Recon – Behind Enemy Lines (2020) Roxx Records +2 bonus tracks, MP3+FLAC

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We featured the new album by WORLDVIEW, the band masterminded by guitarist George Ochoa, then you need to hear RECON too, his ’80s band.

RECON would record in 1988 an awesome 4-track cassette demo that led to them releasing 2 initial tracks for the legendary unsigned bands compilation series ‘California Metal Vol. II’, before releasing their classic debut full length album, ”Behind Enemy Lines”, in 1990.
RECON pleasantly surprised critics back in the day with its “classic, polished metal sound, and their unique style in representing that sound”. “If you ever liked either Queensryche (in its numerous stylistic variations) or Fates Warning, you should enjoy Behind Enemy Lines”.
While coming from the Christian Metal scene, RECON were really impressive of how they stacked up against their secular counterparts. ”Behind Enemy Lines” is one of the best melodic metal albums released in the U.S. around 1990, as good as anything out there at the time. Still killer today.
Even better with this Roxx Records reissue including bonus tracks – the remastering job has made miracles elevating the sonic definition with a crisp powerful punch.

Indeed, RECON was a very talented and creative band comprising musicians who are well-seasoned in various musical tastes and training. While this is classic U.S. metal, there’s interesting guitar arrangements, Oberheim-sounding keyboards and traditionally non-heavy metal percussion instruments such as orchestral bells or chimes.
With its name short for both reconnaissance and reconciliation, Recon arose out of the ashes of defunct Southern California bands De Roque, Prophet and Seventh Thunder when founding members guitarist George Ochoa, vocalist Vett Roberts and drummer John Christianson formed a partnership.

The three later recruited bassist Mike Grato and second guitarist Eddie Starline prior to recording a pair of custom cassette demos and placing the tracks “Light The Fire” and “Dreams” on the California Metal II compilation from 1988. A deal with Intense Records ensued, which resulted in said Recon full-length debut ”Behind Enemy Lines”.
Recon on ”Behind Enemy Lines” has been always identified as performing classic U.S. metal, albeit the previously noted aspects of melodic metal and thrash make their presence felt along with light progressive nuances. High-end vocalist Vett Roberts helps invite comparison to Queensryche and Fates Warning, keeping in mind contemporaries Sacred Warrior deserves every bit as much consideration.

”Behind Enemy Lines” first saw re-release on Japanese label Teichiku Records in 1994 with bonus material in the form of the two California Metal II tracks, while a second re-release on M8 Records in 2001 featured six demo bonus tracks.
The most recent ”Behind Enemy Lines” re-issue on Roxx Records was remastered by Ochoa and includes both songs from California Metal II in addition to two demo bonus tracks.

Album opens to short ‘intro’ piece “In The Beginning” before moving on three as fine a classic U.S. metal pieces with melody you will find. “Lost Soldier” gets things underway to atmospheric keyboards that segue to acoustic guitar and galloping riffs, heightened by the soaring feel to Roberts’ vocal delivery but accessible in terms of the catchy feel to the bellicose refrain. Some darker and portent overtones rise to the surface in the process.
“Ancient Of Days” slows the tempo and ups the heaviness with its towering feel. The song touches upon the momentous, with riffs of a stark and swarthy nature combining with a churning low end in which Grato and Christianson lock into a formidable groove. Instrumental section runs the gamut from melodic harmonies to Ochoa’s fiery soloing.

“Choose This Day” takes the lighter and more melodic tone. The song upholds a slight progressiveness, maneuvering between verses that drift stoically to reserved guitars and an imposing refrain in which guitars rebound to a position of crucial prominence. There’s an ethereal ‘outro’ final minute carried by acoustic guitar and soaring guitar feedback.
“Dreams” maintains the melodic basis in playing up one of the albums tighter guitar harmony performances from Ochoa and Starline. Reverberant bass carries the slower and emotionally tinctures verses, while big as it gets choir vocals empower the affluent refrain, with an almost symphonic feel arising as a result.

Keyboards play a profound (but not to a fault) role on melodic metal piece “Take Us Away”, carrying the songs theatrical opening and lightening the backdrop its remaining up-tempo way. The song otherwise manifests inspired energy, as the trademark Recon guitar harmonies make their presence felt along with periodic outbursts of shouted backing vocals.
“Alive!” is another showstopper. Front to back vibrant metal, the song launches at once to buoyant rhythm guitars over layers of airy keyboards in playing up a heart stopping if not pensive quality. “It is written. He is alive!” exclaims a chorus that ranks with the albums best.

The trenchant guitars and toiling bells at the start of “Eternal Destiny” set the swarthy and portent mid-paced tone at hand. When further factoring the storming rhythm section and backing vocals of an ominous capacity, the song approaches classic epic metal territory.
Album’s title track touches upon speed metal and thrash, which should not surprise in light of the songwriting credit attributed to Deliverance vocalist / guitarist Jimmy P. Brown. “Behind Enemy Lines” otherwise proves a resounding slugfest, as forwardly pointed guitars and vigorous drumming storm throughout an impetuous as it gets setting. Ochoa tops things off with another stretch of furious lead guitar.

The bonus “Light The Fire” is my favorite of the California Metal II tracks. The song proves vivacious all the way, with Roberts stretching and reaching for the highest of the high notes and Recon putting its catchy energy on full display. Chorus shouts “Light! Light the fire!” in intense fashion. A killer song and one of the bast from the band.
“Dreams” does not stray that far from the smoothly flowing formula to its ”Behind Enemy Lines” counterpart, albeit backing vocals are more straightforward as opposed to the choir like variety.

Demo bonus tracks include “Eternal Destiny” and “Alive”. Former highlights a more forthright momentum in comparison to the ”Behind Enemy Lines”. Latter maintains its overriding fortitude with backing vocals more pronounced, while refrain makes the same distinct statement. Production is surprisingly tight for demo material recorded during the late Eighties.
On a side note: After locating the master tapes for the demo tracks, Ochoa baked, digitized and then re-mastered the tapes to bring the levels up to that of the rest of the recording.

Remastering beefs things up overall in comparison to the Intense Records release, with low end now coming across that much more conspicuous and guitars lending the edgier and crisper feel. Upshot is the bigger and more polished sound with production cleaned up overall.
Highly Recommended

1 In The Beginning
2 Lost Soldier
3 Ancient Of Days
4 Choose This Day
5 Dreams
6 Take Us Away
7 Holy Is The Lord
8 Alive!
9 Eternal Desteny
10 Behind Enemy Lines
Bonus Tracks (California Metal II)
11 Light The Fire
12 Dreams

FLAC MP3