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| GLACIER - s/t MLP 40TH ANNIVERSARY | |
HRR 1016LP, 40th Anniversary Edition, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, poster, 4 page insert, A5 card ltd 1000: 400 x 180g black, 400 x orange + 200 x galaxy effect vinyl (HRR mailorder exclusive) | |
| Michael Podrybau - vocals Sam Easley - guitars Patrick Goebel - guitars Timm Proctor - bass Loren Bates - drums | |
| 01 When Heaven's at Hand 02 Vendetta 03 Ready for Battle 04 Devil in Disguise 05 Speak No Evil | |
AVAILABLE | |
Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in January 2025.
Five songs – “When Heaven’s At Hand”, “Vendetta”, “Ready For Battle”, “Devil In Disguise”, “Speak No Evil” – and three different singers (Michael Podyrbau, Keith Flax and Rex McNew). When Glacier’s mini-album was originally released in 1985 on the French label Axe Killer Records, it was mostly overlooked by the record buying public. However, over the coming decades new generations of fans re-discovered this forgotten gem and cherished it for what it is: a fantastic example of traditional US metal.
Glacier was originally formed in 1979 in Oregon as a cover band. “The original line-up was with Scott Prinzing as bass player and singer, Pat Goebel on drums as well as Sam Easley and David Nolanas guitarists,” explains vocalist Mike Podyrbau. “Eventually, Pat wanted to be a guitarist in the band, so Loren Bates, who had just departed from the band Streamline, became the drummer, and Pat took over for David Nolan, since he departed the band around the same time. In 1983, Scott told the guys he was leaving the band to go to college, and he that had found Tim Proctor, his replacement. Tim was in a local band called Mayhem, but he tried out and took over as Glacier's bass player. However, they still needed a singer. I was in a band called Harlot from Salem, Oregon, at the time, and my girlfriend told me about Glacier needing a singer. She put me in touch with Pat, and I went up to Portland to audition. I sang one Judas Priest song and an Iron Maiden song and they welcomed me to the band.”
At that point in time Glacier’s career started for good, as a demo tape called »Ready For Battle« was about to be recorded. “We had actually recorded the song ‘Live For The Whip’ first at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon,” remembers Podyrbau. “A friend of Scott Prinzing's was going through the recording program and that's how we received the recording opportunity. We recorded ‘Live For The Whip’ there, and ended up going to Northstar Recording studio to record the three remaining songs: ‘Ready For Battle’, ‘Devil In Disguise’, and ‘Speak No Evil’. I'm not sure why we didn't professionally record ‘Live For The Whip’, but it is definitely a solid song.”
According to the singer, record companies were approached with said demo: “Yes absolutely. We shopped around for quite a few labels; we were also approached by PAR Records, but the guys went with Axe Killer instead. At that point, Glacier faced a big problem: the labels wouldn't do a three-song EP, and I had already left the band for a professional jet skiing career. I had performed all of the other songs, ‘Confession’, ‘Vendetta’ and ‘When Heavens At Hand’ live, but the guys wanted to go a different route. Glacier ended up hiring Rex McNew to record ‘Vendetta’ and Keith Flax to record ‘When Heavens At Hand.’ I left the band before they had the record finished. It was kind of funny though. The band had moved to Los Angeles to find a permanent singer, and I had moved to L.A. with a couple of my friends to find a new band, but we never saw each other, and didn't know we all were down there at the same time. I left L.A. for jet skis.” So that’s the riddle of the three singers finally solved.
As just mentioned, Axe Killer Records from France was the label to sign Glacier. And it went like this: “Sam had contacted them, so I'm not sure about anything relating to that deal. What I do know is that, contractually, Axe Killer was supposed to return the master tapes to Glacier after three years, which they neglected to do. Sam Easley had hired legal counsel in an effort to regain our property, however, he passed prior to the resolution of the breach of contract. Ultimately, our masters are still being held hostage in Paris by Axe Killer Records and FGL Productions.”
“The album did very well back then,” continues the singer (who thinks that around 700 copies were actually sold at the time). “I remember Loren Bates had given me a copy of it when it was released in the States. I have a few old school magazines that had reviews in them. We were in an issue of Kerrang! and a few fanzines as well. Every so often someone will forward me an old review or clippings.”
People back then have described Glacier as classic US metal. A fitting description? “Yes, I would say so,” is Mike’s answer. “We are somewhere in the realm of traditional US metal. My favorite bands back then were Black Sabbath, Riot, UFO, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Saxon and Accept, and I am sure when people listen to Glacier songs, many of our influences are evident.”
Fast forward to 2017, when the band was invited to play at the Keep It True festival under the name of Devil In Disguise. “Yes, that’s correct,” states Mike Podyrbau. “In 2016, a promoter in Chicago wanted the original guys from the 1980s to play a festival, but unfortunately Sam was ill and was focusing his efforts elsewhere, and a couple of the others had families to tend to. So, the promoter wanted to put a group of musicians together, drummer Adam Kopecky and guitarist Michael Maselbas, who are two amazingly talented musical artists, along with a couple of other great local Chicago musicians. The plan was to have me fly in to practice with these guys and then perform all the old songs at a Chicago metal festival. Oliver Weinsheimer from Keep It True heard about what we were planning, and he decided to book us for KIT 2017. That was an incredible experience for which we are so grateful. Back then, we could perform the songs live, but we didn't have the rights to use the Glacier name and logo... So we went with Devil in Disguise, from the song that Tim Proctor wrote.”
A while later, the band’s name was changed back to Glacier, which was only logical. Michael Podyrbau: “Yes, after we had played four or five shows, we received permission to use the Glacier name from the former members. Tim and Loren both played on our 2020 album, »The Passing Of Time«, and Tim had played with us live at the Northwest Metal Fest in Seattle in 2018. They love it and are glad that we are doing this!”
“We are currently working on the next full-length album,” continues the singer. “The songs are phenomenal in my opinion, and I think everyone will love it. We did a small European tour last year in March where we played a couple of the new songs live, and people loved it. If it wasn't for the fans, we wouldn't be doing this. We appreciate them all so much!”
MATTHIAS MADER