Apostle - Metal for the Master

Some albums are born in the spotlight, while others take a more winding path-recorded, reworked, renamed, and eventually recognized for what they truly are. Apostle's Metal For the Master (1989) is one of those albums. Originally recorded in Chicago at Tone Zone Studios, the home base of Rez Band, these sessions capture a pivotal moment for Apostle as the band worked under producer Glenn Kaiser and engineer Roger Heiss to re-record and refine their strongest material with greater precision, clarity, and power. The result is a sharper, more focused expression of Apostle's signature sound: elite U.S. neo-classical heavy metal driven by the talent and vision of Matt Harding. There is history woven into this release, as some early cassette versions circulated under the name Apostle, and at one point the project was intended to be released as Tone Zone in 1987, but over time the recordings found their identity as Metal For the Master, a title that better reflects the album's intensity, purpose, and conviction. From the driving force of "Overcomer" and "Conquerors" to the anthemic strength of "King of Kings" and "Holy Soldier," Apostle presents a confident, refined sound that builds on their earlier work while pushing forward with greater intent, while instrumental standouts like "Parting the Red Sea" and "Armageddon" highlight the band's technical edge and neo-classical influence. Known to dedicated fans through landmark compilations like East Coast Metal and White Metal Invasion, Apostle remained one of the era's most respected underground bands, and Metal For the Master stands as one of their most complete and musically accomplished statements. Now receiving it's first proper CD release as part of the Metal Icon Series, this definitive edition has been remastered by Rob Colwell to bring renewed clarity and punch while preserving the original character of the recordings. Housed in a jewel case with a 12-page booklet, the release includes lyrics, Apostle history, rare band photos, and a new write-up telling the full story behind this important album, with all-new artwork reimagined by NLTM's Scott Waters. Limited to just 500 copies worldwide, this long-overlooked classic belongs in the collection of fans of Saint, early Bloodgood, Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Messiah Prophet, Sacred Warrior, Stryper, or Paradox.

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