March 2003 - MUSIC EXTREME (ARG)

February 2004 - SHRUNKEN & MUMMIFIED (HUN)

February 2004 - SIRENE (GRE)

January 2004 - BENZOWORLD (ITA)

Three songs mini cd for the band Honey For Christ from North Ireland: ultimately a good effort, even if not fundamental. Three melodic death metal songs, with several speed influences, clean vocals and some hardcore structures following the path of bands such as Shadows Fall or As I Lay Dying.

If we had to find out something different, something really peculiar of HFC, I'd say their use of clean vocals only. The packaging and the artwork are excellent, their 'image' and monicker are funny enough to catch the customer's eye and, as we had said, their music is good, most of all when it reveals a sort of 'equilibrium' between complexity and groove.

The three tracks included in FIW are neither too straight-in-your-face nor progressive (as the long “Movements Below the surface“ shows). Some possible improvements: maybe the vocal melodies could be better (the singer sounds a little anonymous, sometimes) and they could work on more effective choruses.

Well, I liked them, they did not changed my life but I' d appreciate their music. Maybe with some other refinements, the future results could be even better. I hope I can hear from them other good music.

70/100

Benzoworld

January 2004 - CRIPTESTESIA MAGAZINE (PER)

With a peculiar name and a motto that Heavy Metal made to fight against the things that are not Metal, these Northern Irish boys appear. If we spoke of Heavy metal, and it comes from the British Isles, then by that way they are well heavy. They appeal to the Thrash side and at some moments to the Death Metal to consecrate this rythmical assault to violence, and for the solemn moments the melodic voice of Jason and the company necessary in instruments have left to return to the Heavy Metal. Another thing but, that can no longer add to this independent production encounter to him. Very certain, it is that with five years of existence, in where they created demo and two EP's, this grouping has managed to take hold of a portion of the selective taste of the local liking. Now they must fight to obtain a space within this great musical universe. Good luck HONEY FOR CHRIST!

Criptestesia Magazine

November 2003 - QUINTESSENCE (USA)

An interestingly named band that is a veteran one that has 5 years under their belts coming out of Northern Ireland. They self-financed a release back in 2000 called "The Art Of Self Abuse and Soul Erosion". It was taken by storm by all immediate press but also suffered criticisms for the lack of production.

"Forging Iron Will" has already gotten a perfect 10 from "Metal UK", so apparently, Honey For Christ has gotten everything back on track. The band fooled me at first due to the name and the first track (title track) has you thinking this was to be a Death or Black Metal release.

HFC is actually an aggressive, Prog-Metal band that speeds it up in places and just can change the complexity of a song at any given minute. They remind me of some bands like Surreal, Forte and Enertia with just different vocals which are close to Jose Scott from Saliva. Jason really brings out the emotion with his pipes and works extremely well within the balance of the music.

This band is damn impressive and you'd be granted some sting catching some of this Honey.

Quintessence

November 2003 - UNDERGROUND EMPIRE (AUSTRIA)

Metal from Northern Ireland is not a straight everyday affair. In a form of spoken mixture from mystisc power Metal and powerful Thrash, which contains now, and then also Death Metal moderate grunts, THIS IS NOT HONEYFORCHRIST at all.

This, also for the sales determined, 3-Song-CD reveals the qualities to that volume. The Opener and title song can be regarded alternatively as moderate Thrasher or a brasher power Metal track.

The following "Movements Below The Surface" extends the sound spectrum by acoustic passages at the beginning and in further consequence also by singing elements, which originate clearly from the Death Metal range. With production was not geschludert likewise, but was not carried out tidy work.

The closing "The Heretic Hook" shows HONEYFORCHRIST from its most violent side, whereby by numerous speed changes, however the necessary alternation wealth was given to this Song.

Since this trio is active already for a long time, it would be the time for them to be provided internationally for sensation. To convince you of the class of this troop, visit their homepage where some songs are offered as sample.

Underground Empire

November 2003 - BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS (USA)

I was kind of surprised when I popped this disc in. From the music alone I was expecting a Thrash Death Metal band. Once the vocals popped in it changed the whole sound of the band. As said above, the music itself has a strong Thrash Metal sound to it with some Power or Progressive Metal elements tossed in. The vocals are done in a melodic Power Metal style or Traditional Metal style. They reminded me of a lot of the New Wave bands in the 80's just sung a little faster. If your into melodic Power metal your gonna want to pick this disc up!!!

Beowolf

November 2003 - ALTERNATIVE MAG (TUR)

Here i present to you the newcomer of pure heavy metal, a band from North Ireland: Honey For Christ! What a bad name this? Nevermind the name… This 3 track promo got a good sound. They played in lots of gigs and have a good response at time media from the England but after the trend of heavy metal passed, it is hard to find a label for to release a debut of full-length.

5/7

Ferdi
Alternative Mag

August 2003 - METAL ZONE PRODUCTIONS 666 (FRA)

This Irish Heavy Metal band hasn't finished to surprise me, what is sure is that they are forging a strong and powerful style that they can be proud to have constructed since their begining and which becomes stronger everytime they have a new CD.

They have in fact many tastes in music and so we can hear from Heavy, Thrash and now in the new CD Death metal influences!!! Like this it can sound strange but it is not at all once you have listened to this new great creation!!! The singer has the feeling and emotion in his voice and the strength and the power are into the drums,he speed is in the guitar, as for the bass he got the groove and all of these 4 caracters give this excellent band that knows how to write good songs with the emotion needed to feel exactly what you have to when listening to a song, it grows and explode to give you that great sensation. They KICK ASSES!!!

This is a band the new generation should listen to 'cos it regroups the real Metal influences mixed to please everyone. A band who could easily pass the frontier of ignorance and those fight between Metal style. This is pure Metal !!! To get into your Metal collection!!! We can only ask a label to sign them and get on the front covers of known Metal magazines 'cos they fuking deserve it!!!

Dark Angel

August 2003 - STILLBORN (ITA)

Pure devastation! The Irish Honey for Christ are a machine for war, ready to destroy you to the sound of heavy metal!

