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Overview
Sacred Blade is a band based in Vancouver, Canada, whose
diverse styles of music are generally defined as progressive
heavy metal. The term "Astral Alloy" was penned by Vancouver
rock critic Tom Harrison to better describe the band's blend
of hard rock/metal styles with intricate, multilayered production
and futuristic, conceptually linked lyrics.
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History
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Sacred
Blade - 1983
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Sacred
Blade was formed in 1981 by Jeff
Ulmer (guitar/vocals) and Will
Rascan (guitar). With Paul
Davis on drums and Tony
Moser on bass, the band recorded two demo tapes which
gained international attention, the first, produced in the
fall of 1982 (salem
| crystal
| hammerhead)
, the second the following January (the enlightenment/master
of the sun | the
alien | moon).
This 1983 demo garnered awards for "Best New Band"
and "Best Demo" from WMSC radio in New Jersey, and
caused Whiplash magazine to dub them "The kings of the
mountain on the Canadian metal scene." Bassist James
Channing joined in the summer of 1983. After coming to
the attention of Metal Blade Records president, Brain Slagel,
the band was offered the opening slot on the Metal
Massacre 4 compilation, released fall 1983. the
alien was remixed adding new lead guitar and bass
parts.
Sacred
Blade began recording their debut album under contract from
Roadrunner Records in the fall of 1984. Live performances
opening for Raven, Exciter, Exodus and as headliners in
Seattle as replacements for Metallica followed in the summer
of 1985. Sacred Blade unveiled their massive, 16 foot drum
riser at their official headliner in the summer of 1986.
The debut album, of the sun
+ moon was released in 1986 on France's
Black Dragon Records, featuring deluxe, gatefold packaging,
and quickly became the label's second highest seller.
Drummer Ted Zawadzki was
recruited in the spring of 1987 in time for the band's opening
slot for Saxon, as work continued in Jeff's project studio
demoing material for the second album. In 1988 Epic Records
flew the band to New York to begin negotiations on a multi-year
deal, debuting the first complete recordings of the new
album in the Epic offices. Talks continued as the band made
preparations for further recordings, along with several
headlining appearances and an opening spot for Alice In
Chains.
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Sacred
Blade - 1991
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Choosing
to produce their second album independently, they entered
the studio in the fall of 1989 to begin recording, but technical
problems forced an end to production after over six months
work had been completed. A two track demo from these sessions
was released featuring i c eyez and the instrumental cathedral
forest.
The
band moved back to Jeff's project studio, which was undergoing
a number of renovations and upgrades over the following
years. In 1996 Jeff began remastering the debut album for
release on CD, but abandoned his first efforts as newer
technology allowed better quality.
With
the band's Moonwatch Command Module online, and the internet
becoming more and more accessable to people, Jeff also decided
to market directly to the fans, rather than look for a distribution
deal. This would allow all profits to go directly back into
the recording of new material, and provide fans with personal
connection to the band.
The
remastered CD was released in 1999
as a numbered limited edition, and met with critical acclaim
from around the world, including being named
among the Top
300 Hard 'n' Heavy Albums of All Time by the editors
of Germany's prestigious Rock
Hard Magazine.
Jeff
and Ted continue to work on new recordings which take the
music of Sacred Blade into a new era with OTHYRWORLD.
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