A new spiritual dimension is opened through the music of AWAKE. Get ready for the ultimate Texas Progressive Metal experience! What I am referring to? Well I am referring to the Arkeyn Steel Records reissue of the “Spiritual Warfare” LP-tape by AWAKE from Austin, Texas USA.
“Spiritual Warfare” was originally released in the fall of 1990 on cassette. Texas Metal fanatics, Christian Metal specialists and Prog Metal nerds, all share a great piece of respect for the “Spiritual Warfare” album, while metal collectors are still after a copy of the original cassette on Shadow Records. Now everyone can have this masterpiece in this ultimate edition.
AWAKE was born when Mike Botello (ex – ASSALANT / MILITIA) teamed up with former MILITIA guitarist Jesse Villegas (Jesse also played with METAL MERCHANT from Houston Texas, he passed away back in 2016). This collaboration went from a “solo” project to a group effort with the introduction of drummer Rob Battalion. Together they formed a dynamic, high-quality Progressive Metal sound with compelling, thought-provoking lyrical content, exploring the overall content of the Christian religion and its message.
The “Spiritual Warfare” release can be described with only a single word: Phenomenal. It captures the talent and the artistic vision of a band that followed a unique path of expression away from the Metal stereotypes of the time.
“Spiritual Warfare” brings to front an outstanding combination of inspired songwriting which is expressed through complex but still very memorable musical patterns. The amazingly composed vocal melodies and the overall vocal performance should be mentioned as extremely positive features on this full length.
The reissue comes in the usual Arken Steel Records standards: All the audio is remastered from scratch by Kostas Scandalis at Infinity studios (Thessalonki, Greece). The artwork has been upgraded by Kostas Athanasoglou -based on the original cover which was created by Mike Soliz (MILITIA, WATCHTOWER, OBLIVION KNIGHT etc)-, lots of photos are included together with the complete set of lyrics. Mike Botello himself wrote the liner notes.
Another great reissue of a very important full length. This is high class Texas Prog Metal that everyone should check.
The reissue will be out on Augast 25th. You can pre order the CD here.
