Apostle: Chariots Of Iron | Heavy Metal To The Rescue
(2026 – Retroactive Records)
I’ll never tire of highlighting releases like this that take us on a journey back in time to the golden age of heavy metal—the 1980s— and particularly in this case by re-releasing and making available the material from Apostle, a band that has managed to fly under the radar but, by being included in this Retroactive Records series called the “Metal Icon Series,” gives us access to their old material, recorded precisely in the ’80s.
First of all, and in a nutshell, let’s take a brief look back. Apostle is a band formed around 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida, by guitarist and vocalist Matt Harding (R.I.P.), with the idea of putting together a Heavy Metal band with a clear Christian message, playing at every venue they could. They toured all over the United States alongside Whitecross, Bride, Rez Band, etc. They recorded a demo in 1984 and later released an EP (“White Metal”) in 1985, but their first full-length album wouldn’t arrive until 1987, and only on cassette, titled “Chariots Of Fire.”
Very hard to find, it is now available on CD and also on LP, as a reissue of what should have been released back then, with a new design, especially regarding the cover and artwork.
“Chariots Of Fire” consists of just 8 songs that are heavily rooted in traditional Heavy Metal, with some influence from Judas Priest and perhaps early Bloodgood, yet maintaining the essence of metal throughout their compositions. The most notable feature is its foundation in heavy guitars, with deep, dense tones, leaving no room for more melodic lines.
The album opens with the title track. “Chariots Of Fire” has an unconventional start. A highly cinematic keyboard intro gives way to a relentless onslaught of classic, traditional Heavy Metal in the form of an instrumental featuring several guitar solos that showcase the more technical side of the trio—Matt Harding on vocals and guitar, Dave McKee on drums, and Mark Borrero on bass.
And as a way to stake their claim, the band delivers a track that serves as their self-reference. “Apostle” is a track with the fury of Metal, fast-paced, and a fiery, steady march; and in a versatile vein, they bring us “Lover,” at a moderate pace, riding along with a distinct hard rock vibe!
“Power Of Blood” is almost a metal anthem, one might say. Its direct riff and metal-laden choruses make it one of the best expressions of Apostle’s sound, despite its simplicity, while “Lake Of Fire” delivers a masterclass in speed and melody, built on a fierce foundation and featuring an impressive guitar solo.
What follows is no less fierce, but it has a much more classic sound thanks to the riffs and solos featured in “Sword & Shield,” with a fiery march and an excellent sense of composition that achieves a perfect blend of the classic and the heavy foundation.
There’s time for a snippet of Vivaldi—why not?—and that’s what this barely 34-second piece, aptly titled “Vivaldi,” is all about; it’s taken from the “Concerto in D Minor” by the renowned Italian composer. In a way, it serves as an introduction to perhaps the most melodic track on the album, “Lamb of God,” though that doesn’t mean it’s a slow ballad. Apostle’s thing is never turning down the volume, showing how it’s possible to combine melody with galloping, fierce riffs.
For the finale, we encounter another track worthy of being considered a metal anthem. We’re talking about “Leaders,” which, at a moderate pace and with a pattern of hard riffs and strong, direct rhythms, showcases that distinctly metallic side that Apostle demonstrates at every turn on this album.
The thing is, “Chariots Of Fire” doesn’t seem to follow the logic of the White Metal of those years, nor even the winds blowing from Sunset Boulevard. There are no traces of Hard Rock or Glam Rock. On the contrary. Apostle’s approach is a commitment to fierce metal, with strong, powerful riffs, and drumming that isn’t afraid to resort to double bass when necessary. Apostle’s approach is firmly rooted in the most traditional Metal, setting aside what was “in vogue” back then. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why they didn’t gain much traction.
This reissue pays tribute to material that had been completely out of circulation, especially considering that it was originally released only on cassette. In that sense, this reissue was clearly sourced from a tape, and despite the sound processing applied, the resulting imperfections are a product of the passage of time. It’s a shame that the original master isn’t available, though we suspect it may have been lost in the mists of time and oblivion. In any case, a respectable and highly listenable album has been produced, courtesy of Rob Colwell, who is by now a true expert at rescuing recordings of this kind.
As we mentioned earlier, we found the work on the guitars particularly interesting; they dominate nearly the entire sonic spectrum of “Chariots Of Fire” and are the fundamental reason for the final sound—which, by the way, was likely recorded with a makeshift setup rather than ideal equipment. Even so, what resonates most are the songs, crafted and composed with unbeatable genius; this album has several gems worth considering and keeping in mind.
We had mentioned that this work was released in 1987 on cassette. Well, for this edition, the original black-and-white cover was replaced by a striking illustration that honors what the album represents, following the same aesthetic approach from back then: a firing tank, showcasing that fierce, battle-ready spirit Apostle embodies in “Chariots Of Fire.” The edition even comes with an interesting booklet that tells the story of the band and this album, but no, we’re not going to “copy and paste” or reproduce what it says without permission. We’ll leave that for those who purchase the physical edition of this album, thereby helping an independent label continue to release interesting material like this. What we can tell you is that it’s truly worth it, especially for Heavy Metal fans interested in learning the history of a band like Apostle.
“Chariots Of Fire” deserves a place in history, and Apostle also deserves the honor of being part of ’80s Metal. Their story, somewhat obscured by oblivion and lack of recognition, has a new chance to shine, so we can see and learn from the old-timers who didn’t need the best sound to sound loud, clear, and fierce. What Apostle had in spades was the guts to give us a tremendous album, recommended only for lovers of fierce heavy metal…
In the links below, we’ve provided a way to contact the label Retroactive Records to find out how to purchase this material, both on CD and vinyl—and keep in mind that these are limited editions. There’s also plenty of old and vintage material, both from Apostle and other ’80s bands….
