MYSTIC-FORCE A Step Beyond LP Heavy Metal warlord acid exciter manilla road

$

33

Brand new and sealed. The photos used are the stock photos for this version of the record. 
MYSTIC-FORCE A STEP BEYOND LP BLACK VINYL
High Roller Records, black vinyl, ltd 250, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert Audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2024
Bobby Hicks - vocals Rich Davis - guitar Keith Menser (R.I.P. 2022) - bass/keyboards Chris Lembach - drums
01 The Conquest 02 Closer to the Truth 03 Second Chance 04 A Step Beyond 05 Far Away
06 Feature Film 07 Among Infinity 08 Love Hates Loves Desire 09 The Innerchild 10 Deadly Hunger 11 Nothing is Forever
Mystic Force were a progressive power metal band from Baltimore in Maryland. After recording a few demo tapes they went on to sign with German label Rising Sun Productions releasing two full-length albums: »The Eternal Quest« (1993) and »A Step Beyond« (1995). This was followed by »Man Vs. Machine« on the band’s own Siegen Records in 2001. After the demise of Mystic Force, drummer Chris Lembach and guitarist Rich Davis formed the band Shift and recorded two albums with them. After that Rich started his own solo project (playing all the instruments himself and even singing), before he once again got a band together and released the »Inside The Upside Down« CD (2024). Mystic Force were originally formed in 1984 by guitarists Rich Davis and Marc Rouchard together with bass player Keith Menser. The band went through several line-up changes early on before finding Chris Lembach (drums) and Bobby Hicks (vocals). In 1987, the band issued their first (self-titled) demo tape, which was followed by another tape release, »Blind Vision«, a year later. Next were two vinyl releases (both in 1990), the first, »Take Command«, realized by C.M.F.T. Records in England, and the second, the “Shipwrecked With The Wicked”/”Eternal Quest” 12” single, issued on the band’s own Pro-duction label. With the help of C.M.F.T. Records over in the UK and Oliver Jung’s “Demolition” distribution network here in Germany, Mystic Force had been getting more and more popular in European underground metal circles, and it was just a question of time for label offers to start coming in. In the end a deal with German label Rising Sun Records was struck and the band’s full-length debut album »The Eternal Quest« appeared in the shops in 1993. Two years later, in 1995, the follow-up »A Step Beyond« hit the market. “It was hands down my personal favorite recording experience,” says Rich Davis about the album. “We were put into Kajem Recording studio. »Operation Mindcrime« and I think Crimson Glory’s »Transcendence« as well as some Metal Church albums (can’t remember which) were done there. So much history. ” “I would say »The Eternal Quest« had more fire and tempo and drive to it,” compares Rich the first and the second Mystic Force albums, “»A Step Beyond« was or ended up being very dark and mid-paced. Our songwriting was always changing and growing for sure. As for us getting more progressive on »A Step Beyond«, I guess that could be true. Not by intention though, just the natural growth of the band.”
MATTHIAS MADER

