Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock	Produced By: Kit Woolven
Record Label: Active Music	Country Of Origin: Sweden
Year Released: 1986	Artist Website:
Tracks: 10	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 46:30

Motherlode is what happens when you align a high-pitched and near unlimited ranged lead vocalist with melodic hard rock and AOR underpinnings.  The group traces to Orebro, Sweden and 1982 when founded by members of two local bands Proximity and Lizard: vocalist Sonny Larsson, guitarist Tom Nilsson, bassist Peter Rundstrom and drummer Bengt Eriksson.  A three-song demo followed in 1984 of which the tracks “Moving Emotion” and “Father Of Lies” were included on the Swedish Metal compilation from the same year.  With Martin Hedberg replacing Eriksson on drums, Motherlode entered the studio with renowned producer Kit Woolven and keyboardist Mark Stanway (Magnum) to begin work on the ‘melodic blues influenced hard rock’ (as the band describes its sound) of its debut full length The Sanctuary, which saw 1986 release via Active Music with eye catching cover art of Rodney Matthews.

Whereas musically lumping alongside Guardian, Fear Not, Novella and Legend, Motherlode are not a Christian band and The Sanctuary by no means a Christian album.  That said, lyrics on many tracks reflect the faith of Larsson, with song titles - “He’s Coming Back”, “The Rock Of Ages” and “Father Of Lies” - self-explanatory in terms of subject matter.  Hence, manner in which Motherlode potentially falls under a ‘mainstream band with a believing member’ heading.  It deserves note Larsson went on to record five albums with guitarist Bjorn Stigsson (Leviticus) as part of XT in addition to contributing vocals to several songs on Stigsson’s 1989 solo album Together With Friends.

My introduction to Motherlode was a review to The Sanctuary appearing in White Throne issue 4, which offered comparison to Triumph, Magnum, old Rush and Deep Purple  and suggested ‘seldom does a band produce such an incredible and brilliant masterpiece’ while ‘never (until now) has a debut album been of such superior quality’.  It would be an understatement to suggest my interest (and that of the White Throne readers back in the day) was piqued.  Problem, however, is that The Sanctuary remained a challenging to find import until reissued on CD in 1995 via Naxos SwedenAB with five bonus tracks.

Opener “Moving Emotion” presents with exactly that.  It slowly fades in prior to turning into a bustling melodic rocker, up-tempo with its bouncing rhythms and grooving hooks but also seventies influenced in light of Stanway’s bluesy Hammond B3.  Transparent production allows Rundstrom’s and bass Nilsson’s guitar leads to cleanly separate in the mix.  Larsson presents with perhaps the most perfectly pitched, purely refined and crystalline vocal delivery this reviewer has heard, ranking alongside Rob Rock and Lance King in this capacity.
  
Victorious anthem “He’s Coming Back” furthers ups energy as a short (three and half minute) burst of gritty hard rock.  The seventies influences carry over, added Hammond B3 makes its presence felt, as do the preeminent hooks, refrain is of the boisterous variety.  A deeply woven (borderline baritone) backend voice reinforces the zeal to hold sway.  Lyric snippet:

A star was seen over Bethlehem, the Saviour was born
Spread his words across the land crucified, He died for men

He's coming like a thief at night
When the world's asleep and the stars are bright
Return to make his kingdom come, oh lord thy will be done

He's coming back!
He's coming back! with power and glory
He will return! with fire.
He's coming back! with power and glory

“Wise Man” represents classy acoustic rock.  It dreamily drifts accented by elegant keyboards, regal and stately with its dignified presence but elevating at the halfway point as rhythm and lead guitar fade in to lend a heavier rocking edge.  A wistful melody rises to the forefront accordingly.  Lyric snippet:

Look for the signs of the coming of the Lord.
He's coming with our reward.
To repay everyone for the deeds they've done,
and to live forever with Him.

You are like a tree you need water and light
to grow strong and make everything right.
Be a child once again, feel the heavenly rain
that makes you grow.

Listen to the wise man what he tells you!
I hear His voice.

A return to energetic hard rock with “Downtown”, an invigorating piece with a blithesome feel in which the groups keyed up rhythm section, noting Hedberg’s lively work on drums, and tightly woven guitar harmonies play lead roles.  Vocals take a soulful form and lead guitar a fitting bluesy stance.  I sense a bit of early nineties era Bride on this one.

