MYSTIC-FORCE - Take Command LP BLACK 2026 (Pre-Order)

Audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2024

Bobby Hicks - vocals
Rich Davis - guitar
Keith Menser (R.I.P. 2022) - bass/keyboards
Chris Lembach - drums

01 Take Command
02 Awakened by the Dawn
03 Immortal Souls
04 Silent but Deadly

05 Shipwrecked with the Wicked (1990 Demo)
06 Eternal Quest (1990 Demo)
07 Blind Vision (1988 Demo)
08 Dethroned (1988 Demo)

Mystic Force were a progressive power metal band from Baltimore, Maryland. After releasing several demo tapes, they signed with the German label Rising Sun Productions. This resulted in the two albums "The Eternal Quest" (1993) and "A Step Beyond" (1995). Their third album, "Man Vs. Machine," followed in 2001 on Siegen Records. After Mystic Force disbanded, drummer Chris Lembach and guitarist Rich Davis formed the band Shift and recorded two albums with them. Rich then launched his own solo project (playing all instruments and providing vocals) before finding suitable musicians again and releasing the CD "Inside The Upside Down" in 2024. Mystic Force were originally founded in 1984 by guitarists Rich Davis and Marc Rouchard, along with bassist Keith Menser. After numerous lineup changes in the early days, suitable collaborators were finally found in Chris Lembach (drums) and Bobby Hicks (vocals). In 1987, Mystic Force recorded their first 4-song demo, followed by "Blind Vision" a year later. Having already sold large quantities of self-produced cassettes (the first 4-track demo reportedly sold over 5,000 copies), it was time for their first vinyl release. In 1990, the album "Take Command" was released on the English label CMFT Records. Besides the first demo, it included four brand-new tracks: "Take Command," "Awakened By The Dawn," "Immortal Souls," and "Silent But Deadly" (all of which are featured on this compilation). Later that same year, the 12” single “Shipwrecked With The Wicked”/“Eternal Quest” was released in a limited and numbered edition through the band’s own label, Production. “Shipwrecked With The Wicked” was Mystic Force’s standout song to date, highly energetic and extremely catchy. Guitarist Rich Davis agrees: “'Shipwrecked With The Wicked' was undoubtedly one of our greatest songs ever. It’s very close to my heart because it always reminds me of standing right next to our bassist Keith in the middle section, going wild with him. Sadly, three former members of Mystic Force are no longer with us: Keith, who passed away in 2022, Bobby, who left us in 2013, and our second singer, William Wren, who died in 2020.”