Bride

Item: Scarecrow Messiah
Author: David Wang

Scarecrow Messiah

(1994)

Reviewed by David Wang

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Label Star Song RecordsThe LighthouseSeptember 1994

blues rock hard rock heavy metal metal

I must admit feeling a little worried when I learned that the new Bride album was being produced by John and Dino Elefante. Although they are wonderful producers, how would their trademark slick metal sound mesh with the heavier, dirtier metal sound of Bride? Well, I am pleased to say that the results are a success. The Elefante brothers have allowed Bride to retain their rougher style and, in fact, may even have enhanced it.

This is an album that means business. I mean, how many other albums out there have only one word titles? You can't get more concise than that. Fueled by Dale Thompson's unbelievably gritty vocals (I get a sore throat just thinking about it), this is definitely hard-nosed, high-powered, no-nonsense metal. From start to finish, it is relentless in its intensity. As such, the album's only shortcoming might be its lack of variety as compared to the previous album Snakes In The Playground. The lyrics continue to be interesting and challenging. Songs such as "Beast" and "Scarecrow" are particularly powerful, conjuring up the images implied by the titles. "DadMom" is a tribute to parents; this is a wonderful contrast to secular bands who encourage rebellion against authority. This song is also ironically the heaviest tune of the lot, and, thus, the least likely to win parent approval. The bluesy "Thorns" slows the album down and the album finishes with the rap-like "Questions."

If you like your metal very heavy, you'll like this album. Lyrically, the Christian message is very clear throughout all the songs. Personally, this album comes very close to displacing Snakes In The Playground as one of the best metal albums of the decade.