These 4 Northern Irish mates play in a fresh and personal way, thrash, heavy and death metal! Mixed into only one with an exceptional result! Devastating rythm section, the drummer seems to have 10 arms and 10 legs!, cause it beats hard from the beginning to the end on every element of the kit! The guitars that they mill riffs from sound "swedish oriented", and an atypical voice.

For all which the other instruments produce, the music is oriented for to the mostly to a most powerful thrash/death thing, then the charismatic Jason makes a mark with his vocal pipes, in fact the majority of it is clean singing, with sporadic entrances in screaming growl.

The 3 tracks presents on this demo are one better of the other part. The title-track, intro ferociuos and a shooting devastation from beginning to the end, with some relentless and the most dangerous riffing!! Movements Below the Surface extends together 2 sides of the band, that melodic side and that destructive one! The song in fact is to allow itself changes of time, between parts more faster and devastating and to melodiche parts with a riff-killer guitar playing. Chris at the same time sticks on all the elements of the drums, also on the money!

The conclusive The Heretic Hook begins just with all devastation signed from Chris and the rigging of Andy! Only one moment in order to slow down, then a screaming growl of Jason leaves again to all dragging speed with riffing, a conclusion that extension all the characteristics of us between death metal, thrash metal and heavy metal!

Devestating! This is one fantastic band! I promise, that it will not very be late to find a great beautiful contract with some large one label!

8.5/10

Stillborn

July 2003 - SHOCK! MAGAZINE (HUN)

This EP arrived from the shores of Northern Ireland. For the first blink, we thought, it’s a demo, but it’s not. As the first song started, I thought, it ’s some kind of death metal, but then suddenly the guy started to sing, and some slower, acoustic-like parts came to the music. Wow.

Then they went back to crush, and they started this „duality” in the second song too. Strange mixture, but not bad at all! I can feel the death metal roots, but also the effects of some melodic power metal bands like Iced Earth. If Jason, the vocalist had a more unique voice, we could think, it’s an early Iced Earth unreleased thing. Anyway, the vocals are not bad too. There are melodic parts and crushing howls too. As my colleague told, it reminds her to the late Mindfeed.

They have recorded this EP after a few compilation appearances and two demos. I’m curious, when will they have a full album. There are much worse bands that already made albums, in turn HFC is really worth to make a full disc.

Then the sound could be better too, because this is the only objectionable point of this EP. It sounds a bit strange, the drums are chugging and the guitars are a bit flat, but maybe it’s just my heart of stone, because I think, I like what I hear.

Authentic, this is the best word for their work. They could follow a trend, play 100% death or 100% power, but they just play the music that their feelings bring, and I can see that it’s good this way. So, let me give 8 points right away.

8/10

Wendigo
Shockmagazin

July 2003 - KURAVILU (CHI)

Honey For Christ is a band that I found a day surfing the web and due to their peculiar name i downloaded a track from their official Web (www.honeyforchrist.co.uk). I then sent an email to them to see if they would send me a promo and after months, when i had already thought that my mail had not been taken into account, its seems Forging Iron Will was dropped in my square and here I am fulfilling the task of giving you my impressions on the matter. But perceptions show that after I wrote to them for a promo the band were good enough to send me one out.

In general, this original band of Ireland of the North, cultivates a species of Heavy Metal with a good dose of the Power and Thrash of orchestration as well as of the NWOBHM, where, I create not to mistake, is necessary to look for its greater influences to me.

Peculiar in the beginning, first which one comes to the mind it is Dream Theater thing that is product of the vocalist that reminds me of the much alluded foreign band, nevertheless the music of for Honey Christ goes for another side, much more direct and less complex I would say.

I believe that this Demo is going to be loved my those that look for music more become attached to the metal of the 80's. Personally I must emphasize Movements Below the Surface that begins as a typical "ballad" and without giving account us it is transformed into a monster where XXXX remove more aggressive voices and music becomes more and more powerful and ill.

Finally The Heretic Hook is the most aggressive subject of demo, and well good packed, changes of powerful rate and riffs that leave me wanting more. For my pleasure i have given them 4.5 of 5.0 which i feel is justice to this Demo.

4.5/5

Carlos
Kuravilu

July 2003 - JEN'S METAL PAGE (USA)

This is fucking great. I am really digging this a lot. It’s pure heavy metal. The music is super fast, sounds like it could be death or black metal. Then the vocals kick in and they are heavy. They really remind me of Matt Bachard from Shadows Fall. The guys is really singing and then he has these deep heavy vocal tracks which also sound great. The drummer has some super has feet.

A++

JensMetalPage

June 2003 - NOCTURNAL HALL (GER)

BAND OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2003

100% raw, unclean, uncut, hard & honest heavy fucking metal!!! These 4 lads from Northern Ireland not only attrack attentention with their freaky but unique band name - with them they really love to confuse - but above all with their music.

As they have stated right from the beginning they abandoned all usual conventions to achieve something own. And HONEY FOR CHRIST managed this! They even created something fresh and innovative.

These guys combine Death-, Thrash and Heavy Metal and enrich this concoction with warm and melodic singing which lives on singer Jasons exceptional voice. Of course, HONEY FOR CHRIST are not that unknown anymore in the underground scene, especially with their latest output Forging Iron Will they could cash on massive positive credits.

HONEY FOR CHRIST kicks ass as hell and should be checked out in any case! Guess it's up to them now to come over to the continent to cause somewhat cultivated chaos ...

Nocturnal Hall Magazine

June 2003 - VATES NOCTIS (GER)

"100 % hard raw, unclean, uncut, & honest heavy fucking Metal", is the musical self description of the Northern Irish volume Honey For Christ.

Background is the maxim of the quartet to overcome all category borders of Metal and to create an individual sound, which corresponds fully and completely to its conceptions of Metal. This project seems to have succeeded, this, the third demo contains volumes of: Thrash, Death, Doom and isolated Black Metal of elements merge with characteristics of the size whether TC and the modern skirt music into a really independent contraption.

The songs throughout are well arranged and reef has a high recognizing value. Stimmlich are to be arranged Honey for Christ somewhere between Anathema and Life OF Agony, isolating arise however also to grunts, which however usually rather disturbing are very useful. Honey for Christ sound fresh, modern and above all innovative and prove on "Forging Iron Will" a quantity of potential.

