Thank you
author: Robert Shook
As one of guitarists for this band, I just wanted to thank those who have commented here on our CD. After so many years of not having a way to get our music out in the world, it's fantastic and humbling to know that people are enjoying the songs that we put so much work into. Hopefully we'll have some more material for you soon!
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author: Clinton E. leipold
Great progressive/power metal from a virtual unknown American act.Can hear a lot of great metal band influences,but at the same time,have an original sound,with great vocals and musianship,and great production as well on this re-mastered double cd.
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Review from Voices From The Darkside (Germany)
author: Patrick
This ain't a split-album of two different bands, but an anthology release of Seattle's HELD UNDER who originally started out under the name DISCOVERY in 1884, but changed their moniker along the way because of various line-up changes. Even though they did a whole bunch of very promising sounding recordings (including a full length album "Dying Breed" in 1991) nothing major really came out of it internationally (I personally had never heard of them prior to this double CD). It simply must've been a matter of bad timing as Grunge was of course the big thing at the time and no label willing to sign a traditional Metal act. Really a pity, cause musically these guys had quite a lot to offer. Their rather epic sounding melodic Metal perfectly fits in among other acts from that area / era and if you listen carefully you partly even may detect elements of LEATHERWOLF's Michael Olivieri and HEIR APPARENT's Paul Davidson in the exceptional vocal delivery. The overall songwriting- and playing-abilities were first class, but unfortunately didn't seem to help them on the long run nevertheless. As a whole the band simply wasn't really blessed with luck anyway and decided to split-up for the first time after drummer Steve Oliver was facing a heart attack during a rehearsal in 1992. They did reform in 1997, but weren't able to continue on for too long anymore as singer Michael Stevens was involved in a terrible car accident in 1998 so that he couldn't sing anymore afterwards. This pretty much sealed the band's fate. A couple years later California's Stormspell Records finally did notice the band's qualities and compiled all their studio recordings on this double CD set (29 tracks in total). Disc one features HELD UNDER's "Dying Breed" album, including their cover of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Tyrant', plus five demo bonus tracks (from 1995 – 1997), while disc two had various DISCOVERY demo recordings from 1986 - 1989 on offer. The whole release is limited to 1.000 copies and highly recommended to lovers of traditional, yet melodic 80s Metal. More info at: www.stormspell.com
Frank Stöver
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Metal To Infinity review (Belgium)
author: Patrick Stevens
Metal To Infinity review:
Thanks to Stormspell Records some of those well hidden or forgotten US Power Metal jewels are re-released and even re-mastered. To be honest I'm worried about the amount of those masterpieces we have missed thanks to the bashing of True Metal in the nineties. As far as I see the denying is still going on, also by the so called important Metal Media who are too much influenced by the big labels and their money. I can only thank Stormspell Records for the good work they're doing, worshipping the true spirit of US Metal and giving bands like Amulance, Cauldron Born and this Hell Under a second chance.
Held Under is a band that was already formed in the eighties but under the name of Discovery. Mike and Patrick Stevens are brothers, bonded by blood and Metal, who felt the strength of the Heavy Metal spell in the eighties. Overwhelmed by this kind of music they started their own formation. Influenced by the American Metal scene at that moment, thinking about bands like (especially) Leatherwolf, Liege Lord, a bit of Helstar and Fifth Angel, Metal Church (the Mike Howe era), they created their own original songs. I must admit the first tunes blew me away because these guys are performing songs the way I like it so much.
As a big fan of US Power Metal I hear high energetic melodic songs, ripping guitars, fast fingered emotional guitar solos, plenty of breaks, clean vocals (similar to Mike Olivieri) with high soaking screams (the American way!),... Held Under is receiving the goal to mix technical elements with good structured rhythms and melodic parts. What does a fan need more to be satisfied? Right! 'Screaming Down The Wires', the mighty 'Aggressor' Nation' (what a song!), the fast 'Tomorrow And Forever' are the perfect songs to make this album one of the most precious one for the next months. The album also contains a very good Judas Priest cover, 'Tyrant'.
Nevertheless Discovery wasn't able to break through in the eighties. Although a demo was recorded they couldn�t convince a label. In Seattle, the capital of the horrible grunge scene, they didn't receive honest chances in a period when true Metal was as good as dead. It seems the band played a lot of gigs but nothing helped. Meanwhile the band name changed to Dorian Gray and into Held Under. The band released a private pressing cassette, because of the lack of interest but it became a well hidden treasure in the Heavy Metal movement. Since the very beginning several members left and were replaced. Misfortune seems to be the fate for these guys as Steve Oliver (drums) suffered problems with his heart and Mike Stevens got involved in a grave car accident which makes it impossible to sing in the future.
We can't tell if there is still a future for Held Under, maybe this release will change their destiny. After multiple listens to this first class CD I can only hope for it. On this release you can hear a re-mastered version of the original Held Under album and an extra CD with the entire Discovery history, inclusive the ''New Horizons'' demo. This release is a 'must have' for every US Power Metal fanatic. Fantastic release!
My Points: 95/100
(review by Officer Nice)
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