| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: Steve Griffin / Plinky |
| Record Label: Star Song / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1991 / 1992 / 2022 | Artist Website: Bride |
| Tracks: 11 / 12 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 44:06 / 46:17 |
Those were the golden years, back when Bride was at its artistic and creative peak with the release of its Star Song Records fourth and fifth albums Kinetic Faith and Snakes In The Playground from 1991 and 1992, respectively. Having abandoned the straightforward heavy metal to its Pure Metal Records first three albums - Show No Mercy (1986), Live To Die (1988) and Silence Is Madness (1989) - Bride transitioned to a newfound blues based hard rock basis beginning with the demo versions it recorded to Kinetic Faith tracks “Kiss The Train” and “Young Love”. When Star Song executive Dez Dickerson contacted Bride to advise that Star Song purchased the Pure Metal back catalog and requested it record two new songs for the forthcoming compilation album End Of The Age: The Best Of Bride, aftermath was the singles “Everybody Knows My Name” and “Same Ol’ Sinner”. Former stayed at the number one spot on Christian metal radio for twelve weeks and latter ten, with said success leading Bride to sign with Star Song and ultimately record Kinetic Faith and Snakes In The Playground.
“Kiss the Train” and “Young Love” only begin to scratch the surface in terms of the demo material Bride recorded during the Kinetic Faith and Snakes In The Playground sessions. Good news is that the aptly entitled Retroactive Records summer of 2022 releases Kinetic Faith Demos and Snakes In The Playground Demos allow said demo material to see the light of day after having set in the vault for literally decades. No, the Bride demos do not represent the finished product to end up on the Star Song releases, but what you get are alternate versions to songs re-recorded for either album and in many instances recorded for consideration but not included. Additional value comes in the form of re-mastering (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound), an 8-page mini booklet to include liner notes from guitarist Troy Thompson (noting the work of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics).and a Bride trading card.
In the Kinetic Faith Demos liner notes, Troy Thompson states ‘although Kinetic Faith was a success for Bride, its mix was very wet and we felt the songs were over-produced’. No such case with the Kinetic Faith Demos material, which while in comparison does not accent similar levels of polish, perhaps better represents the sound Bride was reaching for at the time.
Aforementioned “Kiss The Train”, for instance, comes across raw as it gets but in the process a grittier guitar presence stands apart (gone are the Kinetic Faith version acoustic guitars) not to mention a slower tempo (including a spoken word interlude moving at a near crawl). Likewise, high energy cuts “Young Love” and “Ever Fall In Love” back from the luster of their Kinetic Faith counterparts but also separate with the use of rollicking piano (both) to go alongside keyboards (former) and soulful backing vocals (latter).
“Hired Gun” stays true to the Kinetic Faith rendering with a similar back and forth and back and forth acoustic to rhythm guitar bent (still imploring the listener ‘I hope you and Jesus have it all worked out’), while same implies for “Sweet Louise” as a heart felt ballad home to piano and acoustic guitar (not to mention profound melody). On the surface “Everybody Knows My Name”, Bride’s most easily identifiable track, does not differentiate significantly from that on Kinetic Faith but repeat listen reveals higher levels of intensity, particularly from a vocal standpoint as front man Dale Thompson sings his heart out.
Of the five tracks not recorded for Kinetic Faith, “Fine Line” is my favorite with its combining mid-paced funk-groove and heightened emotion with hard rock guitars. It easily could have been albums eleventh track. Also good are “Could You Live In My World”, with bass solo to start but soon to turn into an upbeat hard rocker as distorted guitars cut in, and “Think About Our Future”, flowing to melodic bass as edgy guitars maneuver in and out of the mix only to descend into a jam at the end.
Two exclusive ballads close Kinetic Faith Demos, including “Echoes Of Mercy” to impress with its warm but delicate acoustic flavorings and “I Miss Dancing With You” in taking a similar acoustic form but more upbeat and flowing.
The Snakes… Demos liner notes find Troy Thompson reinforcing how ‘Snakes In The Playground was a completely different project’. A full measure of credit goes to producer Plinky, who ‘did an incredible job of getting the best performances out of us’ or more specifically, ‘he let Bride be Bride’.
Opening three Snakes… Demos cuts best reflect such, beginning with “Would You Die”, aligning the same smashing riff action with ominous low-end proclivity, ensued by “Rattlesnake”, of similar hook driven and resounding energy bearing but also featuring a cool vocal improvisation at the end. “Somethings Never Change” follows in staying true to its Snakes… counterpart with its low-end groove and hook driven emotion, although the rapid-fire vocal delivery to close is missing.
Two versions to “I Miss The Rain” appear, with first bringing an atmospheric feel compared to the Snakes… rendering with the use of piano, rhythm guitar and altered refrain to include female backing vocals. I actually like this version better. Closing the album is an ‘alternate version’ to “I Miss The Rain” that stays true to that from Snakes… in playing up acoustic guitar and orchestration to go along with the original refrain. Difference is the bluesy electric guitar solo.
Also present are three songs that while not making Snakes… found their way onto follow up album Scarecrow Messiah. “Beast” still presents as scorching hard rock with the snarling predisposition and razor like vocals to match and “Place” three funk-infused minutes of melodic bass and radiant hooks. Most revamped of the three is “Scarecrow” with revised lyrics and altered refrain that has more in common with that gracing “Would You Die”.
In terms of inclusive material, “Pyramid” is fantastic in combining blues and hard rock with airy keyboards and Troy Thompson’s inspired guitar solo, as is a rawer version to “Same Ol’ Sinner” separating with snapping fingers and harmonica while highlighting the same distinctive blues soaked melody. Shame neither song appeared on the either album.
Finally, “Sleepy Southern Town” reveals as a finely done Country infused rock that fits well with Dale’s warm vocal flavorings, while Bride expertly takes new wave infused Steve Taylor cut “We Don’t Need No Colour Code” and turns it into a vibrant example of hard rock with accelerated guitars and laid back (not to mention quite catchy) rhythms. Good stuff either way!
I appreciate Kinetic Faith Demos and Snakes In The Playground Demos for allowing fans to hear altered versions to choice songs in addition to others that might not have made the final cut but are worthy in their own right. Production might not be up to the standard of the Star Song releases - by no means a deal breaker - but highlights a stripped down and rawer version to Bride exuding added doses of energy. Further bonus comes in the form of a lighter side to Bride on several well-done ballads scattered throughout either release. Overall, if a fan of Bride or either album then Kinetic Faith Demos and Snakes In The Playground Demos will make worthy additions to your collection. Give credit to Retroactive for making such a high volume of long lost material available again.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Kinetic Faith Demos track listing: “Kiss The Train” (4:09), “Everybody Knows My Name” (4:07), “Hired Gun” (4:19), “Could You Live In My World” (3:34), “Ever Fallen in Love” (3:59), “Think About Our Future” (4:57), “Young Love” (3:20), “Sweet Louise” (4:45), “Fine Line” (4:10), “Echoes Of Mercy” (2:56), “I Miss Dancing With You” (3:44)
Snakes In The Playground Demos track listing: “Would You Die” (3:39, “Rattlesnake” (3:32), “Somethings Never Change” (4:10), “Same Ol’ Sinner” (3:47), “I Miss The Rain” (4:33), “Beast” (4:31), “Scarecrow” (3:48), “Pyramid” (4:13), “Place” (3:08), “We Don’t Need No Colour Code” (4:07), “Sleepy Southern Town” (2:44), “I Miss The Rain” (Altered Version) (4:07)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Troy Thompson - Guitars
Rik Foley - Bass
Jerry McBroom - Drums
