FIFTH ANGEL REVIEWS

SNAKEPIT [http://www.truemetal.org/snakepit/magazine.htm]
At last, one of the best melodic Metal albums of all time is re-released on cd. You have the album already on vinyl? Then choose yourself if you want to buy it on cd as well. You don't know them? Well, get this gem immediately otherwise you miss some of the best Metal music ever written, ever performed, ever existing. In 1986 only few people appreciated the great traditional riffing of James Byrd, the original drumming of Ken Mary and the classic clear and powerful voice of Ted Pilot. Maybe the band was too heavy for the glam scene, not heavy enough for the Speed and Thrash scene and the label didn't succeed in reaching the big DIO fan base, so they disbanded frustrated after releasing the (little more commercial) second record "Time Will Tell". The Brilliant nine songs, beginning from the fast-paced "In The Fallout" to the epic "Cry Out The Fools", all of them outstanding, punching melodic Metal, supported by one the best works of producer Terry Date, made this output a very special piece of music. Essential, eternal.

Heinz Konzett

EPINIONS.COM
First of all, I must say that it never ceases to amaze me what is, and what isn't, available for review on epinions. Rare and out of print cd's such as this and Vinnie Vincent's "Invasion" are fortunately listed, but modern day bands like Iced Earth and Nevermore are neglected. Here's to the hope that this will soon change.

Released in 1986, Fifth Angel's self titled debut made little or no mark on the industry. Metal was still on the rise publicly, and if you didn't wear lipstick odds were that MTV would ignore you. That's one hell of a shame because Fifth Angel were loaded with talent. It isn't often that a band is so professional and well studied as to perform such beautiful and intense melodies as these. This is quite possibly the most underrated (should I say ignored?) album ever produced. These guys were mostly known for their theme song to the short lived Howard Stern television variety show in the early nineties, and they were lucky to get even that little promotion. With sub-par and mediocre bands like Winger and Trixter raking in the cash, here was a group that had something to say, while nobody was listening. No doubt their record label figured that since they weren't pretty boys there was no sense in pushing the record. Forced to sink or swim on their own, it's amazing they were even afforded the chance to make a sophomore effort, the equally awesome "Time Will Tell".

Bands like Fifth Angel, Queensrÿche and Fates Warning were then labeled progressive, but a more fitting term would be power metal. Not unlike Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Helloween and the like, the strains captured within the jewel case was classically inspired and thought provoking. Don't think this album doesn't rock though because it does, and then some. Full fledged shred-o-matic songs like "In the Fallout", "Shout it Out", "The Night" and "Only the Strong Survive" showcase what was the band's driving force: guitar wizard James Byrd. While this was his only effort with the band, it proved to be a huge stepping stone for his solo career.

Equally as impressive is singer Ted Pilot's effort. He has the perfect voice for power metal and I'm surprised he wasn't invited to join another band's ranks when a vocal position became available. Especially on the song "Cry Out the Fools", his is a moving performance which allows the listener to fully experience the songs without distraction. So many great bands are lesser because of a sub-standard vocalist and it's refreshing when all facets of a band consist of talented individuals.

Keeping with a long standing metal tradition started by founding fathers Black Sabbath, the band also does a self titled number. As you may have guessed, it's called "Fifth Angel". I suspect that bands save their coolest musical arrangements for these songs that bear their moniker when their debut albums are being produced, because that is usually the case. They stand out. Every song on this album does in fact, and that is what makes it a shame. If only somebody had promoted this product I am sure these guys would have been huge. They are better than plenty of similar bands that saw success, but I suppose life isn't fair.

The good news is that this album has been re-released. The bad news is that it's only been done so in Japan. If you want it you'll either have to hope to find it in a used CD bin somewhere or cough up $30 bucks for the import. Personally I think it's worth it. Music so thoroughly enjoyable provides pleasure for decades and to me that justifies the cost.

5/5
Review by Thrashmaster.

