Lightforce: Mystical Thieves
| Year | 1989 |
| Label/Distribution | Pure Metal (US Release only) |
| Format | LP, CD |
| Musical style | Power Metal |
| Additional info | Inner sleeve. Also released on CD (very rare!) & Cassette. Remastered & released on Rowe Productions classic re-issue 'Lightforce 1987 to 1989' CD with Battlezone cassette album & S/T demo. |
Review
Pioneering Australian heavy metal band with Christian themes, released on the US Pure Metal label that went onto sell 13 000 units. Lightforce is the band that the Mortification legacy (Oz's biggest selling metal act) grew from. The music on display is fairly decent power metal, influenced by early 80's Iron Maiden, Judas Priest & christian bands Barron Cross & Blood Good. The vocals of steve Johnson are primarily clean and devoid of mega range or gymnastics. Setting the pace for the album is the gung ho galloping title track with Rowes clanging bass and drums intro & a glorious mid section, reminiscent of classic Dianno era Maiden. Crossfire is another galloping riff driven track with a half time mid section, City Streets shows some speedier tempos, Metal Missionary a gang vocal sing along chorus (rhino feet in the face?!) and a musical journey in the closing epic Babylon. The production is scaled down tight budget rawness, the lyrics are infectious & very enjoyably cheesy - overall the tracks are quite listenable and genuinely reflect the enthusiasm of a very young band in a primitive stage of development. Those who are not adverse to the odd Christian lyrical theme might want to track this one.
Tracks
1) Mystical Thieves
2) Crossfire
3) City Streets
4) Metal Missionary
1) Children Of Sorrow
2) Searching
3) Fast Lane
4) Babylon