Mystic-Force came out of Baltimore in the mid
eighties, driven by the shared ambition of Rich
Davis and Marc Rouchard, later
strengthened by Keith Menser and eventually
completed by drummer Chris Lembach and
vocalist Bobby Hicks. Their path ran through
a batch of demos, a couple of vinyl releases and, thanks to early support from
European underground networks, two albums on Rising
Sun Records. By the time the band reached the era of “Man Vs. Machine”,
the microphone had passed to William Wren, a
vocalist known from Prodigy and Oracle. The album originally appeared in 2001 and
returns now in remastered form via High Roller
Records, handled with care by Patrick W.
Engel. With Wren’s voice stepping
into the spotlight and the band already seasoned from years of writing and
touring, this period marked a final creative surge before Mystic-Force members moved on to new projects.
“Man Vs.
Machine” presents a band fully locked into their progressive power metal
identity. The riffing is agile, the rhythms snap forward with focus and the
guitar lines constantly shift without drifting into chaos. Davis keeps the music moving with quick changes
that stay musical instead of showy. Wren delivers a direct vocal performance,
strong and expressive, giving the songs personality without drifting into
exaggeration. The production of this new edition lifts the details without
changing the character of the original release, which keeps everything grounded
in its early two thousands roots.
Several
tracks strike quickly with energetic hooks, twisting patterns and confident
vocals that cut through the mix. Mystic-Force always
enjoyed threading the more technical side of power metal into their sound, and
the album maintains that approach, carried by sharp transitions and precise
musicianship. The pacing maintains interest, since the band constantly shifts
gears and pushes the narrative of the songs forward. The combination of heavier
moments and melodic lines gives the album steady movement and plenty of
memorable passages.
Wren brings a
strong presence, able to lift the material and match the band’s tight
musicianship. His tone complements Davis’
guitar phrasing and Menser’s driving bass
work, while Lembach keeps everything steady with firm drumming that supports
the complex turns of the music. The album presents Mystic-Force
at a mature point in their career, confident in their craft and
committed to delivering a striking final chapter in their discography.
This
remastered edition gives “Man Vs. Machine” a brighter second life, offering a
clear window into a band that always walked its own path. It captures their
energy, their adventurous writing style and the chemistry that defined them
during their most productive years. It stands as a strong farewell to a group
that earned its place in the American progressive power metal scene.
Score: 8.0
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