MYSTIC-FORCE - Mystic-Force (E.P.) CD HRR 976CD, slipcase Bobby Hicks - vocals Rich Davis - guitar Keith Menser - bass Chris Lembach - drums 01 Stagestruck 02 Burn the Sky 03 With Rank Comes Rule 04 Dethroned 05 Immortal Souls (1987 studio recording) 06 Awaken by the Dawn (rehearsal) 07 Structures of Uncertainties - Original Version (rehearsal) 08 Blind Vision (rehearsal) AVAILABLE

Audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2024. 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.” MATTHIAS MADER