Year : 1991 (Japan Edition 1993)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 111 mb
Bio:
Michael formed ARCH RIVAL in 1986 with Gary Rigmaiden and Greg Martin, who had played in Michael’s previous band, TYRANT.Along with vocalist Aaron Wallace and 2nd guitarist Jeff Dennis, this first lineup of ARCH RIVAL toured quite a bit in 1986 though 1988 and released one EP independently.After working with several other vocalists, AR auditioned Steve Snyder in 1990, and finally found the voice they were seeking.The band immediately re-arranged some originals, wrote some new material, and jetted down to Nashville where they had a connection at Midtown Studio. Out of the Midtown sessions came the band’s debut, “IN THE FACE OF DANGER”, which proved AR’s ability to “write compelling songs you can’t ignore”, according to one rock journalist.This melodic hard rock disc immediately garnered major label attention to the group based on songs like “Me Against the World” and the title song, “In the Face of Danger”. The record greatly increased their fan base and landed them their first overseas deal.Building off of this momentum, ARCH RIVAL toured in support of “ITFOD”, while working up new material for their follow up, “WAKE UP YOUR MIND”. The band then traveled to the New York area for these recording sessions, as they discovered new sounds and styles on their critically acclaimed 2nd album. This 1993 release landed the band solid deals in Europe and Japan, stemming from their single, “Meadowlands of the Mind”.A subsequent tour followed, and after Michael and Steve each recorded solo albums, the band united once again in 1996 to record “THIRD DEGREE BURNS”, which again displayed the band’s diversity, from the solid opener, “Soul of Your Machine”, to the passion of “Enter the Dragon” to the aggression of “Ultra-Violence Will Break the Silence”, and secured their biggest record deals to date.ARCH RIVAL reunited again in 2008 with a new self titled EP, which contained 4 new songs, including the driving and melodic “World Slips Away”, and some rare live tracks.The band played a reunion show that year, and several more in 2011.
Album:
The original release of this thoroughly likeable album took place in 1991.After the '86 EP "God Bless America" (some of whose songs are also included on this long player), the Texas hard rockers from ARCH RIVAL released their full-length debut "In The Face Of Danger" and although it was undisputedly great, this typical US rock from a very cool band became one of the many victims of its time. ARCH RIVAL also became one of the many collateral damages that the Sturm und Drang phase of grunge left behind on the battlefield of the music industry.Be that as it may: now, almost two decades later, Rock-a-holics-Records has taken pity on this incredibly charming album full of good guitar harmonies and unerring songs. It doesn't matter that no potential world hits come out of it. "In The Face Of Danger" simply has too much charisma and a far too organised sound for that. The tracks, created by mastermind and guitarist Michael Harris and refined by frontman Steve Snyder in a dirty yet fluffy way, are convincing almost across the board, from lively rock songs to creamy ballads and a good BEATLES cover ("Revolution"). On their debut, ARCH RIVAL offered typical and good US hard rock with a slight touch of 80s US metal and melodic rock.The album is characterised by an upbeat side, which in songs like the crisp "God Bless America", the good ballad "Can You Tell Me Why?" or classic anthems like "Time Won't Wait", "Me Against The World" or the title track often sounds pretty hit-worthy and highly suitable for soundtracks.Retro fans and hard rock tinkerers who want to check out an intersection of DOKKEN, IMPELLITERY, STEELHEART, TYKETTO or even early EUROPE and FIFTH ANGEL are in the right place with this album, both then and now."In The Face Of Danger" is pure US hard rock without kitsch and definitely far too cult and good not to be heard!
Line Up:
Steve Snyder - Vocals (1990-1993, 1996-1997, 2008, 2011)
Michael Harris - Guitars (1986-1993, 1996-1997, 2008, 2011) - See also: Darkology, Michael Harris, Thought Chamber, ex-Counterpoint, ex-Surgeon, ex-Zanister, The Michael Harris Tranz-Fusion, ex-Leather, ex-Vitalij Kuprij, ex-Tyrant
Gary Rigmaiden - Bass (1986-1993, 1996-1997, 2008, 2011) - See also: ex-Rigmaiden, ex-Tyrant
Greg Martin - Drums (1986-1993, 1996-1997, 2008, 2011) - See also: ex-Counterpoint, ex-Tyrant
Production:
Produced by Michael D. Clute
Recorded and Mixed at Midtown Studio, Nashville and Refraze Studio, Dayton
Engineered by Chris Armstrong
Remixed at September Recording, Indianapolis by Paul Mahern
Mixed by Chris Armstrong & Michael D. Clute
"Shotgun At Midnight" Mixed and Engineered by Gary King
Tracklist:
01. In The Face Of Danger
02. Time Won't Wait
03. Me Against The World
04. Rock The Night Away
05. Fortune Hunter
06. God Bless America
07. Revolution (Bonus Track)
08. Mr. Attitude
09. Shotgun At Midnight
10. Siren's Song
11. Can You Tell Me Why?
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
