CROSSFORCE – ROCKIN’ ‘TIL THE FINAL DAY 2011

Widely regarded as one of the more underrated Christian metal bands to come out of the eighties, Crossforce originated as a result of a joining between Bay Area musician’s vocalist/guitarist Tony Krider (Golgatha), guitarist Phil Castillo and bassist Jeff Scott.  The group later rounded out its line up with drummer Mark Cassettari (also Golgatha) and keyboardist Mark Wrapley and went on to rank alongside Soldier, Valor, Believer and Golgatha as leading players in the Bay Area Christian metal scene.

The Crossforce resume is without question, having played local clubs Mabuhay Gardens, The Rock, The Omni and others in addition to Christian metal festivals His Festival and Metal Mardi Gras.  Well known fanzines of the day such as Heaven’s Metal, White Throne and Risen Roxx also featured Crossforce as a result of the highly acclaimed 6 song demo it released in 1986, which sold all 500 copies printed.  Despite these successes and garnering its share of buzz and interest within the burgeoning “white metal” scene, Crossforce, disappointingly, disbanded in the late eighties without having landed a label deal.

The Crossforce demo, as one might imagine, has been a highly sought after and hard to find collectors item for years, with copies going for as high as $100 on eBay.  The good news, however, is that Roxx Production – in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the demo – re-mastered and re-issued it in the summer of 2011 on a limited basis (also 500 copies).  In addition to the original 6 demo songs, a second demo – even rarer and scarcer – was also included made up of 7 additional songs the group recorded live in the studio exclusively for Jimmy Kempner of Frontline Records.

What we have in Crossforce is eighties metal, pure and simple.  The group stands out with its understated heaviness, almost leaning towards some NWOBHM and classic metal influences in places, while proving masterful in its ability to interweave its material with standout hooks and melodies.  Yes, you will find the occasional commercial element in the Crossforce sound (those that describe them as melodic metal would be far from unfair) but balanced with enough guitar driven proclivities to keep things fresh with repeated listen.

Highlights to the “1986” demo include the riff driven “Our Father” and Christian metal anthem “Rockin’ Til The Final Day”, two tracks that were also featured on the Metal Mardi Grasvideo from 1987.  Faster numbers “Out Of The Darkness” and “Ready N Waiting” set blistering tempos but deliver hooks in abundance while standout melodies can be found on more commercial based tracks “Tomorrow Will Come” and the ballad “Smoke Filled Room”.  The six in question prove that heavy but melodic would be the best way to describe the Crossforce sound.

I never heard the original cassette version but from what other reviewers have said the re-mastering cleans things up significantly.  Yes, a certain amount of thinness is to be expected – although not to the point of distraction – but, otherwise, production is surprisingly sound when considering this is a recordings made using mid-eighties technology.

Again, the 7 “Frontline” demo tracks were recorded live in the studio and, as a result, bring some unpolished elements in staying true to the “live feel” of the recording- you get to hear the introduction to each song prior to it being performed.  Still, the mix comes across clean while, once more, there is no overriding thinness that might turn you away.

Vocalist Tony Krider, who sadly passed away in 2002, might take a more mid-ranged approach than many of his contemporaries of the time – at least in comparison to Les Carlson (Bloodgood), David Raymond Reeves (Neon Cross) or Dale Thompson (Bride) – but certainly is not lacking in ability.  I like to think of him as Michael Sweet (Stryper) singing in a lower register.  Yes, he is that good.

Lead guitarist Phil Castillo is a wonderful talent who nails some monster guitar solos.  “Tomorrow Will Come” reflects a bluesy side to his playing while he cuts loose in shredding fashion on “Our Father”.  His even approaches things from a neo-classical standpoint on “Out Of The Darkness”.  The overall feeling left is an underrated musician that would give just about any guitarist from the time a run for their money (White Throne editor Dave Johnson summed things up best when he described Castillo’s playing as “Randy Rhodes-styled”).

Band Crossforce
Info: USA
Info: Rockin’ ‘Til The Final Day
Style: Heavy Metal
Years: 2011
Info: 192 kbps
???Years: 91 mb

Rockin’ ‘Til The Final Day Tracklist:

1.Tomorrow Will Come (86 Demo)
2.Our Father (86 Demo)
3.Smoke Filled Room (86 Demo)
4.Out of the Darkness (86 Demo)
5.Ready n Waiting (86 Demo)
6.Rockin’ ‘Til the Final Day (86 Demo)
7.Stompin in the Streets (Frontline Demo 87)
8.The Call (Frontline Demo 87)
9.Heavens Door (Frontline Demo 87)
10.It’s Your Life (Frontline Demo 87)
11.Wait And See (Frontline Demo 87)
12.The One Who Loves You (Frontline Demo 87)
13.Weeping World (Frontline Demo 87)
14.Rockin’ ‘Til the Final Day (Lost Practice Session 5-13-87)

Total playing time: 55:34

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