Reverend

A metal foursome that was greatly influenced by Judas Priest but sort of sounded like a slowed-down Testament, Reverend showed some potential on this self-titled debut EP. The band was never huge by any means, though it did enjoy a small following and created a slight buzz in headbanger circles. Melodic yet intense songs like "Wretched Excess," "Dimensional Confusion," "Ritual" and "Power of Persuasion" (which seems to attack the sleazy opportunism of some television evangelists) are too slow to be called thrash metal, but their heaviness and intensity earned Reverend some respect among thrash audiences. It's hard to miss lead singer David Wayne's artistic debt to Priest's Rob Halford, although he's no clone, and has a roughness to his voice that also suggests the late AC/DC singer Bon Scott. Enjoyable but not extraordinary, this EP indicated that Reverend was a band to keep an eye on.