1. Biography^[1]
    Early years and split (1984-1988)  Aftermath (1988-1990)  First reformation (1998-2009)  Reunion with John Cyriis and second hiatus (2010-2011)  Second reformation (2019-present) 

2. Discography

3. Members

4. Notes

5. External links

• Speed metal
• heavy metal
• power metal}}

• 1984–1988
• 1998–2011
• 2019–present}}

• Combat
• Music for Nations
• Metal Hammer
• Candlelight
• Scarlet
• Mascot}}

• Abattoir
• Grinchfist
• Sybil
• Redemption
• Evildead
• Fates Warning
• Terror
• Engine
• Body Count
• Death
• Obituary
• Testament
• S.E.T.I.
• Masters of Metal}}

Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by vocalist John Cyriis with drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full-length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988. They were most notable for Cyriis' high-pitched vocals, catchy songs, melodic riffs, and fast tempos mixed in with their unusual (in heavy metal) interest in UFOs, and differential anthropological-theme lyrical prose. Agent Steel reformed in 1998 (without Cyriis, although he would return to the band in 2010) and released three more full-length albums before going on hiatus in 2011. The band announced their second reunion in 2019, with Cyriis back on vocals.

Biography^[1]

Early years and split (1984-1988)

Vocalist John Cyriis had recently left his previous band Vermin and teamed with drummer Chuck Profus. They were originally known as Sanctuary before being known as Agent Steel. They recruited guitarists Mark Marshal and Bill Simmons, along with bassist George Robb. They recorded their first demo 144,000 Gone in the summer of 1984, followed by one more that year. Marshal and Simmons left the band. Another member named John Gott joined, but left shortly afterwards. New guitarists Juan Garcia and Kurt Colfelt joined the band. From December 1984 to February 1985, they recorded their debut album Skeptics Apocalypse, which was released in June 1985 by Combat Records. A falling out with John Cyriis led to the departure of Colfelt. He was replaced with new guitarist Bernie Versailles. In October 1985, the band recorded an EP titled Mad Locust Rising, which was released in January 1986. Bassist George Robb was fired after the recordings and was replaced by Letchen Grey bassist Michael Zaputil shortly after.

In March 1986, Agent Steel entered the studio once again to record their second album Unstoppable Force. The recordings came to a halt when the band went to perform at the Aardschok Dag Festival in Eindhoven in April 1986. In May 1986, they toured Europe with Anthrax and Overkill before returning to the studio to finish the recordings in June 1986. The album's release was then delayed due to complications with the cover artwork. An early 1987 release was then planned. In November 1986, Capitol Records expressed interest in signing the band, who had recently signed Megadeth. The band's management demanded more money, in which the label agreed to, with a stipulation that the band would have to wait until the new year to release the album, and with the acquisition of new department budgets. John Cyriis and Chuck Profus moved to Florida for various reasons, while the rest of the members remained in California.

In January 1987, Capitol Records withdrew from the offer due to suspicions within the band's line-up changes. Unstoppable Force was released in March 1987 by Combat Records instead. Cyriis and Profus were then joined by guitarists James Murphy and Jay Weslord, and bassist Richard Bateman. The new line-up performed shows in Europe with Nuclear Assault in June 1987, one of them being at the Hammersmith Apollo, in which their final performance can be seen on the 1989 home video Mad Locust Rising. Inner conflicts within Agent Steel led to their disbandment in June 1988.

Aftermath (1988-1990)

Cyriis and Profus formed Pontius Prophet in 1988, who were joined by guitarist Michael Hill and bassist David McCoy. Cyriis would use the name Father Damien as a result. They recorded a 3-track demo titled Rites of Hatred. The band split-up in early 1989. Cyriis would then announce his retirement from the music business. Profus would soon form Malfeitor, which included Hill and none other than Cyriis, who went under the name Max Kobol, another of Cyriis' numerous aliases. They planned to record an album, but was scrapped and the band disbanded. In the summer of 1989, Cyriis moved back to Florida and joined the Tampa-based band Lemegeton. It was said that they recorded a demo, with the title being either Evil Against Evil or Immoral Against Immoral. He once again used his Max Kobol name to appear in the New York City-based band Black Reign in the summer of 1990, also featuring Profus, in which a 3-track demo titled Legion was recorded. Cyriis then went into obscurity and kept a low profile since then.

