Commander High N Mighty Heavy Metal kreator exciter manilla road Running Wild

$

34

Brand new, Sealed LP
COMMANDER The High'n'Mighty LP SPLATTER LP
Imported from Germany's HIGH ROLLER RECORDS
High Roller Records, blue with gold + white splatter vinyl, ltd 250, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, poster 01 Knights of the Round Table 02 Wizard 03 High'n'Mighty 04 We're Ready 05 Terror 06 Return of the Goths 07 Kill the King 08 Die by the Sword 09 The Blade Shines On
Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in December 2023 / August 2024.

COMMANDER - THE HIGH 'N' MIGHTY

Commander was a short-lived but highly influential American Heavy Metal band hailing from California, active during the mid-1980s. Emerging in a scene increasingly dominated by Thrash Metal, Commander instead chose to champion the epic, melodic sounds of Traditional Heavy Metal and the burgeoning US Power Metal (USPM) movement. The band, which featured vocalist Jon Natisch (R.I.P. 2012), guitarist Dave Macias, bassist Richard Mejia, and drummer Ron Avila, initially developed a cult following on the South California underground circuit through a series of well-received demos in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Their style was characterized by a potent combination of driving rhythms, flashy, melodic guitar leads reminiscent of early Maiden-esque power metal, and lyrical themes steeped in Arthurian legend and historical battles.

The band's sole full-length release, The High 'N' Mighty, arrived in 1987 on Azra Records and quickly became a highly sought-after US Metal cult classic. The album stood out in a year that saw the release of monumental thrash and power metal records, yet its strong songwriting and distinctive style ensured its lasting underground appeal. Produced by Joe Floyd and engineered by the legendary Bill Metoyer, the album possesses a raw, cutting, mid-80s production edge that perfectly suits their sound. The music successfully blends traditional heavy metal hooks with the epic scope of USPM, showcasing guitarist Dave Macias's distinctive lead work, which is often cited as the record's strongest asset due to its molten, industrial steel tone and melodic brilliance.

The album is most celebrated for its potent bookends and thematic strength. The opening combination of the epic anthem "Knights of the Round Table" and the Dio-inspired track "Wizard" sets a high standard, demonstrating the band's capability for professional and well-rounded composition. However, the record’s true highlight is often considered the colossal closer, "Die By the Sword," an over eight-minute epic featuring big, simple, powerful riffing and cinematic flair, representing one of the best examples of the US Power Metal movement of the time. The album's scope is further broadened by the inclusion of a cover of Rainbow's "Kill the King," a clear nod to the influence of Ronnie James Dio on the band's overall sound and Jon Natisch's vocal style.

Despite its quality, Commander failed to achieve significant commercial success and disbanded shortly after the album's release, making The High 'N' Mighty a single, defining artifact of the late 80s US Metal underground. Its rarity and quality have led to multiple official reissues by specialist labels like High Roller Records, remastered by engineers like Patrick Engel, ensuring that this seminal piece of American heavy metal history remains available to diehard fans and collectors. The album perfectly captures the spirit of true metal from the era, appealing strongly to connoisseurs of flashy, melodic guitar leads and cheesy, theatrical metal that was struggling to survive against the rising tide of thrash.

50 SIMILAR COLLECTIBLE ARTISTS AND ALBUMS

Commander is a key piece of US Power Metal (USPM) and Traditional Heavy Metal. The following records represent artists who share their epic themes, emphasis on melodic vocals and soaring guitars, and strong connections to the 1980s American metal scene, often achieving similar cult status. Original or early pressings of these titles are highly collectible.

# Artist Album Title Year Genre Overlap 1 Liege Lord Master Control 1988 US Power Metal / Thrash Edge 2 Helstar A Distant Thunder 1988 US Power Metal / Speed Metal 3 Jag Panzer Ample Destruction 1984 Foundational US Power Metal 4 Savatage Sirens 1983 US Power Metal / Traditional Metal 5 Dio Holy Diver 1983 Classic Heavy Metal / Fantasy 6 King Diamond Abigail 1987 US Power Metal / Theatrical Metal 7 Omen Battle Cry 1984 US Power Metal / Epic Themes 8 Manowar Into Glory Ride 1983 Epic Metal / True Metal 9 Fates Warning The Spectre Within 1985 Progressive US Power Metal 10 Grim Reaper See You in Hell 1983 NWOBHM / Traditional Metal 11 Cities Annihilation Absolute 1985 US Heavy Metal / Power Metal 12 Warlord Deliver Us (EP) 1983 US Power Metal / Epic Metal 13 Riot Thundersteel 1988 US Power/Speed Metal Revival 14 Virgin Steele Guardians of the Flame 1983 Epic Heavy Metal 15 Attacker Battle at Helms Deep 1985 US Power Metal 16 Metal Church Metal Church 1984 US Heavy Metal / Power/Thrash 17 Armored Saint March of the Saint 1984 US Heavy Metal / Power Metal 18 Brocas Helm Into Battle 1984 Epic Metal / Cult Status 19 Medieval Steel Medieval Steel (EP) 1984 US Power Metal (Cult Rarity) 20 Crimson Glory Crimson Glory 1986 US Power Metal / High Vocals 21 Lethal Programmed 1989 Technical US Power Metal 22 Chastain Mystery of Illusion 1985 US Heavy/Power Metal 23 Vicious Rumors Soldiers of the Night 1985 US Power/Speed Metal 24 Sacred Warrior Master's Command 1989 Christian US Power Metal 25 Cloven Hoof Cloven Hoof 1984 NWOBHM / Epic Themes 26 Running Wild Gates to Purgatory 1984 German Speed/Power Metal 27 Queensr che The Warning 1984 Progressive US Power Metal 28 Iron Maiden Piece of Mind 1983 NWOBHM / Epic Themes 29 Angel Witch Angel Witch 1980 NWOBHM / Occult Themes 30 Helloween Walls of Jericho 1985 German Speed/Power Metal 31 Rage Reign of Fear 1986 German Speed Metal 32 Shok Paris Steel and Starlight 1987 US Heavy Metal / Power Metal 33 Mystic Force Shipwrecked with the Wicked 1987 US Power Metal 34 Abattoir Vicious Attack 1985 Speed/Power Metal 35 Exciter Heavy Metal Maniac 1983 Canadian Speed Metal 36 Picture Heavy Metal Ears 1980 Dutch Heavy Metal 37 Keel The Right to Rock 1985 US Heavy Metal / Power Rock 38 Fifth Angel Fifth Angel 1986 US Power Metal / Melodic 39 Destiny Nothing Left to Fear 1985 Swedish Heavy Metal 40 HammerFall Glory to the Brave 1997 Power Metal (Modern Revival) 41 Cirith Ungol King of the Dead 1984 Epic US Metal / Cult Status 42 Satan Suspended Sentence 1987 NWOBHM / Power Metal 43 Anvil Metal on Metal 1982 Canadian Heavy Metal / Speed 44 Raven All for One 1983 NWOBHM / Speed Metal 45 Sinner Danger Zone 1984 German Heavy Metal 46 Savage Grace Master of Disguise 1985 US Power/Speed Metal 47 Witchfinder General Death Penalty 1982 Doom/NWOBHM 48 Tokyo Blade Tokyo Blade 1983 NWOBHM / Traditional Metal 49 Ozzy Osbourne Bark at the Moon 1983 Heavy Metal / Thematic 50 Helstar Burning Power 1985 US Power Metal / Speed Metal