Rainforce
With the 80's we saw Metal come to fruition with an explosion of Metal bands taking the stage in an era often referred to as the golden years of Heavy Metal music. We also saw an explosion of christian Metal bands coming onto the scene like Stryper, Petra, Bloodgood, Guardian, Barren Cross, along with many more. A new European Metal band has taken the stage by storm hailing from Switzerland and calling themselves 'Rainforce'. Rainforce unleashes their furry with a raw in-your-face Metal sound that will make any 80's Metal fan sit up and take notice. The band mixes things up in their arrangements by adding varied infusions of Blues Rock throughout their work. The band brings to the table an early 80's Metal sound in the veins of well known bands like AC/DC, X-Sinner, GX Project and early-Bride. In light of the band's 80's sound, Rainforce lives by the old saying, "if somethings not broke don't try and fix it" which rings true for many bands entering the Metal scene today.
Rainforce joins company with many special guest artists of the like to deliver up an "All Star" project not unlike what we have seen in such bands as: Vox Heaven, Liberty N' Justice, Mastedon, Signum Regis, Affector, and many more.
Rainforce lists the following bands as their influences:
Krokus, Petra, Leviticus, Nazareth, Whitecross & more...
Krokus, Petra, Leviticus, Nazareth, Whitecross & more...
2016 was a great year for christian Metal music and 2017 is shaping up and showing great promise with the release of Rainforce's 2017 debut full-length release 'Lion's Den'. Rainforce is a new Metal project released on Roxx Records & founded by guitarist and songwriter Andy La Morte(Pÿlon/Disobedience/Thankful Heart) along with brother Matt Brand(Bassist-Pÿlon). Rounding out the core lineup is drummer-Benjamin Mann(Power Of God) and Maltese vocalist-Jordan Cutajar(Nomad Son & others, including a stint in Pÿlon).
Some of the special guest on this project include Guitarist-Rex Carroll(Whitecross), Bassist-Jim La Verde(Barren Cross), Vocalist-Rex Scott(X-Sinner/GX-Project) and Canadian vocalist-Kevin Wright(ex-Jacob’s Dream)and many more.
Some of the special guest on this project include Guitarist-Rex Carroll(Whitecross), Bassist-Jim La Verde(Barren Cross), Vocalist-Rex Scott(X-Sinner/GX-Project) and Canadian vocalist-Kevin Wright(ex-Jacob’s Dream)and many more.
This is a solid debut release with all tracks being note worthy however, there are a few tracks like "Desert Sand", "He Came", and "The Gods" that stand out from the rest. It's arguable that "The Gods" is the heaviest of all 10 tracks even taking on a darker ambient nature than the rest.
Frontman-Jordan Cutajar quickly draws comparison to Vocalists Brian Johnson(AC/DC),
Rex Scott(X-Sinner/GX Project), and even Dale Thompson(Bride). One thing making this project even more desirable is Cutajar's ability to mix things up with varied styles of delivery from track to track. Special guest Rex Scott(Zion/X-Sinner/GX Project) adds his part in the vocal department by laying down some screams on track 2 "My Rock". Special guest Vocalist-Kevin Wright(ex-Jacob’s Dream) delivers a helping hand with his vocals on track 10 "Shine A Light".
Rex Scott(X-Sinner/GX Project), and even Dale Thompson(Bride). One thing making this project even more desirable is Cutajar's ability to mix things up with varied styles of delivery from track to track. Special guest Rex Scott(Zion/X-Sinner/GX Project) adds his part in the vocal department by laying down some screams on track 2 "My Rock". Special guest Vocalist-Kevin Wright(ex-Jacob’s Dream) delivers a helping hand with his vocals on track 10 "Shine A Light".
Andy La Morte(Pÿlon) handles Guitars for the band and gains some help from world renown guitarist-Rex Carroll(Whitecross) on track 4 "I Am Yours". Throughout this project, Andy does a great job of weaving in and out between Metal riffs and Blues Rock guitar play.
Special guest Oliver Schnieder(Pÿlon/Exile RD/Minsk Security)adds some fret-board work as he takes on the guitar solos for track 9 "He Came".
