Artch - 'Another return to church hill' (music video)

Once upon a time in a land afar,
On some deserted hill
There stood a church all black -
Made of steel
At high-noon every Sunday on the hill
The old hermit would preach
"Welcome to Church-Hill my friends - have no fear
Come near... 'Cause I am the light"
All the bad things you have done
In your life could come real
Now is the time to regret.
Did you murder or steal?

This is your chance there'll be no return
Those who will fall - will burn!

The mocked - at lepers
The crippled and blind
All did heed his call
They marched in troops
Of hundreds to Church-Hill
To hear him preach to share his anguish
There was fire in his eyes,
As the troops of hundreds multiplied

Gimme your souls and
I promise you heaven or hell
Stories of fortune and
Fame the old hermit tell
Moved by his tales and
Inspired at the end of the day
His army of losers
Kneeled before him to pray

CHORUS:

We're made by the (it's another return)
Yes made by the Church-Hill
We are reborn, (it's another return)
Forevermore - Church-Hill.

Soon his army of crippled and poor
Spread out to the valleys down below - terrorizing
Hustlin' intruding, spreading fear
Rapin' and stealing -
No life was speared
In the name of Church-Hill -
The troops still marched on
When the church bell rang together they sang...

CHORUS:

In the mist of the morning
Bloodlust was in their eyes
Encouraged by their master
They roared their battle-cries
"United we will conquer,
Divided we shall fall
it's all for one - yes,
And one for all"

Θυμάμαι σαν να ήταν χθες όταν κυκλοφόρησε το ντεμπούτο των Artch "Another Return". Αποθεωτικές κριτικές από το σύνολο του "μεταλλικού" τύπου Πανευρωπαϊκώς. Φίλος μου το είχε γράψει σε κασέτα. Την έβαλα να "παίξει" γεμάτος ανυπομονησία και "σκάει" το "Another Return to Church Hill".

Πω, πω, κομματάρα! Πάντως ο υπόλοιπος δίσκος δεν αποδείχθηκε του ιδίου επιπέδου. Καλός (έως πολύ καλός) μεν, αλλά όχι τίποτε το συγκλονιστικό δε (που να δικαιολογεί τους ύμνους των περιοδικών). (Βέβαια το ότι τον θυμάμαι μέχρι και τώρα -περισσότερες από τρεις δεκαετίες μετά- κάτι πρέπει να σημαίνει.) Θα με ρωτήσετε πού (και γιατί) τα θυμήθηκα όλα αυτά;

Γιατί προσφάτως (17 Μαρτίου 2023) επανακυκλοφόρησε (remastered) ο δίσκος του Νορβηγικού συγκροτήματος από την Hammerheart Records σε cd και βινύλιο (700 αντίτυπα) χωρίς επιπλέον τραγούδια (αρχική κυκλοφορία της Active Records και της FM Records το 1988).

Οι Artch είναι ένα heavy / power metal συγκρότημα από την Νορβηγία. Ιδρύθηκαν το 1983, διέλυσαν στις αρχές των 90s και επανασυνδέθηκαν το 2000. Κυκλοφόρησαν δύο ολοκληρωμένους δίσκους (συν τέσσερα demos, ένα single και ένα DVD):

↠ "Another Return" (1988)
↠ "For the Sake of Mankind" (1991)

Δελτίο τύπου: «An absolute Power Metal classic now remastered for an ultimate Metal experience! Another Return was a very promising debut.

Artch were a little heavier than your stock NWOBHM worship band, but clearly the roots of their sound all lay within that field, and you could probably develop a crush on this if you’re a fan of Dio’s original two Sabbath records, the heavier side of Saxon, or Iron Maiden circa 1980-1984.

Judging on the strength of this effort alone, the band should have exploded in their country! This is Heavy / Power metal with some trashiness thrown in for good measure and with a similar level of aggression to a band like Metal Church.

Another Return is a classic, metal influenced album with nice lyrics that are sung very well, memorable riffs, a nice drum beat and the occasional bass fill. The mighty Icelander, Eric Hawk reminds some of Ronnie James Dio and he does write some very excellent melodies.

His vocals make the band really worth your time. The guitars are massive on Another Return, and the drums crash like a stormed wreck against a treacherous rocky landmass.

The songwriting throughout most of the album is impeccable, with an excellent course plotted through mid-paced to slower, emotional tracks, and one moody power ballad.

‘Another Return to Church Hill’, the title track has a very memorable riff and some interesting lyrics to it. ‘Loaded’ on the other hand has great vocals plus a nice, catchy riff and ‘Where I Go’, the ballad of this album is a true masterpiece! Picking favorites on this album is hard because all songs are great!

• Recorded and mixed during the summer 1987 at Borg Lydstudio, Sarpsborg, Norway, which resulted in a great Metal production

• “Another Return” was seen as the great starting point of an international career

• Remastered by by Toneshed Studio (a.o. Trouble, Heir Apparent, Pestilence)

• Originally released in 1988 on Active Records (a.o. Candlemass, Atheist, Mezzrow, Anacrusis, Hexenhaus)

For fans of: Saxon, Iron Maiden, Savage Grace, Heir Apparent, Metal Church.»