Sounds From The Superhighway 10

The 10th edition of SFTS. I consider that an accomplishment, and you can bet I will write that again for numbers 25, 50 and 100. The 30 bands featured have all made names for themselves in their perspective hometowns and, in many cases, beyond. But each had that something that made them feature material on SFTS.

While a college radio DJ back in the 80's, my main source of musical enjoyment came from heavy metal. In this edition of SFTS, I feature three heavy metal acts who have made comebacks recently (or never went away, but hovered under the radar). Agent Steel, Anvil, and Kreator were acts that leaned toward the heavier side of heavy metal. Today, acts making noise seem to have half the talent, yet bigger bank accounts. These three bands are back attempting to reclaim their rightful place.

Agent Steel - Juan Garcia and Agent Steel are preparing a new release. The band, which reformed in 1999, is preparing for dates in Europe during March and April. They will then return to the U.S. and begin recording a new disc. Tracks scheduled to appear are "Fashioned From Dust," "Though The Heavens Fall," "Wicked Tongue," "Hail To The Chief," "Curse Reborn," "Patriot," "Wash The Planet Clean," "The Machine Will Be Served," "United Mind," and "Liberty Lying Bleeding." According to Garcia, "The new stuff is killer." I can't wait.

Anvil - Back in August of 2004, Canadian metalheads, Anvil, released their 12th album, Back To Basics, on the Screaming Ferret Wreckords imprint. For those familiar with Anvil, every title is three words long with the outside words starting with the same letter. SFW will also be reissuing Anvil's back catalog (Metal On Metal, Pound for Pound, and Strength of Steel to name a few). Anvil also recently announced that they will preparing their 13th album for release sometime in 2005. The tentative title is This Is Thirteen. It will feature 13 tracks and the cover will have a theme centered around superstition. In the meantime, the band will travel to Europe for dates with the aforementioned Agent Steel.

Kreator - Back in the day, I was the publicity director for Noise International Records. Kreator, along with Celtic Frost, Destruction, and Rage, was one of my favorite bands. After leaving the label and becoming a full-time teacher, I feel out of touch with the heavy metal music scene. Recently, I noticed that Kreator (along with If Hope Dies and Vader) was invading the U.S. (including a stop in Albuquerque, NM) in a supporting slot to Death Angel. Also, the band had just released its latest disc Enemy of God to great reviews and extensive radio airplay. Mille Petrozza still fronts this German four-piece unit widely considered one of the "titans" of thrash metal. If you have never had the opportunity to see Kreator, log on to their website, find the show nearest you, and make the trip.

MUYA!!!