Sound Barrier - second life of the 1980s cult U.S. heavy metal band

The 1980s cult band Sound Barrier (1980-1987, 2016-present) in 2021 released two singles “It's Just the Strangest Thing” and “Blindfolded Soldier.” Both songs are available on YouTube and iTunes and probably all the other streaming platforms that people use. The California, U.S. band had their debut album in 1983 called Total Control and an EP in 1984 called Born to Rock (18 minutes). The 1984 recording is melodic, traditional heavy metal with shredding, big choruses and a powerful singing voice; with a rhythm section that keeps the beat while the guitars and vocals work overhead. Then, going back to 1983’s debut Total Control (39 minutes), the songs are rocking, fun heavy metal that highlights the rhythm section, the guitar playing and the singing. The songs have an easy-to-understand beat, and a catchy, sing-along style, with shredding, tapping, big riffs and melodic hooks. Sound Barrier were contemporaries with other Los Angeles bands like Armored Saint and it looks like they played some shows together. Their last important recording that was released in the 1980s was their 1986 album Speed of Light (36 minutes) on Metal Blade Records. In general, the 1986 album is tighter, faster with more guitar, more galloping, more shredding, more headbanging, probably a bit under the influence of the faster metal sounds on the rise at the time; it is melodic, traditional but faster than they were in previous recordings.

The new songs in 2021 continue the revival manifested with the 2017 single “I’m Just a Man.” The new music is not an attempt to recapture the sound of the 1980s but rather a more contemporary, somewhat heavier sound. It’s not clear if a new album is on the agenda for the future. At any rate, Sound Barrier in 2021 is Spacey Tracey Singleton on guitars (1980-1986, 2016-present), Bernie Kimbell on vocals (1980-1987, 2016-present), Stanley E. Davis on bass (1982-1985, 2017-present), and Eric Valentine on drums (2016-present). Their former drummer Dave "Skavido" Brown (1980-1987) died in 2013 from cancer.

[Below you will find the new music and their 1980s music.]

WARNING: Explicity lyrics in some of the songs.

It's Just The Strangest Thing

Blindfolded Soldier

Sound Barrier I'm Just A Man! (Lyric Video)

SOUND BARRIER FULL SET

Sound Barrier- Total Control (FULL ALBUM) 1983

Sound Barrier - Born To Rock EP (1984) (Full EP)

Sound Barrier - Speed Of Light (1986) (Full Album)

[It is recommended that you listen to the album on Classic Metal Samples, and not the YouTube version because the YouTube version has the wrong song sequence and the music has been sped up a bit faster than it is. It just does not sound right!!! The original recording is fast as it is, for the time when it was made. Of course, you can always just obtain your own copy!]

https://metal-samples.com/category/sound-barrier/

Sound Barrier: "Rock without the Roll".mov

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