First reformation (1998-2009)

In 1998, guitarists Juan Garcia and Bernie Versailles reformed Agent Steel without Cyriis' consent, featuring returning members Chuck Profus and Michael Zaputil, and new vocalist Bruce Hall. Zaputil left the band shortly after and new bassist Karlos Medina would replace him. The third album Omega Conspiracy was released on October 25, 1999. In 2001, the band changed their name to Order of the Illuminati due to legal pressure from Cyriis. Profus left the band in 2002 and was replaced with new drummer Rigo Amezcua. They would return to the Agent Steel name and would record their fourth album Order of the Illuminati, the same name they performed as at the time. It was released on June 10, 2003.^[2][3][4][5] In 2004, the band performed at the Dynamo Open Air festival,^[6] which is featured as a DVD, released on March 21, 2005, and also touring Europe with the band After All in the spring of 2005.^[7] On August 31, 2007, the fifth album Alienigma was released.^[8][9]

Reunion with John Cyriis and second hiatus (2010-2011)

On April 24, 2010, vocalist Bruce Hall announced his departure. He explained why, "I complain a lot and I've pretty much lost my stamina for bothering with anything new as far as Agent Steel goes. Sadly, the continual walk in John's shoes has entirely drained my passion for doing anything other than treating Agent Steel as a cover band. Y'know, go out, play the first two albums for a free trip to wherever and call it a swell hobby? Well, that wasn't going to work for anyone in the band but me. They still have the fire and desire to continue making new music with Agent Steel and I wish them the very best of luck with whomever they get to fill John's shoes".^[10] On May 3, 2010, Agent Steel announced that they would reunite with John Cyriis.^[11] They performed at the Thrash Domination event on September 18 & 19 in Kawasaki, and was also rehearsing their classic material as well as working on new songs for a future album release, in which one of the tracks that Cyriis would write lyrics to had a working title of "Behold...The Great Race".^[12]

On January 24, 2011, Agent Steel announced that Cyriis would not perform with the band on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise due to "unforunate events". Helstar vocalist James Rivera and Steel Prophet vocalist Rick Mythiasin would fill in for him, in which they would perform as Masters of Metal.^[13] On February 24, 2011, the band would cancel their appearance at the Keep It True festival in April. The organizers of the event explained that they were "facing totally new demands from one part of the band, that we, as a still small and dedicated festival, could not meet and really also do not want to meet. This, plus the troubles within the band itself, led to the final cancellation of Agent Steel with John Cyriis." Guitarist Juan Garcia denied any rumors that Rick Mythiasin was the band's new vocalist, but was only a temporary fill-in for Cyriis. Due to the circumstances surrounding the band, the organizers invited Agent Steel to still perform, but under a different name, and that Mythiasin would be invited to perform onstage with them.^[14] Cyriis later returned to the band and performed at the Sweden Rock Festival, which was claimed to be his final performance with the band, but was refuted by Cyriis during the event.^[15] Despite his apparent return, he would perform with his band S.E.T.I. at the Headbangers Open Air festival in July.^[16]

Meanwhile, the remaining members of Agent Steel have continued to perform as Masters of Metal, releasing their debut album From Worlds Beyond on September 18, 2015.^[17]

Second reformation (2019-present)

On January 21, 2019, Cyriis returned once again to reform Agent Steel as the original vocalist, excluding the other members. The band is set to perform at the Keep It True festival in April and at the Metalheadz Open Air festival on June 1. They also announced that their first studio album in 12 years, 8 Lights Protocol, is tentatively scheduled to be released in September 2019.^[18]

Discography

Albums

• Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)
• Unstoppable Force (1987)
• Omega Conspiracy (1999)
• Order of the Illuminati (2003)
• Alienigma (2007)
• 8 Lights Protocol (2019)

EPs

• Mad Locust Rising (1986)

Demos

• 144,000 Gone (1984)
• Second Demo (1984)
• Agents of Steel (1998)
• Agents of Steel 1998 demo (1998)
• Deny the Poison (1999)

Singles

• Forever Black (2000)
• Earth Under Lucifer (2003)

Videography

• Metal Hammer Roadshow 1 (1986)
• Mad Locust Rising (1989)
• Live @ Dynamo Open Air (2005)
• Mad Locust Rising (DVD) (2007)

Members

Current members

• John Cyriis – Vocals (1984–1988, 2010–2011, 2019–present)

Former members

• Mark Marshal – Guitar (1984)
• Bill Simmons – Guitar (1984)
• John Gott – Guitar (1984)
• Kurt Colfelt – Guitar (1984–1985)
• Chuck Profus – Drums (1984–1988, 1998–2002)
• George Robb – Bass (1984–1986)
• Juan Garcia – Guitar (1984–1987, 1998–2011)
• Bernie Versailles – Guitar (1985–1987, 1998–2011)
• Michael Zaputil – Bass (1986–1987, 1998–1999)
• Silvio Golfetti – Guitar (1987)
• Brian East – Bass (1987)
• Bruce Hall – Vocals (1998–2010)
• Karlos Medina – Bass (1999–2007)
• Rigo Amezcua – Drums (2002–2011)
• Robert Cardenas – Bass (2007–2011)

Touring musicians

• Richard Bateman - Bass (1987; died 2018)
• James Murphy - Guitar (1987)
• Jay Weslord - Guitar (1987–1988)
• Tim Thomas - Guitar (2005)
• James Rivera - Vocals (2011)
• Rick Mythiasin - Vocals (2011)

Notes

External links

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