Roxx Productions has certainly done its fair share to bring back some interest in Christian metal over the past few years. The company spearheaded the Stryper Expos a while back, released the well-done Holy Soldier DVD last year, worked with Once Dead (featuring former members of the legendary Vengeance Rising), and they’ve coordinated the Up From The Ashes festival two years running. All of this is exciting news for those of us who grew up following this heavy metal subgenre in the 80’s and early 90’s.

This DVD combines footage from both years of the aforementioned festival. Vocalist Scott Waters of Ultimatum puts in his final performance with Once Dead, and Deliverance makes a rare live appearance following a reunion of sorts. For some odd reason, the sound quality is pretty good throughout with the exception of Deliverance, arguably the best band on here. “Learn” and “Not Too Good 4 Me” display a great showing for the band, but a better mix on the DVD would have made their performance stand out even more. Stricken (featuring members of Tower of 100) is a pretty good hardcore-looking metal band. Ultimatum seems to be a much better band than I once gave them credit for. In one of my first writing assignments ever, I wrote a scathing review of the band’s Puppet Of Destruction for HM Magazine in 1998. I garnered the wrath and ire of not only frontman Waters, but also of label head Steve Rowe (Mortification). I’m sure this positive nod won’t mend any bridges, but suffice it to say Ultimatum sounds great on this DVD.

The second year of the festival had a reunited Saint headlining. I never got into the band back in the day, and I can’t say that I missed much. Right down to some of vocalist Josh Kramer’s Rob Halford like moves, they come off as a Christian version of Judas Priest. It was bands like this that gave the religious alternatives to mainstream metal a bad name in the 80’s. I’m not normally this cruel, but his performance comes off as funny rather than commanding. And anyone who’s seen Priest live knows how Halford rules the stage. I’ll end the negativity with this: the one thing nearly as bad as tight fitting leather pants is loose fitting leather pants! In his defense, Kramer sounds good vocally, as does the rest of the band.

The bonus footage is fun, especially the trivia portion. Throughout a series of questions pertaining to the bands as well as the festival itself, it took me about an hour to get through it correctly. But I was rewarded with Ultimatum’s live rendition of the Vengeance Rising classic “Burn” and the always excellent “Weapons Of Our Warfare” by Deliverance.

Reviewed by Chad Olson
Sept. 2007
http://www.1340mag.com

UP FROM THE ASHES “Up From the Ashes” (DVD).
ROXX RECORDS/RETROACTIVE RECORDS
Rating: 7.5.
Country of origin: USA. Release date: available now.

This DVD contains a combination several legendary Christian metal bands and some newcomers hoping to achieve some level of success. Among the veterans featured are Saint, Deliverance, Ultimatum, Once Dead (Vengeance Rising without Roger Martinez), Sweden’s Laudamus, and Neon Cross. Holy Soldier was listed, but I did not find any Holy Soldier material (but then again, there was the bonus material in the trivia section I haven’t gotten to yet). A number of new bands, hopeful of making their mark on the Christian metal scene are: Tower of Hundred, Tukkus, Terrestrial Harvest, Blissed, Demise, and more. Some of these bands show signs of developing talent, a few of them will probably not make it. What’s really nice is that they get their chance here to be seen and heard. Many fans of Christian metal will be absolutely thrilled to see Once Dead (remember, Vengeance Rising without fanatical, apostate vocalist, Roger Martinez) and Ultimatum on DVD for the first time. I enjoyed this, but for me, the real thrill was seeing Saint. I was disappointed when they broke up in the late 80’s and excited when they regrouped in the late 90’s. To see Dee Harrington shredding on the guitar, Richard Lynch throbbing along on his bass guitar, and Josh Kramer screeching out the vocals … well, it was a real pleasure. I have to admit, though, Josh seemed to be a little hoarse in a spot or two. Also pleasurable to me was to see Deliverance still around (despite two disbandings and reformings). I got to see Deliverance and chat with Jimmy Brown in ’93. Back then I thought he was the real deal, and even now I think so. Deliverance are not making the same sort of thrash that really drew me to them in the early 90’s, but I will say that nothing Jimmy Brown and band mates have done has ever been bad.

Up From the Ashes is a DVD to be had by all who love these bands as I do, but understand that Christian metal bands and labels do not have the capital that regular metal bands and labels have. This means that there is a noticeable difference in recording quality and venue (most videos were obviously shot in churches). However, producer Bill Bafford and all involved have made really good with the means at their disposal. The DVD is organized with menus, and as mentioned above, with trivia sections and so on. The appearance of many of these bands on this DVD may likely be the only exposure they get in this medium. Those interested should visit the website: www.roxxproductions.com.

Critical Metal Update