8/10

Vates-Noctis

June 2003 - SOUTH OF HELL (CHI)

Of Honey For Christ I had read some comments, but I never got excited to listen its music. Something on their name or in their musical style didn't motivate me to know the band. I should say that was a great error.

"Forging Iron Will" is the third effort of the band since it was born in November 1998 in the small and conflicting country of North Ireland. Their previous works like "Long Way Down & Rising" of 1999 and the EP "The Art of Self Abuse & Soul Erosion" of the 2000 were apparently very well received by the public and by the metal press. "Forging Iron Will" is like you can see a Promo CD of three own pieces that have a sound of first level.

The music of Honey For Christ dares to say it, doesn't have comparison with any band that I have known. Maybe with that I am not saying too much, for what I prefer to enter to describe this CD, and especially the tremendous impression that caused me listening the proposal of the band. Before everything, we could define the sound of Honey For Christ like a Heavy Metal with many elements of the traditional sounds, but with a much bigger power, sometimes flirting with a hardened Thrash Metal.

Added to this I find myself with the fact that they have in their lines to a vocalist that is not shown selfish with anything; a classic register of the style, but that it intrudes at the same time with guttural voices as in the choirs of "Movements below the Surface". Inspired riffs with an attack in the drums that discharges power, with a very extreme Thrash touch that stands out immediately and gives an impressive presence to the musical group that originates.

All these elements converge transforming the proposal of Honey For Christ in an all uniform and coherent that called my attention for their fresh originality. "Forging Iron Will", the song that opens this Promo, is a direct cut, without beating about the bush, catchy and with a brilliant performance of the four members of the band. "Movements Below the Surface", the longest song, is an approach to the experimentation with a focus that it looks for the root of the raw, to the grain and without commitments Heavy Metal; that old and dear Heavy Metal that has gotten lost with the years and with the outbreak of more elaborated sounds, but that in turn it doesn't forget that we are in the XXI century and therefore the touches of personality and originality are indispensable. The music's simplicity, full of feeling and passion for the style, is reflected in a very good compound and executed song. Finally "The Heretic Hook" with some "doomy" passages, like to make still more eclectic the proposal of these four lovers of the real and honest Heavy Metal; the best thing of this Promo to my pleasure.

Regrettably they don't have included in my copy the letters or an artwork to the music's height, however we have their Web page to know what there is behind this group. After a good time listening and enjoying to this band, it isn't too hard to say that they blew me away... I hope not to fall in silly prejudices again and not to make the same error with some other band.

Favorite: The Heretic Hook

6.2/7

Franchu
South Of Hell Webzine

June 2003 - KREPUSKULUM (BRA)

If you like bands that play metal with the 80's groove, including influences of NWOBHM (JUDAS PRIEST, ANGEL WITCH, BLITZKRIEG) and mix a touch of neo thrash metal wave, you will really love HONEY FOR CHRIST, the band´s sound is true heavy metal with inspired clean epic vocals and intense guitar riffs, some moments are introspective and anothers is real thrash metal like in the best track of this release the great "Movements Below the Surface".

Great surprise and the labels ones need to open the eyes for the work of that band, they deserve to be in a great label!

Edgar Franco
Krepuskulum

June 2003 - VAMPIRE MAGAZINE (HOL)

If you think about Irisch metal, you might come up with bands like Abaddon Incarnate, Mourning Beloveth, Waylander and Arcane Sun. For now i got another band on my list, namely Honey For Christ.

HFC were formed in 1998 as an eclectical metal band. Influenced by many styles and streams they developed an own sound, which you now can hear on their newest Self financed EP ‘Forging Iron Will’. This release contains three tracks. Right from the start it became clear to me this isn’t one of the most dynamic productions of all. Who cares!!! Later on I forgot this minus completely.

I envy their capability to blend aggression with drama on a professional way. Talking about contradictions, I’ve heard a few influences of Anathema due to the vocals and guitarparts on ‘Movements Below The ‘Surface’ but on ‘Forging Iron Will’ it’s like you’re listening to In Flames in corporation with the German thrash legend, Kreator. A lot of diversity but how can you be so convincing while you’re playing anything which can be called metal. Yes, I’m convinced this band has a lot of potential. The main style they use to play is in my opinion heavy metal. I know it’s odd but my truth.

Vampire Magazine

June 2003 - NOCTURNAL HORDE (DEN)

The band with the special name Honey For Christ is coming from Ireland and delivers dirty and raw heavy metal, with a lot of power and soul behind. This 3 track CD delivers great music, straight from the heart. Good old heavy metal is the code here.

It is spiced up with some very heavy riffs, from the time when the kings of doom was known as Pentagram, St. Vitus etc... (They are still the fucking kings of doom!, ed.). The vocals are alternated between the traditional heavy metal screaming, a more emotional vocal and a very aggressive growl. It is a good combination which gives a great contrast. All 3 tracks on the album gives us speeding ahead metal with class.

The instruments are played very well. There are delivered some very good, though classic stuff from the guitar. Besides does the monster bass deliver some very good music, both the traditional parts and the more innovative ones kicks serious ass. If Honey For Christ isn't soon scoring a deal, and becomes one of the bigger names on the scene. Then I have to get my ears checked.

They combines great old styled heavy metal with aggressive brutality and they make it sound very good, almost perfect.

8/10

Nocturnal Horde

May 2003 - RAW NERVE PROMOTIONS (UK)

Three tracks here from Northern Ireland's Honey For Christ, a band who have been around on the circuit for quite a while now, and during the opening minute or so of opener and title track "Forging Iron Will", it's possible to see that these guys have confidence in what they are doing, delivering melodic thrashy power metal in a very strong way. Some good quality riffs, energetic, catchy, and full of passion, with some well controlled singing over the top.

Now, the vocals are not my cup of tea, but they are done well it has to be remarked. A nice drop in pace a couple of minutes in adds some good depth to the song, and so a good start is made. "Movements below the surface" is an epic by all accounts. Starting off sounding unbelievably like Opeth, same style, same mood, similar delivery. Again the singing comes in and I almost expect not to like this, but it works well, some very good riffs keep me more into it than anything else though, and this song has elements of Nevermore, Candlemass, and refrains from going into really cheesy power rock metal territory with the whole wailing vocals escapades. Honey For Christ manage to retain a nice, dark, thrash mood throughout most of the songs in fact, even when they aren't playing the faster riffs.

