When Wichita, KS, heavy metal band Stygian Shore first came together in the early '80s, they were championed by no less a local icon than Manilla Road leader Mark Shelton, who got wind of vocalist/guitarist Mike Palmer, bassist Greg Marshall, and drummer Peter Dawson (all of whom were still only teenagers) shortly after their first concert dates in 1982. But after producing the group's eponymous 1984 EP, Shelton once again busied himself with his own group's faltering career, while catastrophe struck Stygian Shore when a freak accident cost bassist Marshall his right hand, putting the brakes on all of the trio's activities. Amazingly, Palmer and Dawson decided to put their plans on hold, rather than move ahead without their comrade, instead waiting patiently while Marshall taught himself to play again using his new prosthetic hook! So it was in fact the very same Stygian Shore threesome that eventually reconvened to record a full-length album in 1989, collecting all of the songs they'd amassed since that tragic twist of fate. But, having accomplished the goal they'd worked so hard toward, Stygian Shore finally did break up after this album failed to attract any offers from record labels. It wasn't until 15 years later that the three bandmembers felt the irresistible tug of a reunion, and although this only consisted of a few concerts in and around their hometown, they were finally able to interest a label, Shadow Kingdom Records, in releasing their long lost LP, now baptized The Shore Will Arise, in 2007. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia