History
In 1983 a demo was released by a speed metal band named Sceptre which contained two future Agent Steel songs: Taken By Force and 144,000 Gone. The guitarist on this demo was John Camps who is believed to be John Cyriis, a founder of Agent Steel. Taken By Force also appeared on the Metal Massacre IV compilation from Metal Blade.
John Camps left Sceptre (which then disbanded) and went on to join Abattoir as their vocalist under the name John Syriis, which soon changed to John Cyriis. He soon left Abattoir and teamed up with drummer Chuck Profus to form Sanctuary, which soon became Agent Steel. Mark Marshall (before he joined Savage Grace) and Sill Simmons joined the band as the two guitarists with George Robb on bass. This line-up recorded the 144,000 Gone demo in 1984.
Various guitarist changes occurred after the demo until ex-Abattoir guitarist Juan Garcia and future Holy Terror guitarist Kurt Colfelt became members. The first Agent Steel full length album titled Skeptics Apocalypse was released on Combat Records in the middle of 1985.
Kurt Colfelt soon left the band after falling out with John Cyriis and formed Holy Terror. He was replaced by guitarist Bernie Versailles and an EP was recorded titled Mad Locust Rising in late 1985. It was released in the USA by Combat Records and in Europe by Music For Nations. This EP contained one of a few Judas Priest cover songs that were recorded by the band, The Ripper.
George Robb left the band soon after Mad Locust Rising was released and was replaced by bassist Michael Zaputil. In March 1986 the band went into Morrisound Recording Studios to record the full length follow-up to Mad Locust Rising, Unstoppable Force. The band stopped recording for a few months as they went to Europe to tour. They toured through May with Anthrax and Overkill where the split video US Speed Metal Attack was recorded. They returned in June to finish recording Unstoppable Force; however, the album was to be released in 1987 due to problems with the product.
After the recording of Unstoppable Force, the band was severed when the band members spread out across the USA. John Cyriis and Chuck Profus went to Tampa, Florida; while Juan Garcia, Bernie Versailles and Michael Zaputil who were annoyed with Cyriis stayed in California.
John Cyriis and Chuck Profus hired guitarists James Murphy and Jay Weslord as well as bassist Richard Bateman for a European tour. The tour was partly a success; however, some of the audiences did not seem to appreciate Agent Steel's more melodic approach to heavy metal (in comparison to harsher thrash metal). The final show of the tour with Nuclear Assault (which had the UK thrash metal band Onslaught as the opener) at Hammersmith Odeon on the 20th of June 1987 was recorded live and released as a video later that year.
Internal problems with the band and also the lack of appreciation by many metalheads during the tour caused the band to end in 1988.
After the band broke up in 1988 Chuck Profus and John Cyriis joined and formed a number of projects both together and separately.
Juan Garcia, after leaving Agent Steel, had formed the thrash metal band Evildead with ex-members of his old band Abattoir (as the band had split up by then). The band released 2 full length albums, an EP and a live album. They had reasonable success in the metal underground. Even though the band broke up, some of the members including Juan Garcia created a new band called Terror who released one album and an EP before breaking up.
In 1999 Agent Steel was reborn. Juan Garcia brought in bassist Karlos Medina that had been with him in Evildead and Terror, while Chuck Profus and Bernie Versailles returned. Bruce Hall joined the band as the new vocalist. His vocals were not as high-pitched as John Cyriis's but the clean sung vocals remained in Agent Steel.
Agent Steel recorded Omega Conspiracy in 1999 which was there first album in 13 years. Their sound continued on as speed metal with some modern touches.
Chuck Profus sustained a hand injury and so Rigo Amezcua (ex-Terror drummer) filled in for him for live performances. He soon decided to leave the band and so Rigo Amezcua replaced him permanently. With this line-up the band started writing new material for their next full length album starting in 2001. The album, titled Order Of The Illuminati, was released in 2003.
Soon a mini CD was released (late 2003) titled Earth Under Lucifer, which contains the single Earth Under Lucifer and three songs recorded from live performances following the release of Order Of The Illuminati.
In 2005 Agent Steel released their first DVD which contains an entire performance at Dynamo Open Air.
In september of 2007 they released their fifth full length album, titled 'Alienigma'.