The opening to "The Heretic Hook" has a certain melodic Swedish death rock feel to it, and at times sounds like "Swansong" era Carcass, maybe with hints of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, that sort of thing, a nice 100 seconds worth of instrumentation. Like I said, I would have preferred heavier vocals, but that's my chosen like, but for delivery and on pitch, the singer has done pretty well, and pieced together some pretty good patterns with the music.

A good little EP here from Honey For Christ.

Paul Tangaroa
Raw Nerve Promotions

May 2003 - EXPLOSIVE MAGAZINE (YUG)

At the very beginning of this CD I heard a fast grind rhythm and a killer death metal riff so I thought that here we have some brutal band. But as soon as singer started to sing i found my self confused.

Irishmen Honey For Christ play unbelievable original and quality Heavy Metal. Yes, I said Heavy Metal with grind rhythm. And that is possible right? How the song was playing I saw influences of English type doom ala early Anathema or My Dying Bride.

Unbelievable nice and original vocal with very good diction. I hope that some label will find interest for such a good band.

Max
Explosive Magazine

May 2003 - METALIUS (GER)

A pleasant surprise gives us the Irish Honey for Christ. The three Songs do not come along perhaps in the best production, but degrees the EP gives to this a nice underground touch!

Who can begin to describe this style? A first attempt wasn't great: Honey for Christ seem to mesh some different styles and means together, there would be to a large extent melodic black metal, little of thrash, grunge and new, in addition, ballad things, in the midtempo range.

The song "Movements below the Surface" for example is a beautiful ballad, into which however there are somewhat more violent parts which are skillfully built. These are good songs that have a wonderful tension, hooks, and nice melodies fitting well in the picture like hard reef, but the main advantage to this band is clearly the singer. With a full, strong voice he is simply marvelous, and one notices clearly that he is the heart blood of this thing that is Honey For Christ.

Since these guys are young and in addition also strongly motivated, they should have find a label that takes care of this short CD, and we may soon hold a debut in our hands. But who wants to wait for that when for just three English Pound (or equivalent in another currency) you should send in bags for this little volume!

7.9/10

Michael Freßmann
Metalius

May 2003 - NERO OPACO (ITA)

Good, this test of the Irish Honey For Christ who arrive to their third demo after "Long way down & rising" (1999) and "The art of self abuse" (2000). Recorded in June of the past year one new proposal that is made to be worth it for its musical contents and orchestration.

Kind of a heavy/trash contaminated from factors such as the rhythms and the characterized power from a singer, who is indeed a leg above all on the clean vocal and not even bad itself when in parts scratching nearly in growl.

Instrumentally this is good especially the rythymn section and specific applause goes for sure to the drummer who grazes the palm of gold with some of the best ones, some of this is war like devastating.

Good also are the guitars even if in phase of songwriting are something that does not go; to me it seems that the sound of the guitars has been written with little cure above all in sound it renders a little.

"Forging iron will" contains 3 tracks but isn't presented as a single. It's a little sparse for an album, but having said that if they were discovered and recorded professionally this would not be not bad purchase. However the Honey For Christ demonstrates to know to make to us.

We will follow eventual developments on the next steps of this band, and we promises to see them soon.

7/10

Meglio
Nero Opaco

May 2003 - NOCTURNAL HALL (GER)

What a fucking hellish ... um ... blasphemous name is that?*lol* Not only is this name mad, but the music too. And that my dear I mean in a positive way!

Dunno what sort of connotations I got in my mind when I heard this name first time. Even when I thought about it intensively nothing better was coming out. Once you have recovered from the name, the next shock is lurking around the corner while pressing the play button. The music is exceptional.

Founded in 1998 these 4 Irish mates present Forging Iron Will their third self-financed demo. To put behind all possible and impossible musical influences has to be the manifested ambition. Just doing their own. That’s that. And these guys made it! HONEY FOR CHRIST offers a wild mixture of Thrash and Death metal with traditional singing. Doesn’t work? It works! Surely music and singing couldn’t be more contradictorily. But it harmonizes excellent.

Opener Forging Iron Will starts out as an absolutely Death crusher, goes back into groovy mid-tempo fields in between, just to end fast and intensive as it started. Movements Below The Surface gets prelude by a great solo and develops into a 7 minutes running and acoustic improved hymn. Just great! Here singer Jason also spends a few growls, but in general he doesn’t leave his usual singing traces. Closer The Heretic Hook kicks ass again badly. And above all Jason’s voice is waving.

This demo is damn fucking too short! But exceptional though. Unbelievable. Impressing. Finally something new. Probably not intentional but innovative as well. So, you freaks out there pretending being open minded: check out HFC!!!

Calani
Nocturnal Hall

May 2003 - PARANOID METAL WEBZINE (SLO)

You should know that the Irish do other things besides pouring Guinness down their throats. Say, play metal. And so do Honey For Christ, a young band, whose third release is Forging Iron Will.

Honey For Christ don't quite fit into any of the genres of metal. If asked about it, I'd probably answer "Oof!". And the band as well, most likely. Their music combines various elements, yet all remain within the boundaries of metal. Very nice! Thus, the music includes melodic death metal, doom metal, thrash and various other influences.

And the next surprise is the great vocalist, who would make any heavy or power metal band happy. A strong, clean voice, sometimes turning deep, sounds great on the recordings. The production of the remaining elements of music leaves something to be desired, though. The record starts with full power, vested into the title track and follows up with a slightly slower Movements Below The Surface, with a very nice crescendo. They return to speed with the last, interesting The Heretic Hook. If their guitars were slightly fuller (maybe a second guitarist would help) and if they had a passage or two more on the drums, I'd love this.

But anyway, Honey For Christ show enough sense for making music, they have potential and originality. All the shortcomings might only be a matter of time, or so I think. More about the band at www.honeyforchrist.co.uk.

Paranoid Metal

May 2003 - HIDDEN THRONE (BOS)

First thing you can hear here are some speed, kind of a blackened riffs, so naturally you can expect and some screaming black vocals to came after. But instead of that, the story continues in all different direction, and brings us some pleasant clean, I can say grunge¸/gothic influenced, vocals. Very well performed must ad.