“The Rock Of Ages” starts acoustically ahead of morphing into an upbeat melodic hard rocker.  It grooves its span enthusiastically - I detect an underpinning boogie-flair here ala Guardian - with the avidness carried over to the exultant refrain repeating songs title in euphoric fashion.  Nilsson steps forward with a moving stretch of lead guitar.  Lyric snippet:

In my mind there's an explosion of hope
and it's burning away my dreams.
I'm comin' back to reality
and crying for the fountain of life.

I must have been blind, I never saw a sign
I must have been blind, it was beyond my mind

The Rock of ages!
Fountain of life!

“Line Of Thought” rates with albums finest.  Song delivers abundant variances, including the driving mid-paced opening, plainspoken moments guided by besetting guitar, slower passages lightened acoustically and others in which vocal melodies trade off with in and out of the mix guitar.  An understated progressive aspect rises to the surface.  Lyric snippet:

I wonder why I'm going so far away from you
Just wanna be all alone.

You got me caught between your mind and heart
and I can't escape this line of thought.

Now when we are movin'
it feels like I'm being caught.
Oh Lord help me from this line of thought.

"(Singin’ About) Rock ‘N Roll" impresses as a fun up-tempo hard rock piece.  Seventies influences return in the form of classic rock laced Hammond B3 to build upon the vibrant appeal, backing vocals shout in purposeful form, as does a bluesy underpinning, grainy lead guitar trades with organ instrumentally.  An accompanying audience track allows for further energy.

In my opinion, “Father Of Lies” is albums best track.  Song maneuvers its eight minutes acoustically with ethereal backend keyboards (I cannot say enough good things about Stanway’s work) periodically diverging to more forthright passages backed by rhythm guitar.  Highlight is the Zeppelin influenced acoustic instrumental run followed by Larsson continuously phrasing ‘Jesus Christ of Nazareth, take my soul and take me home’.  The elevated stretch of lead guitar to ensue gives way to the final acoustic minutes.  “Father Of Lies” deserves to be included on any album compiling the best ‘white metal’ songs of the periodic.  Lyric snippet:

A fatal wound across his head, a prince he claims, the liar
He'll twist your mind I think it's sad, saying he's Messiah
But don't be blind it's been foretold he's gonna wake desire
But see in time and note the sign, no number on your wrist

Read the book to find the sign from the shepherd to the meek
The star is false, is falling wrong it's not the Nazarene.
'Cause he who is the only one has put his trust in you
Jesus Christ I'm telling you, you're the one for me.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth take my soul and take me home

A perfect segue is made to albums two minute acoustic instrumental title track, which in turn gives way to closing cut “Live It Out”.  What we have is another fervent up-tempo piece, rollicking with its metal-laced guitars and underpinning gritty soul but hook driven in form of the assertive ‘live it out, I got to live it out’ refrain.  With its abject heaviness, I see “Live It Out” fitting nicely on Stryper’s To Hell With The Devil from the same year.

White Throne got a great deal correct in its assessment of The Sanctuary.  Production is of high order and cover art immaculate; band performance of Nilsson, Rundstrom and Hedberg (not to mention Stanway) shines equally, as does Larsson vocally.  Songwriting wise there is not a weak moment here.  Which leads to the issue at hand: after 30 years, the CD reissue is quite scarce not to mention expensive, so let’s hope in the near future a reissue label steps to the plate for a second rerelease and not just CD but also vinyl.

Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: "Moving Emotion" (5:22), "He’s Coming Back" (3:30), "Wise Man" (4:38), "Downtown" (4:57), "The Rock Of Ages" (4:05), "Line Of Thought" (5:34), "(Singin’ About) Rock ‘N Roll" (4:25), "Father Of Lies" (7:57), "The Sanctuary" (2:11), "Live It Out" (3:35)

Musicians
Sonny Larsson – Lead Vocals
Tom Nilsson – Guitars
Peter Rundstrom – Bass
Martin Hedberg – Drums

Guest Musicians
Mark Stanway – Keyboards

Reference List
Muttillo, Dave.  "The Sanctuary review." White Throne 4 (1988): 18.
Nordstrom, Daniel. "Rockin' With The Levites." Heaven's Metal 17 (1988): 20.