Mystic Force were a progressive power metal band from Baltimore in Maryland. After recording a few demo tapes they went on to sign with German label Rising Sun Productions releasing two full-length albums: »The Eternal Quest« (1993) and »A Step Beyond« (1995). This was followed by »Man Vs. Machine« on the band’s own Siegen Records in 2001. After the demise of Mystic Force, drummer Chris Lembach and guitarist Rich Davis formed the band Shift and recorded two albums with them. After that Rich started his own solo project (playing all the instruments himself and even singing), before he once again got a band together and released the »Inside The Upside Down« CD (2024). Mystic Force were originally formed in 1984 by guitarists Rich Davis and Marc Rouchard together with bass player Keith Menser. According to Davis, the band went through several line-up changes early on: “Keith’s brother Scott Menser was starting for the band on the drums and then moving on to the lead singer role. Scott was replaced on the drums by Jim Otte and then Doug Guckert. Then we had a singer named Mike Banechevich (“metal monster”) but after about three years we found Chris Lembach (drums) and Bobby Hicks (vocals), and from that point on the band way finally set. And the recordings began.” Each of the five band members had different musical influences, Rich himself was inspired by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Triumph. “There were so many cool clubs in Baltimore back then”, reminisces the guitarist. “The local Baltimore music scene was amazing back in the 80s and 90s. Not only did we have one of the biggest rock clubs on the East Cost, with ‘Hammerjacks’, but also so many other super cool clubs. As for bands in Baltimore around the same time as us, there were bands like Wrathchild, Childsplay, Apollo Ra and Kixx.” He continues: “We were so fortunate to have the best fans. Funny how they would follow us from club to club to see us. Actually we were so lucky back then to have a chance to play many times with so many big national acts like Pantera, Savatage, Fates Warning, Crimson Glory and so many other big bands.” When the band first started, they played mostly cover songs and a couple of originals. Then, as time went on, playing covers was stopped in favor of original compositions. Not long after that, Mystic Force were ready to record their own material: “Our first demo in 1987 was recorded mainly because of an interview for a radio station was set up for us and we needed something to play on air. So right to the studio we went. I believe the station was 103.7 in Havre de Grace, Maryland.” This demo tape from 1987 featured the songs “Stage Struck”, “Dethroned”, “With Rank Comes Rule” and “Burn The Sky”. “At the time we loved how they turned out,” says Rich Davis today. “We only had four hours to record the songs, so I think we only got a chance to play the songs twice but that was all the time we needed. We recorded at Secret Sound with engineer John Grant at that session. The demo went over very well all over the place. We were very happy about that.” The song “Burn The Sky” also ended up on a compilation album by the name of »The Beast From The East«. This is how it came about: “We had released our first demo and started to get airplay at a couple local radio stations, ‘97 Underground’ was one of the stations. They put that record together and asked us, if we would be interested in being a part of it. Of course we said yes!” The »Mystic Force E.P.« demo was followed by another tape release, »Blind Vision«, featuring the song “Blind Vision” and once again “Dethroned”. “Yes , I believe that came out in 1988,” explains the guitarist, “we recorded that with Drew Mazurek at High View Studio.” After the second demo, Mystic Force departed on a big US tour, playing more than 70 dates. Rich Davis: “Back then we were a full time band, playing five days a week at least. I remember renting a 27’ U-Haul truck by the month back then. We were a very busy band.” At the time Mystic Force were extremely popular in Germany because Oliver Jung (who ran an underground distribution company called “Demolition”) had taken the band under his wings. “Oliver was a great help for the band,” enthuses Rich Davis. “I’m not exactly sure on how he came into the picture. I believe back then Keith and Oliver had become friends and I do remember when Oliver came to the States for the very first time and stayed with Keith. We took him out and showed him a good time. The one night I remember taking to eat steamed crabs. It’s a Baltimore thing. He had no clue how to pick a crab. I think he was just eating the shells and everything. We had a good laugh.”

MYSTIC-FORCE: Artist Overview
MYSTIC-FORCE was a prominent fixture in the American progressive power metal and thrash metal scene, originating in Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1983. Initially, the band began as a cover band playing material from the heaviest acts of the day before transitioning to original material to distinguish themselves in the bustling local club scene. Key early figures included bassist and keyboardist Keith Menser (who later had a brief stint with Iced Earth and ran Siegen Records) and guitarist Rich Davis. The band quickly developed a sound that melded the melody and epic scope of US power metal with the intensity and aggression of thrash, carving out a niche alongside contemporaries of the late 80s and early 90s.
The band built momentum through several demos and the 1989 EP Take Command before releasing their official debut album, Shipwrecked with the Wicked, in 1990. This era saw a relatively constant line-up featuring Menser, Davis, vocalist Bobby Hicks, and drummer Chris Lembach. Subsequent albums, Eternal Quest (1993) and A Step Beyond (1995), released through the German label Rising Sun Records, further solidified their reputation in the international metal underground. Their style drew favorable comparisons to progressive metal pioneers like Queensr che, Fates Warning, and Heir Apparent, as well as the epic heavy metal of early Iron Maiden.
Despite line-up shifts, including the replacement of Hicks by William Wren after A Step Beyond, the band continued to pursue their brand of technical and thematic metal. Their lyrical concepts often explored themes of technology, science fiction, and fantasy, notably on the 2001 album Man vs. Machine. The band gained considerable experience touring and sharing the stage with major acts like Pantera, Savatage, Crimson Glory, and Fates Warning, showcasing their dynamic live show which, in their early days, featured elaborate stage props and effects.
MYSTIC-FORCE went on hiatus before reuniting in the 2010s, with a later iteration featuring notable veterans like former Agent Steel vocalist Rick Mythiasin. The band's legacy is rooted in the classic US power metal sound, defined by complex arrangements, soaring vocals, shredding guitar work, and high-quality musicianship. Although often overlooked in mainstream metal history, MYSTIC-FORCE remains an important, respected act within the power/progressive metal and power/thrash subgenres, particularly for fans of the cult USPM scene. The band officially concluded operations with the passing of founding member Keith Menser in 2022.
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