Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I'm old enough but I've never been a musical nostalgist, forever harking back to the music of my youth and telling everyone who'd listen that the music back then was from a golden age and that today's music doesn't compare. But then neither am I a musical snob who insists that music should be continuously evolving and that musicians who today insist in performing in styles which emerged in earlier eras are to be patronised or rubbished as musical museum keepers. So I hope I approached this, the first album in 22 years by '80s metal heroes Bloodgood, with neither of those disturbing perspectives. I have to say that this is a superb album. The lineup of Les Carlson (vocals), Paul Jackson (guitars), Michael Bloodgood (bass) and Kevin Whisler (drums) with the addition of Stryper man Oz Fox makes for a richer, heavier sound than most of their old albums. The group deliver some aggressive guitar rhythms with bluesy slide guitar on "In The Trenches" while "Man In The Middle" has a bottom-heavy groove and some delicious guitar harmonies. Equally arresting is the double-kick drum power of "Bread Alone" while "Lamb Of God" with its biting riff and radio friendly hook has the potential to become a radio favourite - no mean feat for old school metal. Even the ballads work. "I Can Hold On" is lifted by the edgy rhythm guitars and I could even take the acoustic rock number. I'd say if anything, Les Carlson is a better singer today than he was back in the '80s and with so many memorable songs punching home the overt spiritual messages I am left amazed that the Washington-based war horses have left it so long to deliver one of the best rock albums of recent times.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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