After a long absence from the metal scene, Oregon’s Glacier have returned with a new record, The Passing of Time, released in October of this year through No Remorse Records. Glacier’s tale is a true phoenix rising story.
They released their legendary, three-song demo, Ready for Battle in 1984, followed up a year later with a five song, self-titled EP, Glacier, on AxeKiller Records, and produced their second and final demo in 1988. Although the band found success and developed a loyal fan base over the years, they also faced their fair share of professional challenges culminating in Glacier disbanding in 1990.
Fast forward 35 years to 2015. Three digital singles are released from their self-titled 1985 EP. In November of 2016, organizers of the legendary Keep It True metal festival in Germany announced that the band, Devil in Disguise, a Glacier tribute band led by former vocalist Michael Podrybau, would perform live at the sold out Keep It True XX in the spring of 2017. Devil in Disguise played a full set of Glacier songs that had not been performed live in almost 32 years.
Two years ago, with the approval of Glacier’s surviving original band members, Devil in Disguise announced an official name change to Glacier. Since then, the band has played Seattle’s NW Metal Fest, Up the Hammers XII, toured South America for the first time, and played Jaguar Fest in Bogotá, Colombia. 2019 saw Glacier playing the Trveheim Festival in Germany and Heavy Metal Maniacs Festival in the Netherlands as well as headlining a mini tour of the Pacific Northwest with support from Riot City, Gatekeeper, Road Rash, Silver Talon, and Sölicitör.
The Passing of Time is Glacier’s first record since the band called it a day in 1990. The question is, why did the band end in 1990 and what happened post the split?
Says drummer Loren Bates:
“By this time Glacier had run its course. The inner workings of the band were not all being agreed upon by all members. We were rehearsing a lot as usual, but yet AGAIN, we were sans a singer. We had been working with a friend who was taking on the vocal duties as a favor to us so that we would be able to play a show or two, of which we only played one. There were a lot of disagreements during the rehearsals, for different issues.
We would go on to play the show, but three of us, at the time, had enough of the stagnant vibe of the band, and the three of us left, going on to form another band called Shocklottery! We were also faced with the “no singer syndrome” and borrowed a singer from another band to get a 4-song recording out. Shocklottery! was well ahead of its time.
We recorded a four-song cassette with the help of J.R. Viohl on vocals, a singer from a Portland band called Madhatter, whom I actually joined during the same time as Shocklottery! Shocklottery! eventually found a permanent singer by the name of Derick Nance. Sadly, we never recorded any material with Derick, but we do have tons of video from many of our shows. I recorded a full-length cassette with Madhatter called Pool Of Tears that was released locally in Portland.
I was in both bands for a couple of years, and eventually, after playing multiple shows together in the Portland area, it gave me quite the hefty amount of rehearsal time – with live shows and playing two sets of different styles of music. Eventually, Mehdi left Shocklottery!, and we found another guitar player and played even more shows, only to have Derick eventually quit.
That was the end of that band for the most part. I was no longer happy in Madhatter, and eventually I left. In 1998 I had a son and was working and no longer playing much. During the year of 2000 I was involved in a band called X over i, a Portland Christian band, we recorded one full length CD, and played a handful of shows in the region. That band eventually fizzled out and I jumped into another opportunity with a band called No Need 4 Proof; I recorded a full-length CD with them as well.
A highlight for me with them was playing at the Portland Rose Festival. During 2005/2006 I joined a band called Drunk On Power, which was closer to the rock material I loved. We recorded a five song CD called Rock and Roll and played shows all over Portland during that time – I had a blast.
In 2008 I moved from Portland to North Carolina for a life change. I have been pretty active in the local music community here, playing and recording music with a local singer songwriter, and also forming a band with a guitar player friend of mine here named Boo English. The band was called ENGLISH, we recorded a full-length CD also.
I have been keeping busy with recording for various clients that need drumming at Boo’s studio in North Carolina called Knothole Studios. During the ten plus years I have been here in the south, I have recorded more than I had ever recorded while in my hometown of Portland.”
Michael Podrybau, lead vocals, talks about his decision to bring Glacier back:
“Early in 2016, guitarist Sam Easley contacted FGL Productions, the parent company of Axe Killer Records, the label with whom we signed a two-year record deal back in 1984 for the EP release. FGL had failed to return our master tapes after the two-year deal had expired for the EP. After great difficulty, Sam had to hire an attorney to help, but to no avail. Shortly thereafter, a promoter in Chicago invited Glacier to perform at a festival.
Initially, Sam discussed the prospect with me, and we were both on board, but at some point, he changed his mind. The promoter then offered to put a band together and have me sing the Glacier songs. We came to an agreement, called ourselves Devil in Disguise, and while this was evolving, Oliver Weinsheimer from Keep it True asked us if we would play the Keep it True fest in 2017. The fans were great – totally supportive – and from there, we had the former Glacier members’ approval to move forward with the Glacier name.
Most of the new album was written and recorded over the last two and a half years. Mixing and mastering took place over this past winter. Once we had performed a few shows, we realized that we worked well together, and we began writing new material.
With the band mainly in the Chicago area and me on the west coast, we had / have a bit of a challenge when it comes to rehearsal time together. We communicate often – a few times a week, and we practice often, even if we aren’t together. The album was complete when the pandemic broke, but we unfortunately had to postpone a tour of South America.
Thank goodness, none of the band, my family, or myself have contracted COVID-19, but we have many friends in other bands who have been affected, and we continue to hope for the best for all of them.
We are hoping to reschedule our South American tour – we were slated to play with some fantastic metal bands with whom we have spoken but have yet to meet. We definitely want to reconnect with them and our South American fans.
At this point in time with the Covid situation, I honestly don’t know what to think; of course, I hope for the best – we miss playing shows, but I understand the need to keep this pandemic at bay. I, like everyone else, am frustrated; I miss live music. We are looking forward to getting out and playing live.
In the meantime, though, We have a lyric video out for “Eldest and Truest” and we just shot a video for “Valor,” which came out just a few days ago. As far as another video from this album, nothing is planned as of yet.
We definitely want to get out and see everyone as soon as live shows resume, and we hope that fans enjoy the new album as much as we do.”
If you’re looking for rock N roll with teeth, you found it, and it’s the loudest thing to explode out of the Pacific Northwest since Mount St. Helens erupted years ago. Glacier. True metal is alive and well with a fist raised high. The passing of time has only made them stronger.
Buy The Passing of Time here.
For merch, band news, etc., check out Glacier’s website.
