Arch Rival - There Is No Escape

Review by John LeBlanc

Album Review: "There Is No Escape" by Arch Rival Released in 1989 under Windmill Records, There Is No Escape by Arch Rival is a heavy metal gem that punches you right in the gut and doesn’t let go. Hailing from the US, this band delivers raw energy with enough riffs to make your ears bleed—in a good way. Produced entirely by the band themselves, it’s clear they had full creative control here, and honestly, it shows. Let’s talk tracks for a sec. The opening number, “Wolfgang Lives! (An Excerpt From Mozart's 25th Symphony),” kicks things off with an unexpected twist—a classical intro mashed up with shredding guitars. It’s bold, maybe even pretentious if done wrong, but somehow Arch Rival pulls it off. You can tell Michael Harris on guitar was having fun experimenting here; his solos are razor-sharp yet melodic enough to keep you hooked. And then there’s “Slammit,” which feels like a freight train barreling straight at ya. John Angel’s vocals roar over Greg Martin’s relentless drumming, creating this chaotic vibe that just sticks with you long after the song ends. These two tracks alone showcase why Arch Rival deserves more than a passing glance. The rest of the album isn’t slouching either. Tracks like “Tarantula” and “All Wrapped Up In A Mystery” bring their own flavor, blending groove-laden basslines courtesy of Gary Rigmaiden with pounding percussion that makes you wanna headbang until your neck gives out. Credit also goes to Edith Martin and Danny Palmer for the killer cover art—it’s got that gritty, old-school charm that screams ‘80s metal without being cheesy. What really stands out about There Is No Escape is how cohesive it feels despite its wild variety. Sure, some parts might feel rough around the edges—Gary King’s engineering has moments where the mix could’ve been tighter—but honestly? That imperfection adds character. This ain’t some polished pop-rock nonsense; it’s real, unfiltered heavy metal. Looking back, it’s kinda crazy how underrated Arch Rival remains. They poured everything into this record, from composing to producing to designing the artwork. Maybe they didn’t hit the big time, but albums like this remind us that success isn’t always measured in fame or chart positions. Sometimes, it’s about leaving behind something authentic—a piece of yourself etched into vinyl (or cassette, back then). So yeah, give There Is No Escape a spin if you’re craving some vintage heavy metal thunder. Just don’t blame me when you find yourself humming “Slammit” while stuck in traffic.

Download Arch Rival - There Is No Escape

Artist: Arch Rival
Album: There Is No Escape

Rock

Heavy Metal

1989

Rating: 5.0

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: arch-rival-there-is-no-escape.zip

MP3 size: 37.2 mb
FLAC size: 272.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Wolfgang Lives! (An Excerpt From Mozart's 25th Symphony)
There Is No Escape
Slammit
All Wrapped Up In A Mystery
Steal The Show
Tarantula

Video

Arch Rival Live @ Union Park Ohio 1991

Arch Rival In the Face of Danger official video

Arch Rival (USA) - There Is No Esape

Images

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Labels

Windmill Records

Listen online

écouter en ligne
lytte på nettet
ouvir online
kuunnella verkossa
lyssna på nätet
escuchar en línea
ascolta in linea
online luisteren
online anhören

Formats

Cassette
Mini-Album

Companies

Role	Company
Recorded At	Refraze Recording Studios

Credits

Role	Credit
Bass	Gary Rigmaiden
Harmony Vocals	Gary Rigmaiden
Cover	Arch Rival
Design	Edith Martin
Illustration	Danny Palmer
Drums	Greg Martin
Percussion	Greg Martin
Guitar	Michael Harris
Lead Vocals	John Angel
Producer	Arch Rival
Engineer	Gary King

Notes

Original tape
Professional printed insert and cassette labels.

About Arch Rival

American Heavy Metal band, founded by in 1986.

Members

Michael Harris

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: The 1989 heavy metal album *There Is No Escape* by Arch Rival features a track called "Wolfgang Lives! (An Excerpt From Mozart's 25th Symphony)." It’s a bold mix of classical music and raw metal energy. The band, hailing from the US, wasn’t just about loud riffs—John Angel’s powerful vocals and Michael Harris’s guitar work gave the album its edge. Fun detail? Gary Rigmaiden didn’t just handle bass; he also added harmony vocals. And get this—the cover art was illustrated by Danny Palmer, tying the whole package together with a striking visual vibe.

Comments

ermannobertelle

2025-03-05

Dang ! Super underrated ?!!! ?

inyourlittleroom

2025-03-04

来自中国歌迷的问候，这个乐队是真他妈的cool

tatyo6472

2025-03-03

I partied with these guys at McGuffy's House of Draft when all the bands knew me as Animal. Great times!!!

lucyblogss20

2025-03-02

You should put up a video for Eminent Domain. I had the tape but I lost it. Also Mr. Strange.

bofo26wolf

2025-03-02

Very underrated. These guys were the shit.

rhensal

2025-03-02

Mike Harris shredding on that Hammer ! Sick !

gottschlich71

2025-03-02

This guy was my guitar teacher for a while. Fastest metal guitarist in Dayton.

traveling0457

2025-03-01

When the sun goes down on this weary day
The neon starts to glow
on the streets are misguided people
they've got nowhere to go
I fight my way thru the rebel crowd-of another smoky bar
Lookin' for Bonnie without her Clyde
I know she can't be far

IN THE FACE OF DANGER I WON'T BACK DOWN
WHEN THE TENSION'S HIGH
IN THE FACE OF DANGER
THIS IS MY HOME FOREVER TILL THE DAY I DIE

When the dogs they howl at the moon
I get this feeling deep down inside
Like them I know it won't be long and I'm sure I'm in for a fight
Just like Capone at St. Valentine's; don't mess with me or I'll blow you away
don't step out into the street or I'll shoot you down like Holiday

*I'm not crazy ain't no one's fool
I'm not insane but I might hurt you
I'll be your Romeo or Mr. Hyde
I'm many faces in the night
*(Never be a stranger)

michellekotanko

2025-02-28

I remember this day well. I remember Cameron really got off on it when I started burning rubber up there on my Harley. Good times.

newshl674

2025-02-28

Wow, amazing - I saw this band during the Summer of 1987 at McGuffy's House of Rock in Dayton, while I was spending 2 months visiting from the UK - staying in Huber Heights! Great band! I need to start buying their albums - thanks for posting :-)