EPINIONS.COM
Fifth Angel's self-titled album is one of the outstanding achievements of the 80's most of you never had the fortune to choose. As usual with most of these type of concept albums it was first released in Europe. I bought it and fell in love with its brilliant vocals, lyrics and music while serving my country in the U.S. Air Force in West Germany, circa 1987.

When it was released in the United States in 1988 it lost is fantastic cover art of a winged horse ascending to heaven. Basically the entire album was shuffled in with the new hair bands of that period such as Warrant and the Bullet Boys singing the typical boy-sleeps-with-girl songs that hastened the end of metal-edged music but a few years later.

Fifth Angel was praised by a number of critical music reviewers around the world; yet these reviews did not make much an impact. The album remained a cult collectors item among the few in the know. The record company did a poor job of marketing the group's talent and unique thematic concentrations. Instead it rushed them back to the studio after a tour and demanded a more radio-friendly album "Time Will Tell" which would not measure to the first if it included a $100 bill in the CD gem and Nobel Prize endorsements. The band faded away after such a weak attempt.

"Fifth Angel" belongs on any intelligent progressive-metal listeners all-time list of best albums. I have always felt releases on this quality helped redefine metal as a art form as any other musical theme. And not a horrible stereotype of angry long-haired freaks screaming about drugs and destruction. When considering the fact that most pop-singers, outside of Sting, refuse to sing about violence on television, nuclear war, the evil of using children as soldiers in armed conflicts, the possibility that a spirituality force help rescue the world from itself, etc., the average consumer and/or record buyer is bombarded with negative elitist media coverage and dysfunctional and irresponsible parents blaming metal music for their family's collapse.

With songs like: "In the Fallout,", "Shout It Out," '"Call Out the Warning," "Fifth Angel," "Wings of Destiny," "The Night," "Only the Strong Survive," "Cry Out the Fools," and "Fade to Flames, "Fifth Angel" plays like a sonic novel examining all the ills that plagued our society and the world in the 1980's. Its positive spiritual message is most noticeable when considering the fact that it could have conceived as a musical CNN by reporting and not offering some solution.

Vocalist, Ted Pilot has a powerful range that matches the intensity of the music at all times of the album, what is amazing is his soft singing in points such as "Wings of Destiny" and "Fade to Flames" where you wonder how could such moving and powerful songs be ignored over screaming fools wearing leather thongs. It makes you wonder if the visual aspects of our society has overcome most of our senses. "Fifth Angel" never made a video and "sin" might have condemned them to the nearly unknown.

Fortunately Japan Sony in 1999 re-mastered "Fifth Angel" and released it to great fanfare (those of us in the know, I mean.) The release is an import and more expensive than most CD's you could easily buy. But buy this one you must. Any follower of Queensrÿche, Heir Apparent or Dream Theatre should rush out and purchase it. You will not be disappointed. The music and its involved themes still stand the test of time.

5/5
Review by Mark Antony

RAINBOW FLAMES METAL DOMAIN
Laying in the depths of obscurity, is the band Fifth Angel. Little heard of, and known to even the very few as being the band where James Byrd first lent his axe slinging talents. Why a release this wonderful would be left in the shadows is beyond me, perhaps it was the apocalyptic nature of their lyrics with the slight religious tones. Maybe it was the fact that glam metal was dominating the airwaves and there was little use for bands playing an early version of power metal fused with melodic hooks and driven by tastefully striking guitar riffs and solos. But Fifth Angel is one of those newly discovered gems I have stumbled upon and am thankful of it.

