Agent Steel is a speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was for… Read Full Bio ↴Agent Steel is a speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums and one EP before ending in 1988. They were most notable for John Cyriis's high-pitched vocals, catchy songs, melodic riffs and fast tempos mixed in with their unusual (in heavy metal) UFO imagery. The band reformed in 1999 and has released three full length albums since.

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."

Insurrection
Agent Steel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do they lie to you?
Are their fingers bloody?
If you asked questions would you feel the fool?

Mass acceptance
Feeds the flame of propaganda
Do we trust them or are we their tools?

Painting pictures watch them
With their bloody fingers
Smear the message
in our supple minds

Are you sure you're thinking?
Are you sure you're seeing?
Would you know the truth?
And could you smell a lie?

Conscious, and the world is dreaming
The dream is death, the dream is death

Official words are spoken
Do you, do you hear the message?
Brace yourselves they say
So you try

When the time comes soon now
Will you wear their colors?
Will your blood spill for them or will you realize?

Conscious, and the world is dreaming
Freedom - demands an equal price

I'll fight
I'll fight
In an insurrection
You'll taste the steel of the back of my hand
I'm not dying slowly

I'll fight, I'll fight
In an insurrection
None are free with a king in the land
I'll fight forever

And the gods are sworn to treason
Let the battle rage until the world is free of chains
When the wicked fall may the clouds roar in triumph
And the lightning laugh as it basks in their shame

I'll fight, I'll fight, for an insurrection
I'll fight, I'll fight, for an insurrection

Overall Meaning

The song Insurrection by Agent Steel challenges the authority and reliability of those in power. The lyrics ask if the government and the media tell the truth, or if they manipulate the public for their own gain. The idea of mass acceptance fueling propaganda speaks to the groupthink mentality present in society, while the bloody fingers imply that those in power are tainted by their actions. The chorus intensifies these themes, asking the listener to question their own consciousness and discern between truth and lies.

The song takes a turn towards rebellion, with the lyrics asking if the listener will fight against those in power. The idea of the world dreaming implies that the public is complacent and numbed to reality, while the line “none are free with a king in the land” suggests that even if there is the illusion of freedom, it is not truly achieved while there is a monarchy or similarly oppressive figure in charge. The song culminates with a call to action, challenging the listener to fight for an insurrection and for the world’s liberation from its chains.

Line by Line Meaning

Do they lie to you?
Are the people in power being truthful with you?

Are their fingers bloody?
Are the people in power responsible for acts of violence?

If you asked questions would you feel the fool?
If you tried to question those in power, would you be mocked or condemned?

Mass acceptance
People believing or following something without critical thinking

Feeds the flame of propaganda
Strengthens and promotes misleading information and ideologies

Do we trust them or are we their tools?
Are we blindly following those in power, or are we questioning their motives?

Painting pictures watch them
Notice how they are presenting their ideas

With their bloody fingers
With their hands stained with violence and oppression

Smear the message in our supple minds
Influence our minds with distorted, misleading information

Are you sure you're thinking?
Are you actually considering the information presented or just accepting it without thought?

Are you sure you're seeing?
Are you aware of the whole picture, or do you only see the surface level information presented?

Would you know the truth?
Could you identify what is real and what is fabricated?

And could you smell a lie?
Could you recognize when you are being deceived?

Conscious, and the world is dreaming
Some people are aware and awake while others are passively sleeping and unaware of the truth

The dream is death, the dream is death
The illusions we are sold by those in power lead to our demise

Official words are spoken
Information presented by those in power as factual

Do you, do you hear the message?
Are you actually listening and processing the information presented?

Brace yourselves they say
Prepare for harsh times as presented by those in power

So you try
You attempt to mentally prepare for what is to come

When the time comes soon now
Implying a rapid change is imminent

Will you wear their colors?
Will you support the ideology and actions of those in power?

Will your blood spill for them or will you realize?
Will you blindly follow those in power or will you eventually realise their wrongdoing?

Freedom - demands an equal price
Gaining freedom comes at a cost with both risks and rewards

I'll fight, I'll fight, for an insurrection
I will take up arms and actively fight against oppressive regimes and their supporters

You'll taste the steel of the back of my hand
You will feel the physical repercussions of my resistance

None are free with a king in the land
True freedom is unattainable while there is one person or group in power who dictate the fate of the people

And the gods are sworn to treason
People and organisations with significant power have betrayed the people they serve or represent

Let the battle rage until the world is free of chains
Fight until there is no longer any form of control or enslavement that is oppressive towards anyone

When the wicked fall may the clouds roar in triumph
When oppressors fall, the feelings of defeat or sadness should instead be met with celebration of change

And the lightning laugh as it basks in their shame
Even nature itself celebrates when those who do harm to others are brought low

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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