Bride

Item: Scarecrow Messiah
Author: David Jenison

Scarecrow Messiah

(1994)

Reviewed by David Jenison

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Label Star Song RecordsSyndicateAug 1994

blues rock hard rock heavy metal metal

Nothing turns the old journalistic stomach like a Christian band talking all this bull about going "secular" or becoming some major superstar if they'd only compromise their lyrics. What's ironic about all their yapping is the fact that their lyrics are so vague they might as well be secular.

Even more ironically, Bride is not shoveling this bull, yet they are one of the only Christian bands for which the "secular talk" is true. Take every aspect of Bride—the powerful vocals, brilliant songwriting, catchy guitar hooks, Dale Thompson's hypnotic stage presence—and you have the makings for a superstar group, if only they'd ease from preaching. It's doubtful that will ever happen, and so Bride falls in with groups like the 77s and LSU, for whom Christian music has never been worthy.

Resting on the assertions made above, it was obvious Scarecrow Messiah would be phenomenal. Everything that was good about their previous albums is even better here. The guitars are a bit harder, yet catchier than ever. Many of the riffs have so much strength behind their hooks they'll force their way into anyone's head—the positive reciprocal of a cheesy elevator song. Bride's excellent breaks and clever time changes, first recognized in Kinetic Faith's "Hired Gun," are likewise present and well-done, as always. And the vocals ... well, there was once an untrue rumor that Dale Thompson spent many years doing opera, and the rumor was believed by many—his vocals are that dynamic.

With so much being great about Scarecrow Messiah, it's regretful to say there is one non-positive aspect to the new album. In some ways, Bride has reverted back to using a bit of the metal influences last heard in Silence Is Madness. These influences do not necessarily make the album better or worse, merely less contemporary. Regardless, the album is the best display of Bride's talent that we've ever seen. While their spiritual lyrics will keep the Epics and Atlantics of this world at arms reach, Scarecrow Messiah will obviously—and deservedly—become another huge hit in Christian music.

4.5/5