Bloodgood

Item: Alive in America / Shakin' the World
Author: I.B. Willis

Alive in America / Shakin' the World

Reviewed by I.B. Willis

Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Intense RecordsHeaven's Metal #26July 1990

hard rock heavy metal speed metal

Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing Bloodgood in concert knows that this band can dramatically communicate the power and the passion of the Gospel in a way that few white metal bands have been able to do. And that was with just the band members and the music itself. Imagine what it would be like if Bloodgood had access to professional Broadway quality sets, props, effects, and over two dozen actors and dancers to illustrate their songs? Well, our prayers have been answered! Two killer live videos that total over 95-minutes. 25 songs selected from all of Bloodgood's albums. Volume I is "Alive in America" and features several tunes from Rock in a Hard Place and Out of the Darkness. The sound quality is fantastic and, due to the superb enunciation of lead singer Les Carlsen you can understand every word. The highlights here are "Alone in Suicide" where a girl is seen struggling with her decision to be or not to be. At the climax of the song she slits her wrists and the life blood flows out of her. Graphic but moving images depicting a life without hope. You feel the loss as Les sings the powerful song of lament, "She's Gone". Volume One ends with "America", Bloodgood's anthemic cry for a nation to return to God. As Les waves the flag proudly, you know that there is hope for the country and the individual. Volume One is great, but Volume Two is an absolute must-have, for it dramatically portrays the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. If you have never seen a visual image of Jesus being brutally beaten accompanied by a frenetic rock music assault, then your senses are in for a shock. The songs are killer as Kevin Whistler's driving double bass drums put the classic "Crucify" over the top. Pilate is passing the buck, Jesus is stripped, beaten, and whipped...the crowd is chanting "CRUCIFY!"...and Bloodgood is whipping up a metal frenzy. If you watch and listen, you will be moved. My wife, who is not a big metal fan, was crying when she witnessed the crucifixion scene. Les sings "The Messiah" as the guitar of Paul Jackson melodically witnesses to the fact that Jesus is the chosen One. The band then celebrates the world to come with "Seven" and "Never Be the Same". Then Bloodgood ends with a reminder that we still fight a battle today. In a treat for long-time fans, they rip through a medley that includes "Demon on the Run", "Killing the Beast", "Battle of the Flesh", and "Black Snake". Then bassist Michael Bloodgood tells the crowd that we need not fear the enemy, for "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." The firework fountains go off and the band takes its final bows and you have just witnessed the best Christian music video package ever produced. Get Bloodgood Live today and share it with your neighborhood.