| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Les & Joyce Carlsen |
| Record Label: Girder Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2025 | Artist Website: Les Carlsen |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 35:34 |
How well an album engages the listener is important to us at Angelic Warlord, and Les Carlsen third solo effort Free Will satisfies our desire for well executed eighties derivative heavy metal. The December of 2025 Girder Records released work follows on heels of the artists independent (and 85% Angelic Warlord reviewed) 2022 sophomore solo offering He’s Coming and classic rock inspired 2019 debut 1971 (also Girder). Carlsen otherwise is better known for his work with Bloodgood, having fronted six studio albums and three live albums between 1986 and 2013 as part of the iconic Seattle, Washington based ‘white metal’ act.
‘Eighties derivative heavy metal’ might be an open ended statement but as it applies to Carlsen is not that far removed from Bloodgood in terms of melodic metal and hard rock interwoven with periodic heavier traditional metal and speed based moments. If a fan of Bloodgood - noting how Free Will includes former Bloodgood guitarists Paul Jackson and Craig Church as part of its lineup - I see the album of obvious interest. All the more so when factoring Carlsen’s distinctive high end to operatic but raspy vocals, which helped provide Bloodgood its distinctive sound and allowed it stand apart in an all too crowded eighties ‘hair metal’ scene of the time.
On first listen album did not leave a positive impression in that I perceived what I felt to be its faults: songs are too short (8 of the 10 Free Will compositions are below four minutes) and limited guitar soloing. Repeat play, however, reveals much more than meets the eye in the form of expert songwriting - yes, albums material is truncated, but is also home to substantial hooks and catchy low-end groove - and musicianship, pinpointing how the Jackson and Church guitar team play to the strength of individual songs without overdoing it. Long term it equates to an album I find myself listening to time-and-again due to its abundant strengths overriding any potential weaknesses.
Hence, opening cut “Truth And Love”, an uplifting three minutes of heightened hooks, fetching harmonies and endearing momentum that would not sound out of place on any Bloodgood album. A distinctive element, nonetheless, reveals in form of choir like vocal melodies over the final seconds repeating songs title in angelic fashion. Equally notable is the pitch perfect production bolstering equally parts vibrant energy and sleek polish but not to fault.
“Free Will” further ups tempo to borderline speed metal territory. Albums title track captures the kinetic energy to classic Rock In A Hard Place (third Bloodgood album from 1988) track “Shakin’ It” with its pulsing in and out of the mix rhythm guitar and vocal trade off. Carlsen delivers several spot on falsettos hearkening back to his eighties heyday- it is amazing how he literally has not lost a step vocally despite the passing of forty years. Lyric snippet:
Holy Christ man died on a hill,
Chose to die so you never will
Rose to life to make a way
No more death, no more pain
I met a man who opened my eyes
I think it’s time to recognize
Hear the truth and let it be known
That this is not our permanent home
“He’s God” maintains the animated veering but in a melodic hard rock sense, specifying the flattering keyboards and pristine harmonies. Timekeeper Dan Needham provides a particularly heavy punch for the succinct refrain. Lone complaint points to how the exuberantly chanted ‘He’s God’ vocal melodies over the final minute come across overdone, albeit they are balanced by several stretches of acute lead guitar.
Aptly entitled “Epic” is this reviewers choice track in terms of not just length (it is only song over five minutes) but also musical direction, highlighting a light progressiveness akin to Rock In A Hard Place track “Seven”. It begins to an eerie opening two and half minutes home to ringing bells, whispered vocals, and classical instrumentation prior to detonating as blatant rhythm guitar bursts forth, the darker themes maintained as swarthy melody builds upon the symphonic ballad like inspiration. Multiple melancholic instrumental runs yield a Gothic allure. Lyric snippet:
Epic is the word
Awesome news that must be heard
Reveals the history of a nation
A child was born, and brought salvation,
Extended period of time,
From dust to diamonds in His line
Awesome and epic is The Lamb
The story of The Great I Am
“Make Way” rekindles the melodic hard rock sentiments. Song starts ethereally to soaring feedback and wistful harmonies ahead of turning into a churner, as dense rhythm guitar plunges in to ally with airy vocal melodies gently repeating the ‘Make Way’ title. Two minutes in heaviness elevates as artist’s pays homage to Bloodgood sixth album Dangerously Close by repeating its title in rumbling fashion. I appreciate the variety and innovative flair.
