Silent Force

Hailed in Japan as one of the last great guitar heroes, Alexander Beyrodt is not only famous throughout the Metal and Rock genres for the highest technical skill and extraordinary song writing ability which has made his contributions to Primal Fear, Sinner, The Sygnet and others legendary, but he also has that innate ability to find the perfect vehicle for his music.

Alex decided to build a line-up with the goal of increased longevity and SILENT FORCE was born. Its members; singer DC COOPER, well known from his former band ROYAL HUNT (and admired exceedingly in the land of the rising sun) but also as a solo artist, bassist Jürgen Steinmetz, drummer Andre Hilgers, and keyboard player Torsten Röhre, set about building their legacy. Debut “The Empire Of Future” (2000) tells the fictional story of reanimating fallen soldiers and because of the freshness, power and class justifiably, receives huge attention. The album became very successful and SILENT FORCE joined Stratovarius on their European tour in 2000.

The second album “Infatuator” is also released on Massacre Records in 2001 and brings a further rush of popularity to the band but also put a lot of pressure on the line up, but songs like “Fall Into Oblivion” or “Hear Me Calling” are true highlights and become fan favourites especially when the band plays Atlanta‘s Prog Power Festival in the following year. The cover of Judas Priest‘s “All Guns Blazing” and the furious title track of the album stir up more debate as to whether DC COOPER would have been the perfect successor to Rob Halford in Priest had Ripper not been on the scene. But SILENT FORCE themselves get on with tearing out on a European tour with Brazilian cult band ANGRA, then with German Metal legend U.D.O., and prove their incredible quality night after night.

With third album “Worlds Apart”, released on Sanctuary in 2004, the band once again displays extraordinary ability. Produced by Dennis Ward (Angra, Pink Cream 69, Krokus) and including the Online Single “No One Lives Forever”, “Worlds Apart” is a masterpiece. The speedy “Once Again”, the melodic and exotic “Hold On” or the powerful riffing of “Master Of My Destiny” have fans and critics all around the globe crying out in joy. Add to that the ballad “Spread Your Wings” with its ability to put goose bumps on the skin and the album justifiably becomes the best selling SILENT FORCE record so far. The following sold out Japan tour with Kamelot manifested the fabulous reputation of the band.

This great performance is then the yardstick for Beyrodt and we move forward to the new record “Walk The Earth”, his first for AFM. This is exactly how melodic Power Metal has to sound in 2007: honest, down to earth, powerful, cleverly arranged but at the same time very melodic. Beyrodt himself describes it best:
„The band wrote the songs together, as a team. We met at my studio and jammed extensively, just like the great bands of the 70´s did. Thank god we are able to do it, this is something nearly unique in the metal scene nowadays. We bounded the energy that was in the air and created songs and melodies. Beyond that I really had enough of hearing every guitarist using the same sounds. So I started to create a new sound for me. The result is maybe best described as “Modern Vintage” because I went another step back to my roots, to bands like Rainbow and Deep Purple, but it works so well, you simply can‘t date it”.

SILENT FORCE once again utilises the services of producer Dennis Ward, so prepare for February 16th, when the Gods of Power Metal will “Walk The Earth” once again…

In addition to this AFM Records will re-release the first two SILENT FORCE records “The Empire Of Future” and “Infatuator”, both on March 2nd.