Holy Danger is a Heavy Metal band from Eugene, Oregon that saw its conception back in 1985 by founding members Guy Ritter & Gary Lenaire. Holy Danger is one of the first real christian Metal bands to come out of the 1980's Hard Rock/Metal scene.
At an early age, Guy Ritter was exposed to various christian Rock bands like Keith Green, Rez Band, Petra, Daniel Band, and Servant which made a big impact on his life. Ritter began seeing how one could use a powerful medium like Rock or Metal music to reach others for Christ. At the time, Guy Ritter was only 19 years old when he decided to form the band Holy Danger. The first to come on board was long time friend & guitarist-Gary Lenaire. Due to providence, Ritter had previously had the privilege of meeting guitarist-Dee Harrington at a 'Saint' concert. It wasn't long before Harrington became unhappy playing for Saint and decided to leave the band. He then contacted Guy Ritter who happily welcomed him into the band. Ritter then got in touch with bassist-Avery Kramer and drummer-Darbey Budd who both promptly came on board to complete this Oregon based band.
During the 80's it was common for band members to use stage names and Guy Ritter wasn't going to be an exception to the rule, so he proudly chose the alias "Chuck Pepper". This "covert operation" lasted until confused fans began confronting Ritter and asking why he thought Chuck Pepper was better than his real name which sounded much cooler.
In 1985, not long after the band's conception, Holy Danger released an independent 2-track 7" vinyl record which includes tracks "I Wanna Rock" and "The Code Word Is Go". Just one year later, in 1986, Holy Danger stepped back into the studio to begin work on their independent full-length 13-track cassette demo recording titled 'Holy Danger!!!!'. This release is often called the "Battle Demo" due to one side of the cassette being titled 'Battle #1' and the other side being titled 'Battle #2'. This was a Hard Rock demo album that is rare and hard to find with the recording suffering from poor production. The tracklist for 'Holy Danger!!!!' includes 1.The Thief 2.Breakin' Out 3.Fight For Right 4.Musical Roam 5.Mona's Song 6.I Wanna Rock 7.Lord Behind Us 8.Runaway 9.Crank Up The Noise 10.When Is It You 11.Code Word 12.Alone 13.Go For It!
At an early age, Guy Ritter was exposed to various christian Rock bands like Keith Green, Rez Band, Petra, Daniel Band, and Servant which made a big impact on his life. Ritter began seeing how one could use a powerful medium like Rock or Metal music to reach others for Christ. At the time, Guy Ritter was only 19 years old when he decided to form the band Holy Danger. The first to come on board was long time friend & guitarist-Gary Lenaire. Due to providence, Ritter had previously had the privilege of meeting guitarist-Dee Harrington at a 'Saint' concert. It wasn't long before Harrington became unhappy playing for Saint and decided to leave the band. He then contacted Guy Ritter who happily welcomed him into the band. Ritter then got in touch with bassist-Avery Kramer and drummer-Darbey Budd who both promptly came on board to complete this Oregon based band.
During the 80's it was common for band members to use stage names and Guy Ritter wasn't going to be an exception to the rule, so he proudly chose the alias "Chuck Pepper". This "covert operation" lasted until confused fans began confronting Ritter and asking why he thought Chuck Pepper was better than his real name which sounded much cooler.
In 1985, not long after the band's conception, Holy Danger released an independent 2-track 7" vinyl record which includes tracks "I Wanna Rock" and "The Code Word Is Go". Just one year later, in 1986, Holy Danger stepped back into the studio to begin work on their independent full-length 13-track cassette demo recording titled 'Holy Danger!!!!'. This release is often called the "Battle Demo" due to one side of the cassette being titled 'Battle #1' and the other side being titled 'Battle #2'. This was a Hard Rock demo album that is rare and hard to find with the recording suffering from poor production. The tracklist for 'Holy Danger!!!!' includes 1.The Thief 2.Breakin' Out 3.Fight For Right 4.Musical Roam 5.Mona's Song 6.I Wanna Rock 7.Lord Behind Us 8.Runaway 9.Crank Up The Noise 10.When Is It You 11.Code Word 12.Alone 13.Go For It!
Some additional bands that helped influence Guy Ritter's sound include REO Speedwagon, Van Halen, Toto, Cheap Trick, and U2.
In 1986 Holy Danger released their independent full-length live cassette album titled 'One Way' on Dragon Slayer Records. Even though 'One Way' might sound like a demo recording, it is an important release that should be preserved as a piece of history because it helped play a part in shaping Heavy Metal & Thrash Metal for the Metal community. On this '86 recording we find vocalist-Guy Ritter cutting his teeth as an artist and developing his signature vocal style. This keystone moment in time helped prepare Ritter for his future work with both Tourniquet and Echo Hollow.
Holy Danger's 'One Way' release is more diversified than perhaps it seems at first listen. Track-1 "Rock For Your Maker" is a Metal tune, track-2 "One Way" is a Thrash/Speed Metal tune, track-3 "Breakin' Out" is more of a technical tune with melodic and Doom guitar play, track-4 "Power Anthem" is a Metal offering with a feast of guitar play, track-5 "Runaway" is a Metal song where we find plenty of soloing and Doom riffs, track-6 "Don't Slaughter Your Daughter" is a Heavy Metal tune with some sick guitar play, track-7 "Stranger" is a Metal tune that has some nice crunchy riffs mixed with melodic guitar play with a nice guitar solo towards the end of the tune, track-8 "Where Would I Be Without You" is a Metal tune with some acoustic guitar play along with some sweet melodic fret work.
