THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-WHO PULLS THE STRINGS(Live)
2-KICK IN THE GATES OF HELL(Live)
3-DRUM & BASS SOLO(Live)
4-BACKSTAGE HUMOR
5-HE'S GOT POWER
6-RADIO SNIPPET
7-ROCK FOR ETERNITY
8-YOUR LOVE
9-BIG FALL
10-ROLL THE ROCK
11-THRILLSEEKER
CREDIT:
David Moore- lead guitar, backing vocals
Tommy "Gun" Bozung- drums, backing vocals
Marlin Saner- bass, backing vocals
Rex Scott- rhythm guitar, vocals
Jeff Johnson- bass.
ZION-THUNDER FROM THE MOUNTAIN-1989
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-WHO PULLS THE STRINGS
2-KICK THE GATES OF HELL
3-IS IT A CRIME
4-HELP ME
5-THRILLSEEKER
6-SOLD YOU A LIE
7-ROLL THE ROCK
8-LESS OF ME
9-HE LOVES YOU
CREDIT:line up:
Rex Scott – Lead Vocals & Guitars
David Moore – Guitars
Jeff Johnson – Bass
Tommy Bozung – Drums
Additional:Guest And Produders:Martin Saner, Charles Meserole & David Zaffiro
ZION-ROLL THE ROCK/LESS OF ME-1987
THIS DEMO CONTAIN(2-TRACKS)
1-ROLL THE ROCK
2-LESS OF ME
Note That These Two Tracks Made Part:
On the Full-Length CD(THUNDER FROM THE MOUNTAIN.
ZION-ROCK FOR ETERNITY-1984
THIS DEMO CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-ROCK FOR ETERNITY
2-YOUR LOVE
3-JESUS LOVES
4-FULL OF FIRE(Scott & Fisher)
5-YOU NEED JESUS(Scott & Fisher)
6-JOY OF THE LORD(Scott & Fisher)
7-DISCONTENTED MAN(Dave Moore)
8-ONE SOLITARY LIFE(Fisher)
9-TIME IS RUNNING OUT
10-NEVER HAD THE CHANCE
CREDIT:Line-up :
Rex Scott - lead vocals, drums and guitar.
Bruce Fischer - vocals, guitar
Dave Moore - vocals, guitar
Greg Sauer - vocals, bass
Tom Bozung - drums
All songs by Rex Scott, except as noted Produced, recorded and engineered by ZionArt label design and production art -Merlin De Boer.This Demo It's Schaduled For An UPDATE! the master tapes for Thunder From The Mountain have been secured from David Zaffiro and have been baked for restoration and transferred digitally for a special remix and remastering! The new version will be released on the new Image Records label later this year in a very special collectors package!
1981 In Sioux Falls South Dakota Zion forms with the original lineup of Bruce Fischer: guitar, David Moore: lead guitar, Rex Scott: drums, Ray Roeter: bass guitar. Several names are considered for the new group such as Crystal City but "Zion" is presented by Rex and sticks.1982 Ray Roeter moves out of state and is replaced by Greg Sauer on bass. The band begins performing live throughout the region and record their first 4 song demo.1983 Tommy Bozung joins the group as a drum tech for Rex and as a sound man. The band purchases an extra long converted school bus painted blue for traveling and performing. The band begins the planning of recording a full length album and gets their first "big break" by getting asked to perform at Sonshine 84 in Wilmar Minnesota, a huge outdoor music festival with many top professional acts.1984 Zion performs at Sonshine and goes over very well. That exposure helped generate many more bookings. The band completes and releases their first full length album on cassette entitled "Rock For Eternity" and begins getting press in several underground fanzines such as Heavens Metal. Letters begin coming in from all over the country.1985 The band continues performing throughout the upper midwest and begins to garner record label interest and gets the opportunity to open shows for major artists including The Sweet Comfort Band (Brian Duncan). Bruce and David record a collection of ballads titled "Fischer And Moore" to offer an alternative to those who were put off by Zion's loud rock guitar sound.1986 Late in the year Bruce Fischer gets a job offer in Minneapolis Minnesota and accepts. Zion was about to call it quits but get revitalized when Rex switches to guitar front man and Tommy takes over the drumming chores. A more driving sound emerges.1987 Rex takes time out to go on the road with the Seattle based rock outfit Bloodgood as a sound tech and Greg Sauer leaves the band to pursue other interests. Rex is befriended by Bloodgood's lead guitarist David Zaffiro and the result of that friendship leads to Zaffiro producing Zion's next studio work . Friend and fellow South Dakotan Marlin Saner joins Zion in Seattle to help record the four song ep called "Thunder From The Mount".1988 Marlin does not officially join the group however and a bass player is found in another South Dakotan named Jeff Johnson. Zion gets an offer from the then newly formed east coast record label Image Records owned by Dorn Reppert and George Peper after they hear the 4 song ep. Zion accepts the recording contract.1989 Zion goes back to Seattle to