Ordained Fate is a female-fronted Thrash/Power Metal band from Illinois that formed back in 1989 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist-Pam Scott & lead guitarist-Annette Cvengros. The band's overall sound takes inspiration from 80's Metal bands like Iron Maiden and Bloodgood amongst others. The band wasn't initially known as 'Ordained Fate', they got their start under the name 'Cryptic Axe'. Back in their high school days, Pam Scott met Annette Cvengros and the two immediately hit it off and started playing music together. It wasn't long before they contacted bassist-Marge Curtner who quickly came on board and was added to the band's roster. However, a band is not a band without a drummer, so the trio added percussionist-Terry Cvengros to the line-up and Cryptic Axe was born. In 1986 Cryptic Axe stepped into the studio to realize their first recording which was a 4-track demo on an indie label. Even though the band managed to put together a demo, the band was short lived due to the many different internal struggles within the group with all the members not being believers in the Lord. However, in 1989 'Ordained Fate' saw its conception and it wasn't long before Marge became a believer and then it trickled down to Pam and then the rest followed with all giving their lives to the Jesus Christ. Within the same year, Ordained Fate stepped into the studio and recorded a 6-track demo which has come to be known as (Demo 1). The track-list for Demo 1 included 1. Midnight Exodus 2. The Light Bearer
3. Sweet Dreams 4. Trick of the Night 5. The Election 6. Mystic Wind. Just one year later,
In 1990, the band stepped back into the studio to begin recording a second demo.
3. Sweet Dreams 4. Trick of the Night 5. The Election 6. Mystic Wind. Just one year later,
In 1990, the band stepped back into the studio to begin recording a second demo.
When it comes to the meaning behind their moniker the band states: “Our fate was predestined to be with the Lord and to be with each other at that time. Now we see that the Lord had kept us together to minister to each other, especially since each one of us had become a Christian at a different time”.
1990
In 1990 Ordained Fate released their independent 7-track self-titled demo otherwise known as (Demo 2). The track-list for Demo 2 includes 1. Let's Make a Deal 2. No Death 3. Midnight Exodus 4. Light Bearer 5. The Hunted 6. Temptation II (Instrumental) 7. Wonderful Love. This was an important recording because it garnered the band much needed attention in the Christian Thrash Metal realm.
After the release of their 1990 demo Ordained Fate went on to open for such bands as Believer, Sacred Warrior and The Crucified which helped to further establish the band in the Metal community.
1992
In 1992 Ordained Fate released their debut full-length self-titled album on Wonderland Records. This recording features a total of 10-songs with 3-tracks off the band's 1990 Demo 2 release along with 7 new songs.
This was a solid release for the band with good sound production and plenty of Thrash to go around. This would be a great addition to any Metal collection.
The track-list for their debut includes 1. Let's Make a Deal(Demo 2)2. Gethsemane 3. Holy Wars 4. Wonderful Love(Demo 2) 5. Gold Cross 6. Tame the Tongue 7. The Election 8. One of the Insane 9. No Death(Demo 2).
This was a solid release for the band with good sound production and plenty of Thrash to go around. This would be a great addition to any Metal collection.
The track-list for their debut includes 1. Let's Make a Deal(Demo 2)2. Gethsemane 3. Holy Wars 4. Wonderful Love(Demo 2) 5. Gold Cross 6. Tame the Tongue 7. The Election 8. One of the Insane 9. No Death(Demo 2).
1995
In 1995 Ordained Fate released their full-length follow up sophomore album titled 'Glimmer of Hope' on P.A.C Records. This second release finds the band leaning more towards the Doom/Heavy Metal side of the Metal realm while not abandoning their Thrash roots. If you are a Doom Metal fan then you are going to love this '95 offering. Unfortunately, throughout this release, we find a problem in the production with Pam's vocals being too low in the mix. On some tracks, the vocals seem fine in the mix, however there are a number of tracks where they are obviously way too low.
The track-list for 'Glimmer of Hope' includes 1. That's Entertainment 2. Parade of Pain 3. So Many Hours 4. He's Alive 5. Gate of Faith 6. Francis 7. Monkey on my Back 8. Divine Abandonment 9. Santa's Little Helper 10. Throne of the Beast.
The track-list for 'Glimmer of Hope' includes 1. That's Entertainment 2. Parade of Pain 3. So Many Hours 4. He's Alive 5. Gate of Faith 6. Francis 7. Monkey on my Back 8. Divine Abandonment 9. Santa's Little Helper 10. Throne of the Beast.
2012
In 2012 singer-Pam Scott released a solo project titled the 'Pam Scott Project - Mission'. This project is an acoustic/Rock album with folk touches that leans more towards Adult Contemporary where you find bands like Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith. Now that's not a problem if you are into those types of radio friendly bands. However, the problem lies in the fact that Pam had already established herself as a Heavy Metal vocalist on her previous releases with Cryptic Axe & Ordained Fate. With that said, there are a couple of tracks that stand out on this solo project. The first is track-11 "Battle Inside Me" which is a nicely done progressive song with some killer guitar work. The second is track-12 "Seek Your face" which is a praise song featuring the acoustic guitar along with some spot-on vocals by Pam.
2014
In 2014 Ordained Fate released a collection album of all their demo recordings rightly titled 'Demo Anthology' on StormSpell Records. This 'Demo Anthology' features 13 songs from the band's original demo recordings which were remastered by Cederick Forsberg. The cover art was done by Yannick Bouchard & the booklet's layout/design was managed by Mumintroll. As a bonus, this release includes two rare tracks from their 1986 Cryptic Axe demo. However, it does not include Cryptic Axe's "Mask of Fear" and "Temptation I" because the master-tapes of those two songs were lost. This 2014 release also includes all 6-tracks from their first demo(Demo 1) released in 1989 along with 5-tracks from their second demo(Demo 2) which was released in 1990. This album finds the band weaving in and out of Thrash, Power Metal, and Heavy Metal. To be honest, the band's demo recordings were some of their best offerings to the Metal realm.