On May the 3th, 2010, the band announced the comeback of Cyriis with the following statement:
As some of you may, or may not have already heard the news that AGENT STEEL has parted ways with vocalist Bruce Hall. We as a band would like to acknowledge the accomplishments together with Bruce and the (3) three solid metal offerings; 'OMEGA CONSPIRACY', 'ORDER OF THE ILLUMINATI', and 'ALIENIGMA'. Together we had the fortune of touring and sharing the stage in some amazing places and visited some breathtaking countries. Bruce dedicated over a decade to AGENT STEEL and for this he should be recognized, and we part on good terms. We as a band still have the fire and passion to deliver the metal goods to fans from the past, present and future. We had been writing new material for the next chapter of AGENT STEEL, and after the news got out that we separated from Bruce; we were contacted by original singer; CYRIIS. Call it destiny; call it what you will, but now the communicative channel is open between AGENT STEEL and vocalist CYRIIS; we are in talks about an imminent AGENT STEEL reunion tour possibly involving summer/fall 2010 appearances and an extensive '2011' Metal-blitz. Honestly, we do not know how long this reunion will last; however this could be the long awaited destiny of AGENT STEEL originally interrupted, so long as everything moves forward in an evolving good working climate. Our objective regarding this AGENT STEEL reunion is attached with the intentions of providing the opportunity to not only the dedicated fans, but also to a whole new generation of metal fans the chance to see AGENT STEEL live on stage with CYRIIS; the original voice on the classic ‘SKEPTICS APOCALYPSE’, ‘UNSTOPPABLE FORCE’, and ‘MAD LOCUST RISING’ releases. The legacy continues...stay tuned."
(The Calling)
Agent Steel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The area that you are discussing now is the aura of this planet. It is
The Communicative Channel to which the Millionth Council governs this
Planet. Anyone going into the area when the Communicative Channel is
Open do not disappear, but they are in the timeless void. They're all
Perfectly alive and well. It is the only area to which the Council can
Communicate with this planet.
"The Calling" by Agent Steel has always been an enigma to those who try to understand the lyrics. The lines "In every living thing in this planet has an aura" confuses listeners because it establishes the idea that everything on the planet has an aura. This means that there is an energy field around every living thing. The aura is significant because it represents a person's emotional, mental, and spiritual state. The second line is even more perplexing because it introduces the Communicative Channel that is responsible for governing the planet. This channel is significant because it is the only means by which the Millionth Council can communicate with planet Earth.
The third line indicates that the area in question is the aura of the planet, which suggests that the whole planet has an aura. This aura is the channel of communication to the Millionth Council. The fourth line explains that anyone who enters the area during the opening of the Communicative Channel will be transported to a timeless void. However, it's essential to note that they will not disappear; they will remain alive and well. That void is a timeless zone, one where time has no existence, and beings can communicate outside the constraints of time. It is a mysterious concept that entertains the idea of existence beyond chronological human measurement.
Line by Line Meaning
In every living thing in this planet has an aura.
Every living organism on this planet possesses an aura.
The area that you are discussing now is the aura of this planet. It is
The topic of discussion at the moment is the aura of the planet, which is
The Communicative Channel to which the Millionth Council governs this
The means of communication through which the Millionth Council governs
Planet. Anyone going into the area when the Communicative Channel is
If someone enters the area while the Communicative Channel is active,
Open do not disappear, but they are in the timeless void. They're all
they do not vanish, but enter a timeless abyss, yet they remain
Perfectly alive and well. It is the only area to which the Council can
alive and in good health. This is the sole place where the Council has the ability to
Communicate with this planet.
communicate with the planet.
Contributed by Bella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Willem van Balen
One of the greatest metalbands I missed in the eighties.... This album is truely great.
MetalMistress888
Super high vocals. Super fast riffs. Does music get any better than this??!
Pablo M
never
Teddygoesfishing
I think from all the people on this earth I like you both the most :-)
Gabriel Rearte
Nope!
Sisa Waylla
I do love It! GREAT vocals! Drums! Everything !
SolkanStudiosTV
Avril lavigne, perhaps.
Joie M
Great stuff seen them back in 86 at a small venue that voice is insane live \m/
El Eternauta
The whole album is epic.
I need more bands like this! Someone!!!11
brano juraj
Best speed metal of all times!