There is currently a resurgence of the eighties Christian metal bands, with Stryper and Bloodgood leading the way. Also back are Dale and Troy Thompson with Bride. This was a band that was always taking a new musical direction. They are known for heavy metal, ‘Live To Die’ (1988), hard rock ‘Snakes In The Playground’ (1992) & ‘ScareCrow Messiah (1994), grunge-tinged ‘The Jesus Experience’ (1997) and rapcore ‘Fist Full Of Bees’ (2001).
For many fans, the rapcore was a step too far and their popularity faded. However, they were to return to form with the metallic ‘Skin For Skin’ (2006). This was going to be their final album. Yet they came back with a second final album in ‘Tsar Bomba’ (2009), which marked the return of Steve Osbourne on guitar. So here we are again with their third final album in ‘Incorruptible’ (2013). But then, Bride was always playing by a different set of rules.
Unlike Stryper and Bloodgood, controversy has followed Dale Thompson around. He became known more for his universalist viewpoint than his musical output. It was becoming so much of a problem that Dale issued an open letter a few years ago. “I love God with all of my heart and soul. Every fibre of my being has been dedicated to the service of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. I do this still! No man can come to the Father except they go through the Son and if the Spirit calls them. It takes the blood of Christ, His love, His life, His grace, and mercy to see the Kingdom of God. I believe that a person must be transformed by the renewing of their mind and God then creates in that person a new and clean heart. I do not believe that God is limited in any way and I believe that His will shall be done!”
So now that we have got that out of the way, its time to concentrate on ‘Incorruptible’. The line-up here is Dale Thompson (vocals), Troy Thompson (guitars, cello, keyboards & ukulele), Brad Holland (bass) and Jay Meese (drums). The main style is heavy rock infused with blues leanings. Sadly, Steve Osbourne committed suicide shortly after completing their last album and they hold him in their thoughts during ‘Unbelievers’. It starts with an abrasive riff before settling into classic metal. “Here is a prayer for unbelievers / Here is hope for the sinner”. Its holds a rollercoaster set of emotions along the way. “When push comes to shove / Darkness swallows love / Never been a blacker night / Than when we see the light”.
‘Darker Days’ has an up-tempo approach with relentless hard rock as they let rip. “Shadows are illusion with painted black faces / Religion is a habit that can never save us / Heaven is a place very close to my heart / Hell was invented to keep us tore apart”. This is coupled with the thoughtful, keyboard-led ‘Darker’
Things slow down for more traditional rock in ‘We Lie’ (based on John 3:30) and a keyboard instrumental ‘Serenade’. After the gentle guitar intro to ‘All The Kids Are Gone’, they bring a slow-burning intensity to the proceedings (along with furious outburst of guitar).
There is a ballad in ‘Melting’ with its cello and acoustic guitar giving way to more rocky passages. “I feel I am melting into this world of pain / I feel I am sinking into this world of shame / I feel I am dying / you’re the one to blame / What is my purpose my future my reason to stay”.
With all of these melodic passages chopping up the proceedings, the album starts to lose pace. It is not helped by throwing in the epic ‘Free’ at this point. It has a strong structure with plenty going for it. But this would have been better placed earlier in the track listing. Even though ‘Religion’ picks up the tempo, it is another track that is longer than it should be and boredom sets in. This means that the slow, meandering ‘I Can’t Imagine’ sees me finally hitting the stop button and turning off.
Thankfully when I come back, there is the raunchy ‘I Want It All’ throwing out some blistering guitar. There is hard rock blues ‘Where You Want To Go’ and the blues coupled with soulful vocals in ‘Sleep On’. They close with the acoustic ‘I Choose You’.
If this is their final album, then I suppose they are allowed to indulge themselves. But the real question is whether their fans are still interested. Let’s see what they have to say ……
Rated: 6.5/10
Reviewed by Peter John Willoughby
Tracklist:
1. Unbelievers
2. Darker Days
3. Darker
4. We Lie
5. Serenade
6. All the Kids Are Gone
7. Melting
8. Free
9. Religion
10. I Can’t Imagine
11. I Want It All
12. 2nd Suite for Children
13. Where You Want to Go
14. Sleep On
15. Uke
16. Something I Need to Know
17. I Choose You
Discography [Studio Albums]:
Show No Mercy [1986]
Live to Die [1988]
Silence Is Madness [1989]
Kinetic Faith [1991]
Snakes in the Playground [1992]
Scarecrow Messiah [1994]
Drop [1995]
The Jesus Experience [1997]
Oddities [1998]
Fist Full of Bees [2001]
This Is It [2003]
Skin for Skin [2006]
Tsar Bomba [2009]
Incorruptible [2013]
Record Label: Retroactive Records, Oct. 2013
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
USA: Metal Helm
Interview With ‘Bride’s’ Frontman ‘Dale Thompson’ [Oct. 2013]
Video below ‘Free’