Bride, a pioneer among early Christian metal bands, has returned with their tenth album, Fist Full of Bees. The group here portrays a lost generation of youth relying on drugs, gangs, or the comforts of the opposite sex, and pointing out their need for Jesus.
"Too Tired" opens the album, and is a rap metal tune that recalls Faith No More. "White House" presents a prisoner in jail, and contrasts his life with one who has accepted Christ, and the symbolic release from his own imprisonment. "Beginning of the End" is an anti-abortion rant done in the style of Primus.
"Dog the Nine" gives two options: Street life versus repentance. "The Bitter End" portrays a user's confusion in trying to overcome their drug habit, and is reminiscent of The Beastie Boys tune "Sabotage." "Jesus in Me" also paints a scene of street life, drugs, and ends with basketball players receiving Christ.
Perseverance in the face of peer pressure is the theme of "Never Thought About Going Back":
I never thought about going back
You never believed this moment would come
Cause you never believed in Him
Something terrible seems to have happened
And there's no time to repent.
Fist Full of Bees represents somewhat of a departure for Bride in that they leave behind their former hair metal sound, and embrace the popular rap metal fusion sound of today. At times they approach the sound of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Primus, or The Beastie Boys, but they don't do it as well, unfortunately. They follow the trend of fuzzy guitars and vocals, with distortion rampant throughout Plinky Giglio's production work. This doesn't add anything to the overall sound, and makes me wonder if they are trying to cover up a deficiency elsewhere. Given their previous body of work, Fist Full of Bees falls short of my expectations.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #88Reviewed by Doug Van PeltIt seems Bride always finds itself fighting through a transition of sorts. This album, the band's 10th studio effort, showcases a band that is, perhaps, fighting for its very survival. Can they make a relevant musical statement? Will they please or lose their old school fans? How much this band can change has always been a tension that it's had to weather. It looks like producer Plinky Giglio…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by the ProjectWell let's start by saying Bride has transformed yet again in their new disk Fist Full of Bees. I don't know why and I don't know how, they just did. They transformed...well tried to transform into a rap-core band. It didn't work out too well. I did think the music was good and the production was great, but for a rap-core band to attempt what they did is a little too much. I don't totally know…Similar sounding releases
2004The Jelly Jam2
2002NonpointDevelopment
2003SkilletCollide
2005DiscipleDisciple
2005Half ZaftigRetrograde
1998Galactic CowboysAt The End Of The DayMore from Bride
1999Bride Live! Volume I
1997The Jesus Experience
1998Oddities (Video)
1988Live to Die
1990End of the Age: The Best of Bride
1986Show No Mercy