record an entire album for Image Records. They spend the months of August and September finishing the record and it is released in October and is titled "Thunder From The Mountain".1990 Marlin officially replaces Jeff Johnson on bass and the band begins touring across the US. The album meets with critical acclaim and scores five top ten hit singles on Christian rock radio beginning with the song "Is It A Crime" which Myrrh Records had licensed to use on their Twelve New Faces album. Mark Maxwell from Myrrh begins courting Image Records, Zion and David Zaffiro as producer to possibly be Myrrh's first and only metal band. Unable to come to contractual terms Myrrh then goes on to sign Holy Soldier instead and utilizes David Z. as their producer in attempt to duplicate the success of Zion's album musically speaking. Zion songs are being used on several "Top Hits" albums by other labels during this time.1991 Some differences develop within the group on several fronts including if David Zaffiro should produce the second album or not. At this time Rex gets a call from the Los Angeles rock outfit X-Sinner who was looking for a new singer and painfully decides it is time to exit Zion.1992 Rex moves to LA. Tommy, Marlin and David work on and record new material but even with Zion's success Image Records runs into too many obstacles to overcome and close their doors. A follow up record never gets recorded. Tommy, David and Marlin all move to Washington state.2004 On the 15th anniversary of the recording of "Thunder From The Mountain" Rex, David, Tommy and Marlin get together for a reunion of sorts in August 2004 in Portland Oregon. They record some material and plan on working together in the future.2005 Dave and Tommy record a full length Christmas album consisting of various styles of music that really show the spirit of the season. Many are blessed by the effort.2007 Retroactive Records releases a live AND studio compilation album called "Thrillseeker" which consists of a few live cuts and other choice studio cuts from the Zion archives! Some never before released on cd!
After performing in several secular bands that opened for national acts, vocalist Rex Scott became a Christian in 1980 and played an influential role in his guitarist, David Moore, making a decision for Christ. The two proceeded to form Zion and subsequently recorded two demo tapes, Rock For Eternity and Thunder From The Mount, before signing to Image Records. On Thunder From The Mountain, the bands 1989 Image debut, Zion plays a well crafted style of melodic metal and hard rock backed by polished vocal harmonies and first rate musicianship. Scott brings out the best in the bands sound with his passionate but slightly gritty and gut level lead vocal style. Moore displays a nice melodic flavored touch on lead guitar, his talent standing out best on tracks such as "Less Of Me" and "Kick In The Gates". Bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer Tommy Bozung round out a solid rhythm section.Thunder From The Mountain features a smooth sounding production job in which producer David Zaffiro (Bloodgood) adds just the right amount of polish. A near flawless blend of crisp rhythm guitar and fluid lead guitar is underscored by a prominent mix of steady bass lines. Only a drum sound on the muddy side fails to make the grade.The album artwork, featuring a dragon assaulting a band playing atop a mountain, is good in concept but comes across cheesy due to not being of the same professional quality you would find on the cover of an album by Blind Guardian, Seventh Avenue or Rhapsody.The punchy bass line carrying "Who Pulls The Strings" forward from the start soon interweaves with a crunchy rhythm guitar, the two driving the song hard and heavy to a chorus with a catchy radio friendly hook. A tasteful lead guitar and keyboard trade off closes out the songs last minute. "Who Pulls The Strings" talks about victory in the life of a Christian:
Introduced to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar, the driving hard rocker “Kick In The Gates” moves ahead with an abundance of energy to a gritty chorus backed by a muscular bass line. A minute long instrumental passage is evenly allocated between a nice melodic flavored guitar solo and super tight rhythm guitar harmony. After "Is It A Crime" begins to a combination of rhythm and acoustic guitar, it slows as a quietly played guitar line stands in support of its first verse. As the song picks back up in pace, the rhythm guitar gradually fades to the front of the mix and takes it to a catchy chorus delivered at an upbeat tempo. The acoustic guitar initiating the semi-ballad "Help Me" gives way to crisp sounding rhythm guitar. Once the rhythm guitar fades to a reduced role in the mix, the song transitions to a chorus in which Scott displays the full range to his voice. Moore follows with a brief but well done blues flavored guitar solo. "Thrillseeker" takes off in a rapid fashion only to abruptly stop dead in its tracks. Regaining its momentum, the song gradually moves ahead until it gains further impetus for a chorus driven with an abundance of fast paced energy. I wish the band had expanded upon an instrumental passage limited to several seconds of restrained lead guitar work.Opening to a drum solo, "Sold You A Lie" quickly jumps out of the gate only to slow to a heavy duty blues based riff upon reaching its first verse. The song picks up speed as it transitions to a commercial flavored chorus fortified by polished background vocals. An instrumental section featuring only several seconds of lead guitar work, on the other hand, does not quite cut it."Roll The Rock" immediately kicks in to banshee-like vocal harmonies before slowing to an even mid-tempo pace for its first verse. As the song gains momentum, it evenly flows to a chorus bolstered by deep sounding vocal harmonies. "Roll The Rock" deals with trying to find the meaning in life:"Less Of Me" gradually fades in until a gritty rhythm guitar carries its first verse in an upbeat fashion. Slowing in tempo, "Less Of Me" transitions to a smooth sounding chorus with a refined feel. A blistering guitar solo opens an instrumental passage ending to a quietly played guitar line buttressed by a bit of lead guitar. "Less Of Me" talks about the salvation experience.
A combination of rhythm guitar and keyboards introduces "He Love You" before the keyboards drop from the mix at the start of its first verse. Once the bass guitar moves to the songs forefront, it helps drive a chorus underlined in a non-descript manner by background vocals. Scott sums up the songs message as it slows to a prominently mixed bass line.Thunder From The Mountain opens to its three best songs in "Who Pulls The Strings", "Kick In The Gates" and "Is It A Crime"; t he rest of its material, with "He Loves You" being the possible lone exception, easily holds up under repeated play. When combining the quality of its songwriting and production with the bands solid musicianship, the album proves a very fine debut of a talented band that, I am sad to say, was never heard from again. Rex Scott departed Zion after recording Thunder From The Mountain and went on to from X-Sinner and recorded the bands final album Peace Treaty,While the songs recorded live – comprising “Who Pulls The Strings”, “Kick In The Gates” and an instrumental – are all worth hearing, it is the demo material I find to be a real treat. Consisting of one song off the bands original 1982 demo (“He’s Got Power”), two from Rock For Eternity (“Rock For Eternity” and “Your Love”) and two more from the demo sessions that led to Zion signing with Image (“Big Fall” and a different version of the TFTM number “Roll The Rock”), the demo tracks are every bit as good if not better than much of the material that made its way onto TFTM. “He’s Got The Power”, “Rock For Eternity” and “Your Love”, for example, all highlight notable melodies while proving literal jam sessions – I love how Zion extends all three into the six and seven minute range – that allow guitarist David Moore to put on a virtual clinic with his fiery lead work and mega-tight sounding riffs. The gritty hard rocker “Big Fall”, on the other hand, might come in at “only” 5:42 but finds vocalist Rex Scott showcasing his trademark raspy and gut level vocal delivery in no uncertain terms. Drummer Tommy Bozung makes his presence felt as well, particularly on the appropriately entitled live instrumental “Drum & Bass Solo” (I’ll leave this one to your imagination!). Bass guitar duties are divided between Marlin Saner (all the live tracks), original Zion bassist Greg Sauer (“He’s Got Power” and the Rock For Eternity sessions), Rex Scott (“Roll The Rock” and “Big Fall”) and Jeff Johnson (the original TFTM version of “Thillseeker” that closes the album). The production values to the demo tracks might lack the smooth sounding touch of TFTM but do a better job capturing the bands natural and all out raw energy. As a matter of fact, I cannot help but get the feeling that this is the way Zion truly sounds- gritty, scratchy and hard rocking while delivering an abundance of energy at the same time.Thrillseeker gets underway to its three live compositions.
