Bloodgood

Item: Out Of The Darkness
Author: Daniel Baillod

Out Of The Darkness

(1989)

Reviewed by Daniel Baillod

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Frontline RecordsAdonai Metal Rock #4May 1991

hard rock heavy metal pop metal

Translated from the original French

After the disappointment caused (for some at any rate) by "Rock In A Hard Place", BLOODGOOD has put out a good fourth album for us. New guitarist and new drummer, for a new album, and a new line-up.

On listening to the first track, "Out Of The Darkness" is the first BLOODGOOD album to be this good on the sound side. "Out Of The Darkness" is a properly heavy and properly fast track, without however touching speed. The new guitarist, Paul JACKSON, makes a more than luminous appearance in the solo, and Kevin WHISLER (ex-WATCHMEN) offers impressive drum playing. As for Les CARLSEN, he is on form, and finishes the song for us with a holler to take your breath away... One would almost want to say to him: "Hey, ho, stop to breathe now and again...!!" Very strong (as always).

"Out Of The Darkness" is overall far heavier than "Rock In A Hard Place". "Let My People Go", "It's Alright", "Hey You" and "Mad Dog World" are mid-tempo tracks, where guitars, drums, bass and raspy vocals mix to offer a nicely four-square heavy. A "plus" mention for "Let My People Go" and "Hey You", excellent tracks.

"Top Of The Mountain" begins over a bed of acoustic guitar, and little by little the slow puts on muscle to become a veritable cry of love from BLOODGOOD to God: "I will climb to the top of the mountain, on my knees, to be with You. I will fly on the wings of the wind because I believe in You." Very deep lyrics, often very beautiful (as usual with BLOODGOOD). The basic biblical references appear at the start of each song.

The other semi-ballad "Changing Me" goes somewhat in the same style as "Top Of The Mountain", with perhaps more keyboards. But BLOODGOOD never falls into syrupy or sobbing slows. It is quite simply a lot of melody, and deep, lived lyrics. "He holds the world in His hand. It is He who brought me to my knees: it is He who transforms me..."

Finally, in "New Age Illusion", BLOODGOOD expresses all its ferocity towards the false teaching spread by the "New Age" sect. The track is heavy and fast. "Don't let religion haunt you, and lead you astray. Don't let these teachings blind you. Call on Jesus!! A positive spirit will only make your spirit blind. You are still lost... Call on Jesus!! Look at what He has done for me. Call on Jesus. Get down on your knees."

BLOODGOOD offers us a very good album, and the arrival of Kevin and of Paul in the band brings a considerable "plus" for spreading this message further and further: "Out Of The Darkness, Into The Light"!!!