The track-list for their 'Demo Anthology' collection includes 1. Minions Of The Adversary(1986-Cryptic Axe demo) 2. The Pit(1986-Cryptic Axe demo) 3. Midnight Exodus(1989-Demo 1) 4. The Light Bearer(1989-Demo 1) 5. Sweet Dreams(1989-Demo 1) 6. Trick Of The Night(1989-Demo 1) 7. The Election(1989-Demo 1) 8. Mystic Wind(1989-Demo 1) 9. Let's Make A Deal(1990- Demo 2) 10. No Death(1990-Demo 2) 11. The Hunted(1990-Demo 2) 12. Temptation II(1990-Demo 2) 13. Wonderful Love(1990-Demo 2).
The track-list for their 'Demo Anthology' collection includes 1. Minions Of The Adversary(1986-Cryptic Axe demo) 2. The Pit(1986-Cryptic Axe demo) 3. Midnight Exodus(1989-Demo 1) 4. The Light Bearer(1989-Demo 1) 5. Sweet Dreams(1989-Demo 1) 6. Trick Of The Night(1989-Demo 1) 7. The Election(1989-Demo 1) 8. Mystic Wind(1989-Demo 1) 9. Let's Make A Deal(1990- Demo 2) 10. No Death(1990-Demo 2) 11. The Hunted(1990-Demo 2) 12. Temptation II(1990-Demo 2) 13. Wonderful Love(1990-Demo 2).
Fronting the band is lead vocalist-Pam Scott who draws comparison to the 80's superstar Ann Wilson(Heart-Barracuda). If you take Ann Wilson's vocals and immerse them into molten metal then what you get is Pam Scott's vocal sound. I also found it interesting that both Pam & Ann even look similar in some their photos.
Another anomaly that I found interesting about Pam's delivery on these demo recordings is in the fact that some of the growls & screams work themselves up into what sounds like that of a cat or a cat-fight going on. With that said, I'm officially giving the band's singer the title Pam "Cat" Scott. These cat-like vocal sounds actually add a lot to the tracks making the listening experience more interesting.
Another anomaly that I found interesting about Pam's delivery on these demo recordings is in the fact that some of the growls & screams work themselves up into what sounds like that of a cat or a cat-fight going on. With that said, I'm officially giving the band's singer the title Pam "Cat" Scott. These cat-like vocal sounds actually add a lot to the tracks making the listening experience more interesting.
The guitar work on this demo collection is first class with Annette Cvengros on lead guitars and Pam "Cat" Scott on rhythm guitars. One thing that is sure is that Annette & Pam do not hold anything back as they shred offering up everything from Power Metal riffs to Heavy Metal noodling to Thrash - melting the speakers to the floor!
The vocals are thought provoking as one can see in the following excerpts:
"Midnight Exodus"
All hell breaks loose upon the earth
All men seek death in vain
They lift their eyes up to the heavens
And blaspheme His Holy name
But I believe the prophecies
I believe he lives
I wash in the blood he shed for me
I take the love He gives
"The Light Bearer"
Mark my words
For the end is near
And the white horse
And the conqueror appear
Reigning terror
While proclaiming peace
In the form of a man
With the heart of a beast
In the final
And darkest hour
He's completed his rise
To world power
Deceiving masses
With unholy lies
He brands his mark
On souls that shall die
Hear my words
And you wise take heed...
"No Death"
No death
Through the blood shed of the Christ
No death
Through the blood shed of the Christ
No death
From the blood shed of the Christ
No death
Light has come into the world
But men loved darkness rather than light
Because their deeds were evil
He can save you
Through faith and mercy
His love will never die
"Wonderful Love"
In the final days
Have mercy on us all
For the heavenly kingdom is near
I pray I walk in the light
All hell breaks loose upon the earth
All men seek death in vain
They lift their eyes up to the heavens
And blaspheme His Holy name
But I believe the prophecies
I believe he lives
I wash in the blood he shed for me
I take the love He gives
"The Light Bearer"
Mark my words
For the end is near
And the white horse
And the conqueror appear
Reigning terror
While proclaiming peace
In the form of a man
With the heart of a beast
In the final
And darkest hour
He's completed his rise
To world power
Deceiving masses
With unholy lies
He brands his mark
On souls that shall die
Hear my words
And you wise take heed...
"No Death"
No death
Through the blood shed of the Christ
No death
Through the blood shed of the Christ
No death
From the blood shed of the Christ
No death
Light has come into the world
But men loved darkness rather than light
Because their deeds were evil
He can save you
Through faith and mercy
His love will never die
"Wonderful Love"
In the final days
Have mercy on us all
For the heavenly kingdom is near
I pray I walk in the light
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
2019
In 2019 Ordained Fate's original 1992 debut was reissued by Girder Records. This reissue includes all 7-tracks having been remastered and reloaded along with an 8-page booklet in a jewel Case.
If you are looking for some 80's style Thrash/Heavy Metal to add to your collection then take into consideration what Ordained Fate has offered up over the years especially with their self-titled debut and their 'Demo Anthology' album. Help keep Christian Metal music alive and moving forward by purchasing your copies of these two incredible releases today!
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
Pam "Cat" Scott - Vocals & Rhythm Guitars
Annette Cvengros - Lead Guitars
Marge Curtner - Bass
Terry Cvengros - Drums
Pam "Cat" Scott - Vocals & Rhythm Guitars
Annette Cvengros - Lead Guitars
Marge Curtner - Bass
Terry Cvengros - Drums