“Who Pulls The Strings” and “Kick In The Gates Of Hell” both translate well in a live setting, the latter still showcasing the same commercial sensibilities and former a nice stretch of tight sounding guitar harmony during its instrumental section which, of course, gets the crowd going.The albums third live track, “Drum & Bass Solo”, is an instrumental in which Tommy Bozung – appropriately introduced to the crowd as Tommy “Gun” Bozung – delivers a drum solo backed by some heavy duty bass lines.One again, it is the demo material in which the album hits its stride.The instrumental section at the start of “He’s Got Power” begins to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar that segues to a stretch of ardent work on lead guitar. Gradually gaining momentum, the song advances at a scratchy mid-tempo pace prior to obtaining a gripping chorus accentuated by a faint trace of vocal harmonies. Moore returns to spice things up with another snarling guitar solo. “He’s Got Power” delivers a straightforward salvation message:“Radio Snippet”, as its title implies, is a short snippet of a DJ (from WPIT radio in Pittsburgh in early 1990) introducing the song “Kick In The Gates”. “Rock For Eternity” begins to a throaty growl from Scott before launching into a fast paced riff that almost borders on speed metal. The song proceeds to taper off in anthem-like fashion for its verse portions only to regain the lost initiative for a rollicking chorus advancing at an energized upbeat tempo. Again tapering off, “Rock For Eternity” reaches an extensive instrumental section allowing Moore to showcase his tight as a nail work on rhythm and lead guitar. Scott puts on quite the passionate vocal performance here as well.A quiet blend of acoustic guitar and guitar feedback introduces the seven minute “Your Love”. Abruptly picking up in pace, the song races ahead in up-tempo fashion before just as suddenly decelerating for a melodic based chorus in which a near tranquil setting is put into place. “Your Love” returns to its upbeat ways for the minute long instrumental section that follows. A second instrumental section closing out the songs final two and a half minutes allows Moore to pull out all the stops in no uncertain terms. “Your Love” also conveys a salvation message:“Big Fall” commences to a brief drum solo before taking off in a quickly moving manner. The rhythm guitar, however, drops from the mix as the song reaches its first verse only to come roaring back and lead the way to a bluesy chorus shored up by Scott’s gut level vocal delivery. Moore highlights another sweeping instrumental section with his ardent playing.“Roll The Rock” is an alternate version of the TFTM track of the same name. The song, maintaining the driving mid-tempo impetus along with the deep sounding vocal harmonies backing its chorus, reflects a grittier and edgier vibe when compared to the original. The lyrics, however, have not changed,
The albums title track is the same version of the song that made its original appearance on TFTM. "Thrillseeker" takes off in a rapid fashion only to abruptly stop dead in its tracks. Regaining its momentum, the song gradually moves ahead until gaining further impetus for a chorus driven with an abundance of the bands trademark all out raw energy. Please note that at the end of the CD you will find a hidden bonus track of Zion performing a live version of the Kiss classic “Rock & Roll All Night” but with slightly altered lyrics:The only complaint is that I wish the sonics here happened to be a bit cleaner (it sounds like an old bootleg copy recorded on a cassette player hidden in someone’s back pocket)While Thrillseeker proves a noteworthy release showcasing material that was either previously unavailable or very difficult if not impossible to find, in the end it leaves me with the feeling of wanting more. For example, it would have been nice to hear a couple of more live tracks along with several others from the bands demo recordings as well. Still, the album comes with a strong recommendation - again, the demo material is outstanding - for fans of not only Zion but other gritty hard rocking outfits such as X-Sinner, Whitecross, F.O.G., Spittin Jonah and Mission Of One(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
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