Thresher is an underground Thrash Metal band from Thorndale, Pennsylvania who played Thrash in the veins of early Metallica. Before Thresher was conceived, they originally went by the band name Lazarus and played Heavy Metal music. In 1985 Lazarus released a 6-track demo recording titled 'Breaking Into The Night' on Alive Recordings. The line-up for this release included frontman-Mark “Laz” Buchanan, guitarist-Carl Black, Jr., bassist-Jeff Stone, & drummer Jeff Newman. In 1987 Lazarus released a second demo recording with 5-tracks titled 'Demo 1987'. The line-up for their demo included frontman/guitarist-Mark Buchanan, bassist/keyboardist-Dave Kurtz, & drummer-Jeff Newman. Sometime between 1987-1989 the band changed their name from Lazarus to Thresher. With a new band name, previous Lazarus members moved away from their Metal sound and into new unexplored waters. With Thresher the group dove deep into the Thrash Metal scene to the delight of moshers around the world.
1989
In 1989 Thresher recorded an independent 6-track cassette demo titled 'Totally Possessed' at Lifeline Studios in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. With their demo release, the band is found incorporating old-school Thrash accompanied by Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, and Power Metal touches. This '89 recording is well worth pursuing because the production quality is not bad and quite frankly, is much better than most band's demos from the same era. Thresher's lyrics are unabashedly Christ centered as were many other christian bands from the 80's Rock/Metal scene.
The roster for this 1989 demo was comprised of vocalist/guitarist-Mark Buchanan, bassist/keyboardist-Dave Kurtz, and drummer-Jeff Newman. The track-list for 'Totally Possessed' includes 1. Totally Possessed 2. Final Frontier 3 Face The Rage 4. Cranial Tremor 5. No More Lies 6. Apocalypse Prepare 7. My Reality.
The roster for this 1989 demo was comprised of vocalist/guitarist-Mark Buchanan, bassist/keyboardist-Dave Kurtz, and drummer-Jeff Newman. The track-list for 'Totally Possessed' includes 1. Totally Possessed 2. Final Frontier 3 Face The Rage 4. Cranial Tremor 5. No More Lies 6. Apocalypse Prepare 7. My Reality.
"Totally Possessed"
Totally Possessed by Jesus Christ
Body, Soul, and Mind
Live by My hand
Across the land
My command is you shall live
With My blood on you heart
You shall not taste the second death
Blessed are those that I possess
"The Final Frontier"
I saw them open
The books of life and death
I heard the weeping of joy and death regret
Look to your heart
The final frontier
The things of this world will soon disappear...
...And Jesus will rule in every land
"No More Lies"
It's late at night
You hear a song on the radio
You think about a good friend
You knew long ago
Time's so short
You think of all the places you've seen
Through living hell
Your only sanity
No more lies!
Don't say goodbye!
Just wake up and realize
That the emptiness you feel inside
It won't end with suicide
It only ends when you walk in the light
The light of Jesus Christ
Totally Possessed by Jesus Christ
Body, Soul, and Mind
Live by My hand
Across the land
My command is you shall live
With My blood on you heart
You shall not taste the second death
Blessed are those that I possess
"The Final Frontier"
I saw them open
The books of life and death
I heard the weeping of joy and death regret
Look to your heart
The final frontier
The things of this world will soon disappear...
...And Jesus will rule in every land
"No More Lies"
It's late at night
You hear a song on the radio
You think about a good friend
You knew long ago
Time's so short
You think of all the places you've seen
Through living hell
Your only sanity
No more lies!
Don't say goodbye!
Just wake up and realize
That the emptiness you feel inside
It won't end with suicide
It only ends when you walk in the light
The light of Jesus Christ
Thresher garnered some additional recognition through a couple of different compilation albums featuring various artists. In 1989 Thresher released a single called "Apocalypse Prepare" on a compilation album titled 'Underground Metal 2' on Regency Records. In 1992 Thresher released a single called "My Reality" on a compilation album titled 'DEMOLITION-Nine Explosive Tracks From The Best Of The Christian Underground' on R.E.X. Music. The song "My Reality" was later changed to "Sanctuary" and was then added to their full-length album 'Here I am'.
