With new rhythm section Breck Smith (bass) and Dave Schiller (drums) having been enlisted to tour in support of 1988's The Eyes of Time, Las Vegas outfit APOCRYPHA-completed by guitarists Tony Fredianelli and Chip Chrovian with vocalist Steve Plocica-eventually regrouped to work on what would become the quintet's final album for Shrapnel Records: Area 54. Helmed by Fredianelli alongside co-producers Mike Varney and Steve Fontano at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Area 54 is arguably APOCRYPHA's finest outing-taking the band's foundation of technical and progressive metal into a noticeably darker and more thrash-centric direction. Similarly, the artwork and lyrics were inspired by ominous socio-political topics, well-suited against the album's intensified musical landscape. Out-of-print for years but forever deserving of appreciation, Divebomb Records is proud to offer this officially licensed reissue of Area 54. Freshly remastered by Jamie King Audio, the CD-limited to just 1,000 copies-will come housed alongside an all-new 16-page booklet featuring band-supplied photos and tour memories; plus an interview with both Fredianelli and Schiller, looking back on the Area 54 era. For the fans, by the fans!
