ARMOURED ANGEL – baptism in blood – GATEFOLD RED MLP

Thrash, Speed Metal – Red version – Hells Headbangers

Formed in 1982 and disbanding in 1999, ARMOURED ANGEL were Australia’s very first extreme metal band – and for many years, one of its only ones. However, during the band’s earliest days, they were pure ‘n’ true heavy metal. Years before they’d perfect their patient and pulsing (and oft-hypnotic ) songcraft – which began with 1989’s Wings of Death demo, which more importantly featured the band’s classic power-trio lineup of lone founder Lucy and brothers Joel and Matt Green – in 1985, a four-piece ARMOURED ANGEL delivered a rough ‘n’ rowdy demo tape titled Baptism in Blood. While the title would suggest death metal, itself in its nascent stages then, a pervasive swords & sorcery theme runs through these mostly mid-tempo tracks. The style of heavy metal spans early US power metal, proto-metal, and NWOBHM alike; references to be made include the likes of very early Virgin Steele, Riot, Cirith Ungol, Omen, and Attacker. Of course, quite an anomaly amongst ARMOURED ANGEL’s catalog, and the only recorded output of this lineup. Nevertheless, Baptism in Blood serves as a unique entry in the band’s none-more-cult canon, and is now being reissued on 12″ vinyl for the first time in over 15 years.