Regarding the music, well, there is a lot of different musical genres involved. Looks like these guys attended to satisfy the taste of everyone who is into, let's call it, alternative and underground music, from progressive, black to gothic and even grunge, so at the end they got one pretty unique and god damn good mixture. Ad to this and great production and you will get something that is definitely worth to be heard.

Hidden Throne

The first few seconds of this demo confused me a lot. The furious riff and the blastbeat rated drums gave me the impression of despite the Honey For Christ C.V. this was a "noisy" release. But hey! what kind of change this was! Heavy fucking metal was unleashed, raw and uncut!

Honey For Christ is a quite experienced band, with two more releases in their arsenal. Even though they seem to have the habit to open their songs with incredible speed (this also happens in the third song) they manage to create a really mind blowing outcome. The riffs can be considered classic while Jason vocals are really great.

The second song also shows that the band has a great taste. "Movements Below The Surface" starts as an atmospheric "slow" song it grows to be a dynamite of heavy metal. The production can be considered good even though the opening attacks tend to sound a bit "noisy". With no doubt "Forging Iron Will" can be considered a great demo for the fans of classic heavy metal.

Michael Dalakos
Temple of Metal

April 2003 - HEAVY METAL UNIVERSE (FRA)

Formed in November 1998, HONEY FOR CHRIST (HFC) releases its third self financed mcd called "Forging Iron Will" which presents three tracks that are worth listening to.

The band says that it plays some '100% raw, unclean, uncut, hard & honest heavy fucking metal !'... and I think it's quite a good definition of HFC's own style. This record delivers 15 minutes of raw heavy thrash metal which kicks some ass.

I would say that the main basis of the music (riffs, rythmics...) sounds very close to old-school thrash or speed metal, with vocals that have a mainly traditional heavy metal sounding but sometimes very rough and thrash-like. A really cool mix which deserves interest and which honesty can be appreciated for its real value.

What would be better is to listen to something longer, with some solos, something better produced and containing more than three songs. I mean that the band owns the needed potential to record a real album, so it would be a shame to hear a fourth demo instead of a real opus. Labels, it's up to you.

4/6

Séb
Heavy Metal Universe

April 2003 - BEHIND THE VEIL (GRE)

Most of us don't know much about the Irish metal scene. That's too bad, cause Ireland has some really interesting bands, like Primordial, Waylander (they kick ass!!), Mourning Beloveth (doom/death metal gods), etc.

The new release from Ireland that "shook my foundations" is Honey For Christ's demo. A demo that includes 3 heavy metal hymns (no kidding!!!). Honey For Christ combine their 80's metal influences with some thrash and melodic Swedish death metal elements (in the vein of In Flames). Their music will satisfy even the most demanding heavy metal fan.

Their singer does a great job with his warm and emotional voice. Sometimes he brought to my mind Evergrey's vocalist, Tom. I don't know if they sell this demo or if it's just for promotional use and for the labels, but contact them to the following address : HONEY FOR CHRIST, c/o 32 MAGHERABEG ROAD, DROMORE, CO. DOWN, BT25 1RS, NORTHERN IRELAND, UK and email : hfc@heavymetal.co.uk and beg them to sell you a copy.

Honey For Christ can count one more fan of their music. Fuck! This is heavy metal to the bone. My congratulations and 1000 thanks for the headbanging they offered me.

P.S. I can't resist to tell you that "The Heretic Hook" (the 3rd song) has a strong Running Wild feeling (all hail the pirates!!).

Behind The Veil

April 2003 - HELLRIDE MUSIC (USA)

Honey For Christ. Maybe the oddest band name for a metal band since “Dew-Scented”. Whatever the perceived connotation of said band moniker, the music certainly stands out. I can’t fit it into any splinter genre of Heavy Metal, which is kinda elating and frustrating. Writing reviews like I do, I love to categorize like a m’f’er. Makes the job easier. On the other hand, it’s a rare and beautiful thing when something truly different comes my way.

The bittersweet experience of the rock pseudo-journalist. What would the Creem scribe of yore call this sort of thing? I dunno. Elements of thrash, trad metal, death metal intertwine with Jason Hendry’s handsome and melodic pipes. Even when he launches into a death grunt, you still scratch your head and wonder what these young ‘uns from Northern Ireland are up to.

The rhythm section of Chris Armstrong and Paul McRoberts alternately beat the shit out of their instruments and lay back with some good ol’ NWOBHM driving beats. Same can be said of guitarist Andy Clarke and his red hot Kramer. The guys know how to write one compelling, albeit, one square peg of a metal song.

A nicely conceived and uniquely heavy 3 song EP. Wonder what else they have up their sleeve.

Chris Barnes
Hellride Music.com

April 2003 - LUNAR HYPNOSIS (USA)

Hailing from Northern Ireland comes Honey for Christ. The bands sound is really quite diverse and you can see many different influences present in their music. It’s a mix of old school metal and melodic death metal.

The opening song ‘Forging Iron Will’ is fast and furious with music sounding very much like any good melodic death/thrash metal band. The only real difference is that Honey for Christ vocalist sings with clean vocals, and what a great vocalist he is! Jason Hendry is the man behind the mic. His vocals often remind me of a lot of old school metal singers and Geoff Tate from Queensryche. Although I might be thinking of some other band here. There are a few moments where Jason uses some grunts in his vocal delivery, but for the most part he sticks to the clean singing.

Andy Clarke performs the excellent guitar work on Forging Iron Will. As already mentioned his style of playing often ranges from old school sounding riffs to melodic death sounding riffs. The drummer Chris Armstrong plays both fast and calmer sounding. There are some nice moments with drum rolls, and lots of double bass work. Paul McRoberts bass work is a little buried in the production so I really can’t comment on that too much.

Normally I wouldn’t like this type of band, but as it turns out they really are good, and these three songs are very enjoyable. Hopefully with some time and a little luck the band can score themselves a record deal. I’ll be looking forward to hearing more from this promising band.

7.5 of 10

Blackwinged

April 2003 - CHAOS REALM (USA)

Wow, I love getting stuff like this, as it is so obscure & laced with such a genuine feeling. You get the feeling that HONEY FOR CHRIST (bizarre name!) are just 4 guys into metal who play for the love of it & couldn't give a rat's ass what anybody thinks.

