Year : 1992 (Girder Records Remastered Edition 2020)
Style : Hard Rock , Christian Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 133 mb
Bio:
The Brave came onto the music scene in 1991, releasing 2 successful CDs with Pakaderm/Word records under the high production standards of John and Dino Elefante. The first, Battlecries, was met with critical success and yielded over 6 top ten CCM singles, including All Together Now, The Waiting, Just a Man and If That Ain't Love. The lineup consisted of Stayce Roberts and Freddy Tierra on dual guitars, Randy Roberts on drums, Malcolm Paris on bass and James Salters on vocals. The Brave produced a huge arena rock sound, laden with fiery guitars that were rich in melody and attitude, Def Leppard type harmonies, thundering drums and bass, all glued together with the Lou Gramm/Klaus Meine inspired vocals of James Salters. Battle Cries was mixed by none other than Neil Kernon(the mastermind behind Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime and Dokken's Under Lock and Key), and together The Brave became a crowd and radio favorite, touring over 32 states in 3 months in support of an album that has garnered fans the world over, even after 20 years since its release.The Brave had always been a five part vocal group, so after surviving personnel changes, The Brave were in need of a singer(Stryper's Oz Fox was even considered). So up to the plate came drummer Randy Roberts, who had never sang vocals in a band, much less a demo. What you hear on the sophomore record, Trust, was Roberts' first time ever in front of a microphone, but you would never know it. Though more bluesy in its style, Trust solidified The Brave as a serious contender, specifically as they watched the entire music landscape change before their eyes as groups like Nirvana and Soundgarden began to turn the tides musically. So shift they did. Randy Roberts kicks off the album with The River, a song he cowrote with brother Stayce and John Elefante, and it debuted at number 1 on the CCM rock charts, to be followed by several other hits that showcased the unbridled guitars of Tierra and Roberts, and the soulful, dynamic range of Randy Roberts. While some fans didn't embrace the changes, a whole new group of listeners emerged, as well as new bassist Steve Irwin and drummer John Spittle. The band continued in its evolution and was just hitting its stride when their label, Pakaderm picked up and left for Nashville, and the group disbanded.Sadly, The Brave lost singer/drummer Randy Roberts in 2007. In tribute to their fallen brother, remaining members put on a concert in his name, and certainly, his presence was felt.And now, almost 20 years later, there is a rumble on the horizon. The Brave is set to return in 2014 with new spins on Brave classics, and a few new surprises. Pre-production on the new Brave record are under way, and the stage is set. Lead Guitarist Stayce Roberts states, "Yes, we are back! I think the new record will be an amalgamation of everything our Brave fan base dug us for-- melody, shredding and great songs."
Album:
Back in the second half of the Eighties / early Nineties via their own record label Pakaderm, John and Dino Elefante become experts at their craft of producing some of the greatest CCM Melodic Rock / AOR bands. Their sound design was for the genre was very unique, and this first album by THE BRAVE titled “Battle Cries” was a clear and precise ’80s rocker, hitting on all fronts. Now freshly remastered with two bonus tracks, this is the ultimate ear-candy, with flying guitar works, melodies, hooks and and explosive production second to none.The Brave was one of the most complete Melodic Hard Rock bands appeared in the L.A. scene during the late ’80s. Perhaps due their Christian origins they weren’t massive, and the band’s debut, this superb “Battle Cries”, arrived too late – 1992.Here The Brave recorded ten tracks of pure golden Melodic Hard Rock with Hair Metal and AOR touches, plenty of big hooks, terrific harmonies and memorable choruses mixed by guru Neil Kernon and produced by the talented duo John & Dino Elefante with a crisp, slick sound.The record was released via the brothers own label Pakaderm / Word in 1992.You can’t find a weak song here, all are killers in their own right. There’s outstanding gems in “All Together Now” and “The Waiting”, more edgy rockers on the melodic “Tears Of A Broken Heart” or ” Little Love”, sublime AORish midtempo tunes like “Never Live Without Your Love” and “Running All My Life”, and a perfect ballad in “Just A Man”.This reissue of the album includes two extra tracks as bonus and really worth the addition: a completely different, AOR versions of “All Together Now” and “Running All My Life” without drums, but added keyboards / orchestrations and multi-part vocal harmonies galore contributed by all band members.Often compared with the awesome Dann Huff’s band Giant, believe me this “Battle Cries” is terrific, and should be considered a Melodic Hard Rock cult classic. Believe me, it’s that good and consistent in all departments.Very good, vibrant remaster.
Line-Up:
James Salters – lead and harmony vocals
Freddie Tierra – guitars, harmony vocals
Stayce Roberts – guitars, harmony vocals
Malcolm Paris – bass, harmony vocals
Randy Roberts – drums, harmony vocals
John and Dino Elefante – keyboards, orchestrations
Tracklist:
01. All Together Now 4:29
02. The Waiting 4:35
03. If That Ain't Love 5:01
04. Running All My Life 4:46
05. Tears of a Broken Heart 4:33
06. Little Love 4:27
07. Never Live Without Your Love 4:41
08. Big World 4:23
09. Ride With Rhythm 3:54
10. Just a Man 4:42
11. All Together Now studio mix 4:30 (Bonus Track)
12. Running All My Life studio mix 4:45 (Bonus Track)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
