I know, I was just about as surprised as anyone when I ran across this album. Light Force is hard to find, especially when we're talking the original released format back in the late 1980s on the Pure Metal label.
Light Force was, just as a matter of a quick review, the classic metal band Steve Rowe of Mortification fame was in. My take on Light Force is something of a second-rate Barren Cross as far as style goes; fairly good guitar licks, but the vocals leave something to be desired. The over-all feel of Mystical Thieves is about that, something of a Grim Reaper meets Iron Maiden meets Messiah Prophet, not bad for an 80s metal release, but not as spectacular as, say, Bloodgood and Barren Cross was as far as innovative Christian metal. And speaking of the afore mentioned Christian bands, the lyrics here are those commonly found in the second wave of Christian metal- blatant and up-front evangelical and strongly bible-based. There are some good cuts on the album: "Babylon", "Crossfire", "Fast Lane", and "Metal Missionary" (as cheesy as that song is now, it has a groovy fun hook to it).
For collectors, the rarity of Mystical Thieves overshadows the amount of playtime this gets on my turntable (anyone remember those?). But, those curious might do well to check out The Best of Light Force over trying to find this one.
7/10
Other coverage for this album
Adonai Metal Rock #3Reviewed by Daniel BaillodTranslated from the original French LIGHTFORCE had already impressed the metal rags (h)ardently, with their demo "Battlezone" (still available from the band). Signed by PURE METAL, our four Australian white metallers come to us with a first album that is a total smash. Musically, the band situates itself between heavy and thrash/speed. And it is the good stuff!! No bubblegum on "Mystical…Heaven's Metal #19Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis band is being promoted as a speed metal band. While they may be a speed metal band, they're not as intense or fierce as Vengeance, Deliverance or Believer. The vocals and looseness of the chops rate most of these tunes as garage speed metal. Light Force is not lame, though. Most thrashers will like it, they just won't be blown away by it. There's some nice bass chops that solo all through…Similar sounding releases
1991TourniquetPsycho Surgery
1999Steel ProphetDark HallucinationsFinal ChapterIt Is Written
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
2000BelicaLooking for the Light
2000Völlig HeiligLooking For The Light