The 3 tracks here feature rawly-yet-listenably recorded pure metal that ranges from melodic Maiden-ish interludes to heavy, thrashing, at times nearly deathly ripping. The vocals range a similar gamut & the guitarwork is cool throughout, as I can picture 4 guys in t-shirts & jeans, hair & sweat flying, percussion riffs sawing away.

Only thing I wish is that this was a full-length album, but maybe if enough people order this EP, they'll be able to put one out. Metal up yer ass!

Chaos Realm

April 2003 - Moize Webzine (ITA)

Check this out! After decadent atmospheres from a disc of a valve in the form of Mourning Beloveth to arrive from the Ireland (this time of the North here) an other group that are of the of the sonorous extremism. this time it is in the form of Honey For Christ, quartet formed in 1998 and with two demos, "Long way down & rising" and "The art of self abuse & soul erosion", let alone an intense live activity that has them capacities to play in support to stars asserted like Cathedral, Nile, Orange Goblin, My Dying Bride and our Lacuna Coil. 2002 hade been the crucial year for the band that with a production and a artwork decidedly advanced from the past, it has given to the press this new one promo composed from three band new tracks.

It is endured to say that the process of songwriting has been a lot cured and careful constructed: the originality of a bands' to debuts is fundamental and the metal proposed from these four is centered in full load on the target, not turning out nearly never derivativo and discounted.

On a base mostly death / black with occasional melodic riffs grafted in, merit above all has to go to singer Jason, skillful in streching to the maximum the use of clean vocal and growls but orienting itself mainly on clean.

All that is demonstrated in full load begins from "Forging iron will": the guitars of Andy are cutting as blades, the rythm section (Paul on the bass and Chris on drums) produce a beat that it is beautiful, but the introduction of the vocals gives the epic a majestic breath to it all.

In truth the strongest piece of the disc is the successive "Movements below the surface", beyond seven minutes where airy arpeggios are alternated in a searched and complex construction, reflecting accelerations in the style of Celtic Frost, pauses and raging intervals.

The conclusive "The heretic hook" places aim to the disc with both technical and melodic playing from a black metal perspective, impressive from the usual, precious voice of Jason that constructs bridges between the throbbing gunshots of the guitar.

Personally i am not a great lover of this style of music, but I must admit that the Honey For Christ just knows how to make to us like it! Three tracks are enough alone to understand that in the blood of these boys above all is the need to innovate but also (and...) a lot of heavy metal - hard and pure... Check them out!

Noize Webzine

April 2003 - METAL HEART (SWE)

Irländsk oborstad heavy metal med ett enormt energiflöde är det Honey for christ skapar med sina instrument. Bandet som fortfarande står utan något skivkontrakt är här med yttligare en självproducerad demo som det ryker ösig heavy metal om. Bandet är dock inte helt okänt då de agerat förband åt Cathedral, Nile, Orange goblin, My dying bride m.m. Skivan drar igång med en fartfylld riffbaserad låt vid namn ”Forging iron will”. Sånginsatserna är riktigt bra även om han under vissa partier låter lite osäker, men det är något som jag tror går att förbättra. Andra låten ”Movements below the surface” är en sjuminuters låt med både lugna och riviga partier. Riktigt skön. Demon avslutas med ”The heretic hook” som är en kort men otroligt energifylld och variationsrik låt. Ljudmässigt så låter det helt okej för att vara en demo, även om trumljudet irriterar mig en aning då baskaggen låter riktigt platt. Honey for christ är ett band som säkerligen inte behöver leta skivbolag länge till. Mycket kan hända och mycket kommer att hända också. Fortsätter de på denna bana och utvecklar sig i rätt riktning är det bara en tidsfråga innan de är Irlands största band.

7.5/10

David Noaksson

March 2003 - THE PANHANDLE (UK)

Arguably Northern Ireland’s finest metal outfit’s third disc: three tracks of briskly produced material and their best yet. Listen to this band open out in front of you.

They appear less concerned these days about how they ‘should’ be sounding and feel able to let their own vibe out. Three tracks is all it took not only to remind us again of lead guitarist Andy Clarke’s breathtaking work, but tellingly, a little more limelight for the talents of drummer Chris Armstrong and bassist Paul McRoberts (especially on the title track).

They’re beginning to sound like a band with four individual members who can now display in their own right as well as come together for awesome stuff like ‘Heretic Hook’. They’re also losing other inhibitions: Jason Hendry’s lyrics and vocals always had a plaintive, genuinely emotive edge (whether scream, whisper, straight or growl) but the band seem increasingly comfortable with further experimentation and ‘Movements Below the Surface’ ends on a solemn, almost tender note – a feel I first heard on ‘Orion Dust’ from their last CD (The Art of Self-Abuse and Soul Erosion) and still one of my favourite tracks.

Terms like ‘Power Metal’ and comparisons with Metallica and Maiden are justified only up to a point after this release. A visit to the biog pages of their website will give one indication of why and the passage of time, another. Eighteen months of local gigs, Irish festivals, writing, listening, plus a fresh engineer and studio have forged Honey for Christ: already being booked for English festivals for 2003, if quality metal’s your medicine, get a spoonful of this… FH.

Babs
The Panhandle

March 2003 - VAE SOLIS (RUS)

Northern Ireland’s premier heavy metal band? Well, why not? Nothing wrong with it. I mean, would you please consider that HONEY FOR CHRIST are the only Northern Ireland’s band I’ve ever heard. Therefore, they simply have no rivals in my personal competition.

This three-track demo (or MCD?) is quite good. Generally speaking, it’s heavy metal; plain, furious yet fortunately not thoughtless. I can’t draw any paralells, mainly not because HONEY FOR CHRIST are so unbelievably original, but because even if they borrow anything from anyone, they do it good; mixing own ideas with someone else’s. Just a surmise, y’know. No hard feelings :-).

The musicianship is good, the sound execution is good as well. And the lyrical canvas is supposed to be rather exciting… at least, judging by the song titles. The only problem is… I’d like to give a listen to a full-length.