Special guest Oliver Schnieder(Pÿlon/Exile RD/Minsk Security)adds some fret-board work as he takes on the guitar solos for track 9 "He Came".
On the instrumental track "Speechless“ we find the band incorporating a folk sound into the mix by the use of an instrument called the Waldzither. According to Wikipedia: The waldzither(German: "forest zither") is a plucked string instrument from Germany that came up around 1900 in Thuringia. It is a type of cittern that has nine steel strings in five courses. "Speechless" is a great addition to this debut as it gives your speakers a pause with a chance to cool down from the relentless Metal assault dished out by our musicians.
The band's punishing Bass lines are a product of Bassist-Matt Brand who gains some additional help from special guest Bassist-Jim La Verde(Barren Cross) on track 7 "Desert Sand". The Percussion team is rounded out by Drummer-Benjamin Mann who is a raging beast behind the kit.
Although Rainforce has its roots in an early 80's Metal sound, this release comes across as a breath of fresh air partly due to the band's no compromising lyrical position as seen here:
"Lion's Den"
We are living in a lion' den
Watch out! Don't sleep!
Don't forget the words our Savour said
Please do not let your heart grow cold
Prove yourself with the help of Jesus
Abide by the word of the Lord
Read in His words
Speak to Him everyday
Let Him guide your way
Lion's Den - Lion's Den
The world is like a lion's den
Lion's Den - Lion's Den
We are living in a lion's den
When your heart grows cold
Or if you think you could save yourself
The devil finds a backdoor
And burrows in your soul
We are strangers in this world
In danger of being eaten
But as Daniel in the lion's den
The mighty God is by our side!
We are living in a lion' den
Watch out! Don't sleep!
Don't forget the words our Savour said
Please do not let your heart grow cold
Prove yourself with the help of Jesus
Abide by the word of the Lord
Read in His words
Speak to Him everyday
Let Him guide your way
Lion's Den - Lion's Den
The world is like a lion's den
Lion's Den - Lion's Den
We are living in a lion's den
When your heart grows cold
Or if you think you could save yourself
The devil finds a backdoor
And burrows in your soul
We are strangers in this world
In danger of being eaten
But as Daniel in the lion's den
The mighty God is by our side!
Tracklisting including special guests:
01. Lion’s Den (with Philipp Rölli)
02. My Rock (with Rex D. Scott)
03. Feed Me (I’m Hungry)
04. I Am Yours (with Rex Carroll)
05. Speechless (with Philipp Rölli)
06. New Jerusalem (with Hämu Plüss)
07. Desert Sand (with Jim LaVerde)
08. The Gods Have Failed (with Philippe “The Greis” Kreis)
09. He Came To Set The Captives Free (with Oliver Schneider & Philipp Rölli)
10. Shine A Light (with Kevin Wright & Philipp Rölli)
01. Lion’s Den (with Philipp Rölli)
02. My Rock (with Rex D. Scott)
03. Feed Me (I’m Hungry)
04. I Am Yours (with Rex Carroll)
05. Speechless (with Philipp Rölli)
06. New Jerusalem (with Hämu Plüss)
07. Desert Sand (with Jim LaVerde)
08. The Gods Have Failed (with Philippe “The Greis” Kreis)
09. He Came To Set The Captives Free (with Oliver Schneider & Philipp Rölli)
10. Shine A Light (with Kevin Wright & Philipp Rölli)
Rainforce comes highly recommended to all 80's Metal heads who are fans of the offerings and arrangements of bands like AC/DC, Bride, and X-Sinner. I look forward to hearing more from this talented all star band in the future as "Lion's Den" has left me hungry for more.
Lion's Den is set to be released worldwide on: APRIL 14, 2017
Musicians:
Jordan Cutajar-lead Vocals
Andy La Morte-Guitars
Matt Brand-Bass
Benjamin Mann-Drums
Jordan Cutajar-lead Vocals
Andy La Morte-Guitars
Matt Brand-Bass
Benjamin Mann-Drums