Frontman-Guy Ritter has a unique vocal style where he digs deep with his lower end register then at other times he can change things up by reaching for some high notes with his falsetto delivery. Ritter's vocal style draws comparison to vocalist-Kim Petersen(King Diamond).
Holy Danger's 'One Way' release is more diversified than perhaps it seems at first listen. Track-1 "Rock For Your Maker" is a Metal tune, track-2 "One Way" is a Thrash/Speed Metal tune, track-3 "Breakin' Out" is more of a technical tune with melodic and Doom guitar play, track-4 "Power Anthem" is a Metal offering with a feast of guitar play, track-5 "Runaway" is a Metal song where we find plenty of soloing and Doom riffs, track-6 "Don't Slaughter Your Daughter" is a Heavy Metal tune with some sick guitar play, track-7 "Stranger" is a Metal tune that has some nice crunchy riffs mixed with melodic guitar play with a nice guitar solo towards the end of the tune, track-8 "Where Would I Be Without You" is a Metal tune with some acoustic guitar play along with some sweet melodic fret work.
Frontman-Guy Ritter has a unique vocal style where he digs deep with his lower end register then at other times he can change things up by reaching for some high notes with his falsetto delivery. Ritter's vocal style draws comparison to vocalist-Kim Petersen(King Diamond).
Holy Danger had a good three year run with the band abruptly coming to an end in 1987. After members of Holy Danger went their separate ways, It wasn't long before Ritter & Lenaire joined forces with drummer-Ted Kirkpatrick. They moved to California and formed the band Tourniquet who went on to capture the attention of Thrash Metal fans all over the world. In 1990 they released what some have hailed as Tourniquet's magnum opus - their debut album titled 'Stop The Bleeding' which was released on Intense Records. Off this release, their tune "You Get What You Pray For" was a GMA Dove Award nominee for "Metal Recorded Song of the Year."
"Rock For Your Maker"
Rock, Rock for your Maker
Give it all back to the One who made you
Rock, Rock with the Savior
The lease you should do for the One who saved you
Talk, talk to your Maker
He wants you to play but He wants you to pray
If you Rock, rock for the Maker
The lease you could do for the One who died for you
"One Way"
One way... to heaven
One way... to get back home
One way... to freedom
One way... to our chosen home
One way... to heaven
One way... from blessed to light
One way... Salvation
One way... through the blood of Christ
"Power Anthem"
We've got the Lord behind us
We've got His love inside us
Satan will never stop us
We've got more power than him
We've got the Lord behind us
His Holy Ghost to guide us
Satan will never stop us
We've got no time for losing
Where Would I Be Without You
You give me all I need
"Breakin' Out"
Jesus is the only man born on earth that will ever deserve to go to heaven
The Bible says we all fall short of being acceptable to God
But by Jesus Christ dying for us, His grace pathed our way, regardless of any works
Sing these next words with me
and believe in your heart, and you will be saved:
Let me be born again
Freed from sin
That I can receive eternal life
Let you saving grace,
take the place
of all the good works I could do
Help me turn from sin
again and again
and never fall away
Rock, Rock for your Maker
Give it all back to the One who made you
Rock, Rock with the Savior
The lease you should do for the One who saved you
Talk, talk to your Maker
He wants you to play but He wants you to pray
If you Rock, rock for the Maker
The lease you could do for the One who died for you
"One Way"
One way... to heaven
One way... to get back home
One way... to freedom
One way... to our chosen home
One way... to heaven
One way... from blessed to light
One way... Salvation
One way... through the blood of Christ
"Power Anthem"
We've got the Lord behind us
We've got His love inside us
Satan will never stop us
We've got more power than him
We've got the Lord behind us
His Holy Ghost to guide us
Satan will never stop us
We've got no time for losing
Where Would I Be Without You
You give me all I need
"Breakin' Out"
Jesus is the only man born on earth that will ever deserve to go to heaven
The Bible says we all fall short of being acceptable to God
But by Jesus Christ dying for us, His grace pathed our way, regardless of any works
Sing these next words with me
and believe in your heart, and you will be saved:
Let me be born again
Freed from sin
That I can receive eternal life
Let you saving grace,
take the place
of all the good works I could do
Help me turn from sin
again and again
and never fall away
If you are looking for some of those rare bands that flew under the radar but are collectors items today then check out what Holy Danger has offered up with their 'One Way' release. Holy Danger is for fans of King Diamond, Tourniquet, and Echo Hollow.
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
Guy Ritter(Tourniquet, Echo Hollow) - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitars
Gary Lenaire - Guitars
Dee Harrington(Saint) - Guitars & Backing Vocals
Avery G. Kramer - Bass & Backing Vocals
Darbey Budd - Drums
Guy Ritter(Tourniquet, Echo Hollow) - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitars
Gary Lenaire - Guitars
Dee Harrington(Saint) - Guitars & Backing Vocals
Avery G. Kramer - Bass & Backing Vocals
Darbey Budd - Drums