4 / 6

Herr Stalhammar
Vae Solis

March 2003 - LE GRIMOIRES DE PARACEISE (FRA)

HONEY FOR CHRIST (Honey for Christ?!?) is a group which comes to us from this region, rather prolific these last years I must say (PRIMORDIAL, MOURNING BELOVETH, ABADDON INCARNATE...), which is Ireland.

They formed in November 1998 with an aim of composing the music which they would like to listen to (very ambitious...). They forget all the kinds and also try to add own influence. They start in United Kingdom then release their first demo in April 1999 ("Long Way Down & Rising"). This one intensely distributed and acclaimed in the fanzines and magazines (with a good 7/10 in Terrorizer particularly).

They remake speech of them the following year with an own-produced EP ("The Art Of Self Misuses & Soul Erosion") which was also much be acclaimed.

It is in June 2002 that their last production is released "Forging Iron Will", the presented object of my analysis. Thus let us see the menu... First of all, one could perceive in HONEY FOR CHRIST a simple group which wants to make music without having a particular thing of interest to sell. It should be said that they practise a kind of mix Heavy/Thrash/Death with clear voices (a little Death on the second piece) and rhythmic jerked, and that onthe whole sounds rather basic.

But by multiple listenings and while being increasingly attentive, one begins to tap ones foot and to sing the melodies "There's Nothing For Me Now!" on "Movements Below The Surface", that seems to become enough involving in fact. One continues, to listen and to listen one finishes by finding this group more than sympathetic nerve and far from being tedious.

It is felt that they found there a very good stream to be exploited. Even if they want to dissociate current scene, one nevertheless smells that these moshers listened to not only badly tricks, in particular those from the Swedish school. Its influence on the parts of guitars and their execution sometimes.

Here, there are no superfluities, HONEY FOR CHRIST wants to sound BIG and that, one can grant to them, it is a success. However, I do not say either that they have a production as one finds at DARKTHRONE, but, on the whole sound very clear but remain simple with little or not arrangements, but that is enough. They do not need anything more to give a force an atmosphere to this "Forging Iron Will".

General environment wants to be rather epic, non pompus, but very daring. One thinks fighter while listening to this disc. Cards on the table, a powerful singer but not always just clean, and an instrumental execution step that is always very precise. You will be have included and understood it when one enters rather easily the universe of HONEY FOR CHRIST, because this group, with the noncontestable effectiveness, knows how to attract crowd and how to captivate them, even if I do not know what can donor their music over the length.

Three titles, it is sufficient to have an idea, but that remains about it . With a relative maturity and a little more precision in the execution, HONEY FOR CHRIST should pass the course of the first album without too much concern. To follow...

75%

Ben
Les Grimoires De Paracelse

March 2003 - SILENT SCREAM (ITA)

To play heavy metal and not to look complacent. To kick asses and not to seem automatized. Taking no prisoners without being ridiculous...The north irish Honey for Christ are clever. We are sure.

Borrow from some nothern band the savage drumming that open the dances, get hold of melodic swedish-like riffs, a typically heavy foundation with death/thrash edges, all overwhelmed by twisted groovy guitars, all cast in melodic vocal modulations. Not to be laughable is already a good visiting card.

To tear it up is the following move. "Movements Below the Surface": maybe an experiment. For sure a nice result. The thrilling intro, based on an exstatic guitar solo about to flow into a simil ballad, before sitting on the throne of emotions and going further. To accelerate the rhythmics, scream them with wicked growling and then getting lost in the opening dream, this time faraway from the calm and, contrarily, twisted by earthquaking movements: superficial movements? To make all disappear in a while, without caring and slowing down the hymn, almost pushed back within, suffering in the darkness. Before the final scream. To succeed to mix the styles into one. Obtaining an enormous feeling.

An astonishing honesty...Then hell: "The Heretic Hook", all a program...three songs. Just three fucking songs. But I cannot take them out of the stereo. Will it mean something?

7

David Scalet
Silent Scream

March 2003 - SHOUTS OF METAL (PER)

From England this promotional MCD arrives, it is a heavy power metal with epic parts.

"Forging Iron Will" has parts rhythmic death metal, and drums that goes mad you, is pure force, in this topic you find the essence of the heavy metal, "movements Below The Surface" it is an epic topic to two voices, the classic heavy metal, accompanying to a harrowing vocalization death, the good of this band that is very original in its music and letters.

To write to Andy for interviews: hfc@heavymetal.co.uk and it visits their website.

Shouts of Metal

March 2003 - STEEL MADNESS (MAL)

HONEY FOR CHRIST (UK) Forging Iron Will 2002 “…to write metal as we want to hear it.“
That line really caught my attention. Claim to be playing heavy metal and that is exactly what you will hear. 3 tracks, 15 minutes, “Forging Iron Will“ is the band's third output.

The first track (demo titled track) blew me off because of the fast and the intensity that we can hear in death/black metal. “This is my metal“ I said. The same goes to the third track.

But that was before the vocals came in which brings me back to reality. HONEY FOR CHRIST is heavy metal but surely it is not the kind I use to hear.

Music is great, everything else (sound, CD cover, etc) is just professional but sometimes I have problems listening to clear male vocals.

3/5

Steel Madness

March 2003 - AEA (CAN)

This is the third release of Honey For Christ, who have been financing their material on their own since forming in 1998.

Their music is as bizarre as their name; their compositions are basically a mixture of thrash and melodic black metal with traditional metal vocals though by looking at the cover you'd expect a doom-black metal fusion.

Musically it's decent as far as self-produced EPs go; these three songs sound solid enough for the production; but for me the contrast between the mournful mood of the vocals and the angrier themes of the music seem to go in two different directions. The exception is when the more somber sections of the songs come about, as in "Movements Below the Surface" which sounds ahead of the other two songs recorded for this release.

The band have a website where you can read about their history and listen to mp3 tracks from both EPs they have out. If interested visit www.honeyforchrist.co.uk or email hfc@heavymetal.co.uk

AEA Zine

February 2003 - METAL-ONLY (SWE)

CD-R, 3 tracks Northen Ireland strikes again! It used to be THIN LIZZY and SWEET SAVAGE, now it might well be HONEY FOR CHRIST.