The self titled release is one of the few albums that I can truthfully say that I like every single song on it. From the opener, "In the Fallout" to "Fades to Flames", its metal ecstasy. The personality of this disk lays in the performances of two musicians, vocalist Ted Pilot and guitarist James Byrd, who also wrote the majority of the music and lyrics on this release. Pilot's voice is one of the best I have ever had the pleasuring of hearing. Rock solid, never wavering or breaking, capable of nailing extremely high notes to perfection, including all-out screaming, but he's at his best when he's just giving it his all. His voice stays in a mid-range, not too deep, not so high that it sounds 'girly' but right in the middle, brimming with power and delivering each lyric with conviction. Equally as impressive is James Byrd's guitar work. At the time, crazed soloing and over flaunting of axe slinging skills was the big thing, but Byrd manages to flaunt his stuff without going overboard. Byrd stays within the boundaries of each song, and adds emotion and flavor with his riffs and solos instead of trying to steal the show. Byrd is backed up by guitarist Ed Archer and the double axe attack adds even more depth to the mix. The rhythm section of John Macko and Ken K Mary provide a nice backbone, with supporting bass work and crisp, sharp drums. It all falls comfortably together to create pounding power metal fused with addictive melodies that just scream to be replayed over and over again. The songs themselves are totally killer. No other words can describe them. Inspiring, up lifting, drivingly energetic and held together by the layers of guitar riffs given life by Byrd. Fifth Angel's debut release is easy to fall in love with.

Its not every day an album like this one is unleashed upon the industry. With so many superb song its tough to pick out even a handful to be the highlights. My absolute favourite is "Call Out the Fools", even if not the best representation of the disk, for it has a slightly different sound than all the other songs chosen to be included on the release. Its the creation of throwing power metal and hard rock together. Just listen to the opening layers of guitar, the heavy supporting riffs and the squealing over the top... and the chorus is just to die for! With the guitar breaks before each verse, and the little squeal afterwards. The guitar solo that begins at the top and then falls downward only to climb back up again and bubble straightforward. The rock solid vocal delivery drives this song home with heated passion. An attention getter from the very first note, is "Fade to Flames", with its acoustic opening, and change into the world of galloping riffs and another superb chorus, and a short and sweet guitar solo thrown in for good measure. The ending comes on very sudden, with quickly fading vocals that fall into silence. But it is super choruses that fuel the fire of Fifth Angel, and gives the band the wings to fly. "Shout It Out", "Call Out The Warning", "Fifth Angel" and "The Night" all sport exceptionally addictive and remarkably melodic choruses, that ooze with passion. "Wings of Destiny" is the closest thing to a ballad on the disk, but with its wartime lyrics and feel, in addition to its heavier sections, it doesn't quite make it to ballad status, but is one hell of a song regardless and is slipped right into the middle of the CD to slow it down just a notch. From start to finish "Fifth Angel" rarely slips from these high standards in musical quality. "Only the Strong Survive" is the single exception, but even it is a powerful and frantic tune with enough life to it that its still an interesting song, just doesn't quite make it to that pedestal the rest of the release has been set upon.

Fifth Angel is one album that simply cannot be overlooked nor missed out on. Its one of the few albums that truly is on a higher plane of existence than all of the others, where the musical beauty alone is enough to recommend it. All of the elements were pieced together in a rare state of perfection, and it shows. Without filling up the sound with dramatic well placed violins or keyboards, it lets the instruments speak for themselves, and is emotionally moving with just vocals and guitar and the song writing alone. Average in length songs, that will sing on in your heart and soul, hours after the music has ceased playing, and that speaks for itself. Sadly enough, Fifth Angel's debut doubles as their only time in the metal spotlight. Their second album was slickly produced melodic hard rock, but the emotional core and driving soul of the music was left behind in the 80s and without Byrd's signature guitar sound, the 1991 release "Time Will Tell" was obviously lacking. The band fell apart shortly afterward. "Fifth Angel", the debut was released twice, once in 1986 and again in 1988, and was quite a rarity in CD form until the recent re-release by Sony/Epic in Japan, in early 1999. Perhaps the third time around is the charm, and this album will fall into the hands of many more, and be newly discovered by another generation of metal fans who will appreciate it far more than when it was originally released. But for those who have heard it, they will understand why it was 1980s metal in its finest incarnation something truly special, and avoids sounding dated, even 13 years after its original release. A feat seldom accomplished.

Rating = 9.7
by Alanna Evans