Album review : AGENT STEEL – Mad Locust Rising, Live At Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

Cherry Red [Release date : 27.09.24)

20th June 1987. Agent Steel headlined a line up that included Onslaught and Nuclear Assault at the Hammersmith Odeon, most famously known for Motorhead’s “No Sleep ‘Til...”

The band had been unable to avoid the hiring and firing virus than ran rampant through rock and metal during the eighties (and seventies and nineties). Founding member, vocalist and songwriter, John Cyriis was reportedly infamous for forcing abrupt line up changes.

Consequently, lead guitarist and rising star, James Murphy (later to join Testament and Obituary) having only just been recruited, got little notice of the gig. You could never tell.
(He’d almost quit the day before – it’s all in the liner notes, along with many more fascinating, sometimes excruciatingly true stories.)

From those liner notes, Olaf (Enforcer) Wikstand speaks of Agent Steel: “Around the time they were more extreme than most of the (Thrash Metal) bands out there. In every single bar something’s happening. It’s fast, aggressive and over the top”.

It would have been a tragedy if the band’s mix of power metal, thrash, speed, attitude and adrenaline had not been captured in sound and in vision that night.

The Tracklist:

‘Evil Eye’, ‘Bleed For The Godz’ (both from the band’s debut album).

‘Nothin' Left’, ‘The Day At Guyana’ (instrumental), ‘Rager’ and ‘Never Surrender’ (all from Unstoppable Force)

‘Mad Locust Rising’ and ‘The Ripper’ (from the MLR EP)

‘The Unexpected’ (brand new song)

‘The Ripper’ (Priest cover), wrapped in razoring axework, and ‘Mad Locust Rising’, a slow start then a frantic rush to the finishing line (One of very few metal songs about insects) are especially notable for their nailed to the wall delivery.

Just raw, primal metal, unadulterated by overdubs or any other kind of mixing desk interference.

The gig is testament to all the kudos showered on the band by so many other musicians.

The DVD is a very welcome bonus. Seeing the band live is instructive. Especially seeing James Murphy’s face as he screws up the intro to ‘The Unexpected’.
Always leave them laughing? ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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