Real heavy metal is what they market themselves as and they sure are. Real vox from Jason, groovy and elaborated guitars courtesy of Andy, thrash drums from Chris and the bass that Paul supplies have the same old pushed-back but important role. "Forging Iron Will" nearly thrashes, especially the drums, but metal is the main ingredient. Seven minute track ""Movements Below the Surface" handles the long duration.

I try to find suitable comparisons but nothing immediately springs to mind. Maybe a metal variety of British thrashers D.A.M but that's only around the essence of HONEY FOR CHRIST. Good ol´ heavy metal with double bass drums it is though.

Demo closer "The Heretic Hook" sounds like a cross betwixt IRON MAIDEN/RUNNING WILD on 45 rpm. Play Steve Harris's base line fast and you'll get the point. Andy's melodic guitar is a dominating and positive trademark of the song.

Instead of latching on to the trendy death/thrash-variety they stick to real heavy metal which I hope they get credit for. A demo that I recommend!

Miggo

February 2003 - SHAPELESS ZINE (ITA)

HFC are a group coming from from the Northern Ireland (oh really boys! would you believe? we of Shapeless are international!!!) that he proposes pleasant heavy a mixed one to parts thrash!

The particularitity of the group is just in the fact that while the instrumentali parts are much heavy and crude, much it nearly makes to think you to rising of death/thrash, the vocal parts turn out melodic and cleans! And the contrast that derives from this strange mixture turns out very well!!

The group knows to straight hit the listener in face with locked rythymn and alot of heaviness; but it knows also that dampening the tension with melodic passages indeed makes great variety!! The bottom comes given to us from the riffing of guitar, on which the singing is very heavily oriented!

The three tracks that compose the demo slide very fluently, but they leave a mark, and they make you want to come back more and more times! especically the very beautiful "Movements Below The Surface", then alternate aggressive and ferocous parts at introspective moments come glaring atyou! The band, in 7 minuteren of song, alternate perfectly "the stick and the carrot", showing in full load those that are its better characteristics!!!

Also the others two pieces are of optimal performance and demonstrate that this quartet knows what they wants and perfectly obtain it! The band boasts long activity from it's birth, in which dates of support to bands such as doomsters My Dying Bride and the miht Lacuna Coil!!

For which you council of procurarvi this demo! Pleasantly you will be hit from the alternation of two apparently different styles! I have had alot of difficulties to catalogue them! I have opted for heavy/thrash because me it seemed the best one rather than trying to try to catalogue a sound that is difficult to catalogue!

The only advice that I can gives is to contact the group and of buy their demo! You will not be disappointed!!

8.5/10

EvilEnry

February 2003 - METALLIAN (CA)

In the networking world the word 'honey' refers to a bait or a sticky lure where a hacker or a system intruder has been trapped or mislead to enter.

Forging Iron Will being my introduction to Irish heavy metallers HFC, you will not be getting a confirmation from this writer as to whether this bunch are in fact playing white metal or not. What can be confirmed is the band's affection for pure heavy metal as demonstrated on the three songs on parade here.

The title track goes first and demonstrates a band which, while still inexperienced, strives for both variety of sound and speeds. The band has room to improve as far as mastering its instrumentation and the vocalist is occasionally flat, but it is simultaneously clear that the gang works hard to make its music interesting to the listener en route to bashing in a few heads!

Movements Below The Surface is a tad slower and even has a mid-section reminiscent of Metallica. The CD ends with The Heretic Hook which oddly enough has both riffs and effects reminiscent of Desultory's Bitterness album. Correspondingly the song is both heavy and melodic. The vocalist sings in a normal fashion, intermixed with harsher and more gruff growls. The Heretic Hook is also faster in pace.

Incidentally kudos goes to the great bass sound. Visit the band at www.honeyforchrist.co.uk!

Ali

February 2003 -SACRED ANGEL (LIT)

Heavy metal from UK, I didnt hear any heavy/death metal bands at all. HFC music is aggressive a bit, but also melodic. This promo has only 3 tracks.

"Movement below the surface" is a bit more aggressive and heavy, than the other tracks. In this track vocal demonstrates his death metal knowledge. It sound quite interesting,but i think that music should soften for that kind of vocal, but this is only my opinion.

"The heretic hook" is the hardest track. Music reminds me melodic Swedish death metal, and vocal is sometimes growling like In flames vocal. But Lean vocal takes the biggest part of it.

I recommend this band for those who like aggressive heavy/death metal.

Sacred Angel

February 2003 -ADNOCTUM (GER)

This CD already pleased me after the first run totally, because even if this self financed MCD offers only 3 Songs, it is nevertheless clearly recognizable that Honey For Christ (merry volume name) have good potential.

This Irish volume gives it only since 1998 and that wants which is called. In music here the most diverse styles will verb-guess/advise, times are it much fast and another time very calm. The singing is clean and mostly very melodic, reminded also clearly of power Metal, the blowing attacks of the dummer which turns whole thing clearly more brutally.

The mature songwriting is very positive with each song and is actually noticeable immediately and forms the large strengths of Honey For Christ. Particularly with the Song "Movements below the surface" with its more than seven minutes play time demonstrates this. The melody remains hanging immediately in the ear and loads to the wild to fear for in. Geil is here also, as aggressive Vocals with clean singing alternates, which runs directly several times with me.

Tail light forms the song "The Heretic Hook", from which it strikes with the blowing attacks of the drummers and the clean/heavy tone again full indicate. The sound is by the way also considerable cool and supports the strength of the mad songs.

Who can imagine power Metal with brutal drums and matured songwriting? I recommend completely clearly Honey For Christ, because this MCD is addictive and for before all, i am now curious about the following publications. Very well done!

Adnoctum

February 2003 - SECRETS MOON ZINE (BRA)

When receiving this promo CD from this Irish band I soon thought: Will this be another band to mix folk elements mainly and bringing the magic celt of its country? (So common and used for the great majority of the bands of there). But soon this doubt was for water below, when I placed the CD to hear...

In the truth, this Honey For Christ executes a sufficiently original noise, or either they do a good mix of all elements of Metal. Where in some areas of this you will find a sound belonging to Thrash Metal, Death Metal, and in other areas the traditional Heavy Metal - and in this last style that I would place them.

Until presented reason 95% of the vocal ones in this "Forging Iron Will", they are typically clean, well kind of Power Metal, but has one or another part with some vocal aggressive tones, but v