1992
In 1992 Thresher recorded their independent full-length album titled 'Here I Am' which was produced at Lifeline Studios. 'Here I Am' includes 8-tracks and has a running time of around 50 minutes. With this release the band continues to play old-school Thrash seasoned with Heavy Metal and Speed Metal touches in order to spice things up. However, Thresher takes this release to a new level with the addition of some well place Doom touches throughout the album. 'Here I Am' was professionally produced with a much tighter sound quality with the intention of publishing the album for sales. However, shortly after producing the album, the group disbanded and the cassette recording sat collecting dust to the dismay of the band and their fans.
The roster for 'Here I Am' included vocalist/guitarist-John Mark Buchanan, guitarist-Rod Braun, bassist-Dave Kurts, drummer-Jeff Newman, and guest musicians: drummer-Greg Yarborough & drummer-Steve Bowen. The track-list for 'Here I Am' includes 1. Sanctuary 2. Faith Awaken 3. Amazing Grace 4. Here I Am 5. Altar Of Sacrifice 6. Death To Asherah 7. Raptor 8. One Way Out.
Fast forward 17 years after the band's full-length recording and Roxx Records contacted Thresher with the intention of publishing their unreleased 1992 album 'Here I Am'. Thresher responded enthusiastically and Roxx Records was given the green light to lift the album out of the catacombs so it could finally see the light of day. In 2009 Roxx Records published Thresher's album in two different versions. The first version included the band's '92 recording 'Here I Am' on CD format. The second version included both their 1989 demo 'Totally Possessed' along with their 1992 recording 'Here I Am' on CD format. As a bonus at the time of the release, the first 125 fans that pre-ordered the "Here I Am" CD, received a 2-CD version with their 1989 'Totally Possessed' demo on disc two.
The roster for 'Here I Am' included vocalist/guitarist-John Mark Buchanan, guitarist-Rod Braun, bassist-Dave Kurts, drummer-Jeff Newman, and guest musicians: drummer-Greg Yarborough & drummer-Steve Bowen. The track-list for 'Here I Am' includes 1. Sanctuary 2. Faith Awaken 3. Amazing Grace 4. Here I Am 5. Altar Of Sacrifice 6. Death To Asherah 7. Raptor 8. One Way Out.
Fast forward 17 years after the band's full-length recording and Roxx Records contacted Thresher with the intention of publishing their unreleased 1992 album 'Here I Am'. Thresher responded enthusiastically and Roxx Records was given the green light to lift the album out of the catacombs so it could finally see the light of day. In 2009 Roxx Records published Thresher's album in two different versions. The first version included the band's '92 recording 'Here I Am' on CD format. The second version included both their 1989 demo 'Totally Possessed' along with their 1992 recording 'Here I Am' on CD format. As a bonus at the time of the release, the first 125 fans that pre-ordered the "Here I Am" CD, received a 2-CD version with their 1989 'Totally Possessed' demo on disc two.
"Sanctuary"
Upon my deeds I cry out
Unto You my God my King
I'm surrounded by a threshing
But You are my reality
Unto You I lift my voice Lord
Be my prayer that rescues me
Send Your light and let me live Lord
God You are my reality
Living without Your presence
Oh! Lord I would rather die
I want to live in Your sanctuary
Till the day I die
The Alpha and Omega
The beginning and the end
Your the sum of all things
Let Your glory now descend
Only You are worthy
You have overcome
Every knee will bow to You
You are the living Son
"Here I Am"
Up from the grave
Crushing defeat
Yahweh has won
Satan has been beat
The Author of life
Has tasted death
Swallowing death
Consuming death
In Him no lies
There can be found
Upon my deeds I cry out
Unto You my God my King
I'm surrounded by a threshing
But You are my reality
Unto You I lift my voice Lord
Be my prayer that rescues me
Send Your light and let me live Lord
God You are my reality
Living without Your presence
Oh! Lord I would rather die
I want to live in Your sanctuary
Till the day I die
The Alpha and Omega
The beginning and the end
Your the sum of all things
Let Your glory now descend
Only You are worthy
You have overcome
Every knee will bow to You
You are the living Son
"Here I Am"
Up from the grave
Crushing defeat
Yahweh has won
Satan has been beat
The Author of life
Has tasted death
Swallowing death
Consuming death
In Him no lies
There can be found
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
Looking for some old-school Thrash to add to your collection then look no more because Thresher has delivered up some solid offerings over the years. Thresher might be considered an underground band but they were just as good as any other Thrash Metal band that was above ground during their day.
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
