This re-release by Stormspell Records. Digitally remastered, with brand new custom artwork by Bulgarian artist Dimitar Nikolov (Amulance, Steel Assassin, Drifter, Ilium, Cypher Seer, etc.), 16-page booklet with detailed band bio and all lyrics. Hand-numbered edition, limited to 1000!
In 1983, aspiring metal guitarist Patrick Stevens met John Kirsch in a high school guitar class. Soon they were meeting to jam on their favorite hard rock and metal covers and eventually began practicing with other musicians. By 1984 they hooked up with drummer Scott Bender after placing an ad in a local magazine. Patrick\'s brother Mike was then convinced to handle vocals and the four called themselves DISCOVERY. They began working on original songs while continuing to audition bass players. Scott was eventually replaced by Robert Sumpter who brought his double kick drum attack to the band. John was also playing with another singer who introduced him to bassist Dave Patterson. Dave joined up and the band began working on new material. In 1986 DISCOVERY entered TDS Studio in Seattle to record a four song demo. In 1988 DISCOVERY entered ESP Studios to record a five song EP titled \'New Horizons\'. The EP was sent out to record labels but received little interest. Sumpter then left the band and drumming duties were taken over by Tod Hobart, a friend of Dave\'s. DISCOVERY re-entered the studio to record a new three song demo, but after playing just one show in the summer of 1989, differences between band members caused John and Dave to leave.
Mike Stevens then introduced friend and guitarist Bob Shook to the remaining members of the band. Bob took over the spot vacated by John, and after finding another bass player, the band held a handful of rehearsals before disbanding once again as the core members of the group were getting burned out. The trio of Bob Shook, Patrick and Mike Stevens reconvened in late 1989 at ESP to record a few songs with the help of Tod Hobart and Dave Patterson. The band did not reform as Tod and Dave had their sights on forming a band of their own.
In early 1990, after placing an ad for a drummer in a local paper, Bob found the exceptionally talented drummer Steve Oliver, who fit right in with the rest of the group. Another ad for a bassist produced Phil Collier, who learned the songs so quickly that it seemed as though he had written them himself. The new lineup took the name DORIAN GRAY, and began writing new material that was heavier and more technical.
After playing several shows around Seattle, the band won a contest for free studio time at the Art Institute of Seattle, and recorded \'Cross to Bear\' with a class of twenty students performing the engineering duties. The band hit it off with the class instructor, Jim Rivers, and decided to return later in the fall of 1991 to record a full length album with Rivers engineering. After finding the name \'DORIAN GRAY\' already in use, a friend of the band suggested \'HELD UNDER\' after a punk song of the same name. When the recording was finished, HELD UNDER sent out demo tapes and again found that the record labels weren\'t interested. However, the band did receive a positive review in a local music magazine, and were compared favorably with bands like Megadeth and Iron Maiden.
With no label interest, the band decided to start their own label called \'Frightfully Groovy\' and release the album themselves. The band kept playing shows into early 1992, yet it became apparent that Seattle\'s grunge movement had taken over the Seattle music scene, and metal was on its way out. Frustrated, Mike Stevens left the band for a short time and Phil took over on vocals. Mike later returned and performed in what would be Held Under\'s final show at an all-day grunge and alternative music festival.
Rehearsals continued, and the band stretched out into even more of a progressive metal vein. It was during one of these rehearsals when drummer Steve\'s heart stopped during practice and he was rushed to the hospital. After spending a week in a coma and a lot of recovery time, the band began rehearsing again. However, Steve\'s heart problems persisted and he made the decision to give up the drums. Not wanting to continue without Steve in the band, HELD UNDER decided to fold.
Mike and Patrick continued to write a few songs when they could get together. The two kept in touch with Bob, who after attending audio engineering school, began working at Triad Studios where such acts as Queensryche and Heir Apparent had recorded.
The three recorded several songs in 1995 at Triad Studios with Steve Oliver returning to handle drumming duties on a few songs, as well as appearances by past DISCOVERY drummers Tod Hobart and Scott Bender.
In 1997, Bob, Mike and Patrick reformed a vastly different Held Under with Scott Bender on drums, and Bob and Patrick sharing bass duties. The music was stripped down hard rock akin to AC/DC, The Cult and Black Sabbath. Tragically, soon after the recordings with Scott were nearly finished, Mike Stevens was in a car accident in which he sustained brain injuries. Although he recovered (and still is recovering), he can no longer sing. The core of Bob, Mike and Pat still keep in touch, write music, and plan to record again in some form or another in the near future. Also former Discovery members John Kirsch, Dave Patterson, and Tod Hobart have all remained friends and musical collaborators.
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