your Christian listeners already know this give them some meat to grow by not the same old baby stuff...yes have a salvation song but enough is enough {on every album I heard the same thing just put a little deferent but not much. Man! I guess originality went out the window...it did here} This album is better than History which is just commercial rock. Although the music on Dark war and this one are good the vocals are boring along with the lyrics {lyrics will only appeal to Christians and yet these bands wanted to reach out to a lost world?Excellent cover art on this one and Dark War.I've always had a soft spot for Christian metal bands, particularly from this era. They really had to prove themselves to win over mainstream metalheads, and if nothing else you have to admire their conviction.The band's sound can best be described as a watered down version of Barren Cross. It's a decent, though unremarkable power metal album with a few thrashy moments. Unlike Barren Cross, whose well-crafted songs and killer vocals keep me reaching for their discs time and time again; I rarely get the urge to spin Under the Ruins. Xalt will probably only appeal to die-hard Christian metal fans, and even then I'd recommend it only if you can find it for a few bucks(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