“Everyday” highlights its share of creative alterations. Add equal parts classical instrumentation with chunky rhythm guitar to form a faintly progressive basis, with further shifts in terms of jazzy bass, Gospel style female backing vocals and some of albums best shred based lead guitar. I am at odds how to label this one other than it is very good. Lyric snippet:
Another day begins, don’t let darkness in
Thank you Lord, for all you do
Forgiving all my sins
Another day begins, don’t let Satan in
Thank you Lord, for all you do
Forgiving all my sins
Start another day (Everyday)
Help is on its way (Everyday)
Album explores ballad territory with “Bite My Tongue”. Wife Joyce Carlsen ably fronts the song, delivering a fine performance with an expansive vocal style combining equal parts soaring and soulful. The worshipful refrain finds her stretching and unveiling the full range to her voice. I hate to nitpick, but similar to He’s Coming Back track “Return Me To The Fire” in which she also fronts, I wish Les handled a verse or two and turn the song into a dramatic duet instead.
Album closes to three of its heaviest and best songs beginning with “He Loves Deep”. Bordering on traditional metal, song fragments with its unfathomable low end and shattering guitars signatures but does not forsake hooks, conceived in the undeniable perception to preside. The analogous darker predisposition hints of classic Alice Cooper album Brutal Planet from 2000. Lyric snippet:
He is the Hound of Heaven
He’s come to find you
No lie, can keep Him from you
He sees your bleeding heart
Who can separate us from the love of Christ
Neither death nor life, angels or demons
Nothing separates us from the love of Christ
Neither depth nor height, nor anything in creation
“Keep Pushin’” flashes with high octane low end groove, facilitated in a speed metal sense - noting the hastened riffs and hyper accelerated timekeeping - but not straying into a repetitious veering, ascertained in another unambiguous melody. Two minutes in and song stops dead in its tracks for dramatic narration from Psalm 23. Am I out of line to suggest comparison to faster Bloodgood cuts “Awake” and “Anguish & Pain” (off the 1986 self-titled debut)?
Talk about saving your best for last with Come To Me”. Song veers outside the box with a symphonic power metal bent - revealed in the swarthy guitar layering and august refrain seeping of the foreboding - connected with classical overtures, uncovered in the dignified keyboards and neo-classical lead guitar precedence. I hope artist continues to explore such musical territory on any future solo album he records. Lyric snippet:
Struggle and clash, conflict and war
Triumph and glory, closing the door
That’s open to evil, regret and remorse
Finding the path, changing the course
Speaking the word in truth that is given
Restores and reclaims the dead to the living
Children of rich and infants of poor
Gather together at Heaven’s door
Free Will equates to a fantastic eighties metal album, whether melodic, traditional, speed based or even lightly progressive. Songwriting is spot on in such regards. Carlsen, as ever, vocally performs as if in his Bloodgood prime, while guitar team of Jackson and Church not to mention the Van Dunk (bass) and Needham (drums) rhythm section are up to standard as well. Of course, packaging and production prove equally able. Lone constructive comment is that the album is a bit abbreviated at just over 35 minutes- if sticking to a 3 minute songwriting format perhaps including an additional song or two (how about a Bloodgood cover?) would help round things out. Still, if a fan of Bloodgood or artists solo material, Free Will equates to a can’t miss proposition.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Truth And Love” (3:04), “Free Will” (3:28), “He’s God” (3:33), “Epic” (5:10), “Make Way” (3:12), “Everyday” (3:03), “Bite My Tongue” (4:05), “He Loves Deep” (3:27), “Keep Pushin’” (2:55), “Come To Me” (3:36)
Musicians
Les Carlsen - Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars & Synth Programming
Joyce Carlsen - Lead, Harmony & Background Vocals & Synth Programming
Paul Jackson - Guitars
Craig Church - Guitars & Ambient Synths
Juan Van Dunk - Bass
Dan Needham - Drums
