UMUR "Man VS Machine" is the 4th full-length studio album by US power/progressive metal act Mystic Force. The album was released through Siegen Records in 2001. It had been 6 years since the release of their 3rd full-length studio album "A Step Beyond (1995)" and a lineup change on the lead vocalist spot had taken place as Bobby Hicks has been replaced by William Wren. The latter was also the featured lead vocalist on the "Steps to a New Machine" EP from 2000. The four original tracks (The EP also included a couple of cover tracks) are included on "Man VS Machine".

Mystic Force have always belonged to the semi-progressive US power metal camp and acts like Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Heir Apparent and Sanctuary are valid references. However with each release they incorporated more and more progressive elements to their sound, and that culminates on "Man VS Machine", which was by far their most progressive offering up until then. The influences from especially Queensrÿche (their most progressive releases from the late eighties) are still strong, but Mystic Force are generally a heavier beast and it´s not unusual for their music to include harder edged US power/thrash oriented metal riffing. Lead vocalist William Wren has a voice and a singing style that reminds me of Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche) and sometimes Ray Alder (Fates Warning, Redemption). A very skilled singer with a strong voice.

"Man VS Machine" is a strong album throughout. Each track stand out as memorable and catchy, the sound production is professional and powerful and the musicianship is oustanding. The tracks aren´t overtly progressive in structure, but while they mostly follow a vers/chorus formula, Mystic Force successfully make sure to include compositional surprises to keep their music entertaining. At 62:26 minutes it´s a rather long album but it´s one of those rare releases with a long playing time that doesn´t feel long because there are no low points. It´s consistently great all the way through and as a consequence a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.

UMUR "A Step Beyond" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US power/progressive metal act Mystic Force. The album was released through Rising Sun Records in 1995. This is the first album by the band, not featuring recordings from previous releases. Both "Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990)" and "The Eternal Quest (1993)" featured recordings from different sessions.

The music on "A Step Beyond" takes a slightly more progressive direction than was the case with "The Eternal Quest (1993)", which had already taken on a more progressive direction compared to "Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990)". Still the music is heavily rooted in eighties US power metal and the progressive part of the band´s sound is only occasionally dominant. Tracks like "The Conquest" and "The Innerchild" are examples of the progressive side of the band´s sound. Quite a few of the tracks are more heavy/semi thrashy/harder edged and direct in nature though. "Far Away" is probably the odd song out on the album. It´s a power ballad type track with a mainstream oriented chorus.

The musicianship is strong. Bobby Hicks is a skilled vocalist and the instrumental part of the music is also very well played. The sound production leaves a bit to be desired and the songwriting isn´t that memorable either though, so not everything on the album are top notch. I still think a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is deserved but I do prefer Mystic Force when they played a more "straight" US power metal style.

UMUR "The Eternal Quest" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US power/progressive metal act Mystic Force. The album was released through Rising Sun Records in 1993. The band´s debut full-length studio album "Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990)" was a bit of a patchy affair with tracks recorded at three different sessions and that trend continues on "The Eternal Quest", which is bookended by two tracks from the debut album.

Other than that we´re presented with new material, which is pretty obvious because the two "older" tracks are in a US power metal style while the rest of the material are more progressive in nature. The band master both styles with great conviction though. In fact Mystic Force are a very well playing act. High pitched vocals delivered with great skill, a powerful and tight rythm section and some very skillfully played guitar work (both rythm and lead). Artists like Queensrÿche, Fates Warning and Crimson Glory are valid references. While the music undeniably features a progressive edge, we´re talking "regular" length tracks, and you shouldn´t expect longer instrumental sections either. Considering that "The Eternal Quest" was released in 1993, it´s actually rather old school/traditional progressive metal sounding and could easily have been released in the mid- to late eighties.

The sound production is decent, but lacks slightly in the power department. It´s a minor issue though and along with the slight stylistic inconsistency of the material, that´s about the only complaints I have with the album. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Shipwrecked with the Wicked" is the debut full-length studio album by US power metal act Mystic Force. The album was released through Siegen Records in 1990. "Shipwrecked with the Wicked" is a bit of an odd release really, as it´s more of a compilation than an actual full-length studio release. There are 7 tracks on the album and 4 of those tracks are also featured on the "Take Command (1989)" EP in the exact same versions. Then there are two new studio recordings in the title track and "Eternal Quest" and to close the album the track "Who Really Gives A...", which features a rehearsal room lo-fi sound quality and which probably should be regarded as a "fun track".

So if you already have the "Take Command (1989)" EP or the "Take Command - The Demo Years (1990)" compilation, where the tracks from the EP are also featured, "Shipwrecked with the Wicked" offers little new of real value.

There´s absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the music though (besides the not so professional sound production on "Who Really Gives A..."). We´re talking very well played US power metal with an occasional semi-progressive edge. Not too far removed from early Queensrÿche, Fates Warning or Crimson Glory. High pitched vocals, blistering lead guitar work, edgy riffing and a powerful tight rythm section. The odd nature of the album, with tracks from three different sessions, isn´t great for the consistency of the album though and at 34:43 minutes, "Shipwrecked with the Wicked" isn´t the longest album either, but overall it´s still a pretty great release deserving a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating.

UMUR "Take Command - The Demo Years" is a vinyl only compilation release by US power metal act Mystic Force. The compilation was released through C.M.F.T. Records in 1990. "Take Command - The Demo Years" features all four tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo and all four tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP. They are presented here in a historical wrong order with the tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP first followed by the tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo. As the two original releases are very rare items, this compilation was shortly a good way to get a hold of the tracks from those releases (it should be noted though that the tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP are also featured on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990)"). These days "Take Command - The Demo Years" is probably as rare as the original releases though.

The band play a US power metal style with nods toward traditional progressive metal not completely unlike artists like Queensrÿche, Fates Warning and Lethal. The tracks from the "Take Command (1989)" EP feature a semi-progressive edge while the tracks from the "Mystic Force (1987)" demo are more "straight" US power metal. The sound production on both releases were of good quality for the time and the musicianship excellent. Heavy riffing, blistering solo work, high pitched clean vocals and a tight playing rythm section. In other words: Quality US power metal.

Considering how rare the original releases were (and still are), the idea to release "Take Command - The Demo Years" was good. The compilation has successfully served the purpose of making rare material more available instead of being just another "best-of" compilation type release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.