| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Pure Metal / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1986 / 2021 | Artist Website: Bride |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 50:43 |
Bride traces its origin to 1983 and Louisville, Kentucky when brothers Dale (vocals) and Troy (guitars) Thompson came together initially under the Matrix moniker. Subsequent to recording four demos over a three-year period, Matrix got its big break when promoter Dorn Repport arranged for the group to open for Daniel Band in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Guitarist Billy Sutherland and drummer Steve Gilbert joined Dale and Troy onstage before a wild crowd of 1000, which included executive from the Refuge Music Group. While Refuge was not initially impressed with Matrix, it did catch the labels attention when the group sold out of all the tapes it brought to the show. A letter sent by Repport to Refuge led to the label contacting Matrix and subsequent to several months of negotiations the band, now known as Bride, signed with Refuge/Pure Metal.
Bride’s full-length debut Show No Mercy followed in 1986. I identify with it - and Pure Metal follow up releases Live To Die (1988) and Silence Is Madness (1989) - as straight on heavy metal delivering a bit more muscle than much of the so-called ‘hair metal’ of the time. Direct comparison can be problematic in that Bride does not sound like any other band because (and much to its credit) it attempts to imitate no one. That said Show No Mercy presents with a dark and moody vibe approaching the Gothic, as revealed on slower pieces “Now He Is Gone” and “The First Will Be Last” in addition to those with light progressive variances in “Fly Away” and “Thunder In The City”.
Album also delivers several high-energy numbers in “Evil That Men Do”, “Forever In Darkness” and “I Will Be With You” to find Dale exhibiting his soaring and high-end vocal style. Results are mixed in that while his talent cannot be denied, he overdoes it with a few too may high-pitched falsettos for my taste. To be completely fair, however, a somewhat uneven vocal performance potentially attributes to how Bride ended up rushed in the studio.
Bride exhibits its trademark technical riff action on “No Matter The Price” and “Show No Mercy” to see Troy and second guitarist Steve Osborne reveal their abilities. Yes, the two furnish a backbone of sturdy rhythm guitar - album presents with some fantastic guitar harmonies - but setting the project apart is Osborne’s phenomenal soloing. He reminds of an unrestrained Oz Fox (Stryper) or slightly out of control David Zaffiro (Bloodgood).
Any production misgivings attribute to Bride receiving a production budget of just $2500 and fact it erroneously believed it had to meet a release date a month away. Both factors contribute to somewhat thin and muddy production to the original release. Re-mastering to the Retroactive Records Gold Disc Edition and purple vinyl re-issue from October of 2021, however, significantly cleans up production. Noting the work of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound, album receives a facelift manifesting in a firmer low-end bass presence and sturdier guitar sound to speak of the cleaner and crisper either way.
Retroactive re-issue also features enhanced packaging (accrediting to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal) to include a 12-page booklet and foil stamped trading card (CD release) and 12 X 12 insert (vinyl). Each is home to first of a three-part interview with Dale (concluding on Retroactive re-issues to Live To Die and Show No Mercy) in addition vintage band photos and three demo bonus tracks.
For those wondering, Show No Mercy was first re-issued in 1999 on M8 Records with seven Matrix demo bonus tracks and later in 2011 (also Retroactive) in the digi-pak format but no bonus tracks and Steinhaus re-mastering.
Track By Track
“Evil That Me Do” charges its length to pounding riffs and pummeling drums (or is that pummeling riffs and pounding drums?). Either way it works in that the song proves high-energy manifest to see Dale showcase his trademark soaring vocal abilities. A calmer passage at the halfway point tapers to an audible bass line.
A slower but heavier direction reveals on “Now He Is Gone”. Somber, driven and sustained by a hulking low end, song highlights big doses of backing vocals for its swarthy chorus, while Osborne cuts loose with a blistering lead guitar run.
Acoustic guitar opens the first minute to “Fly Away”. Song picks up pace at a more upbeat tempo rest of the way, emphasizing a generous melody but allowing for several fitting instrumental interludes. Bloodgood comes to mind. Lyric snippet:
I'm being caught away
You rapture my soul
I'm being caught away
Life will take its toll
I'm only passing through what they call life
I'll get it with or without pain and strife
He suffered once, I will too
I just hate to leave without you
“Forever In Darkness” revels in front to back energy. Led by an underpinning bass line, it joins non-stop hooks with a swarthy feel brought about by Dale’s haunting vocal presence (his ominous wails over the final seconds will send shivers down your spine). Lyric snippet:
Scarlet beast shall rise
And takes a deep breath
There is no heart
Under her velvet chest
Oh how sweet is death
There's no more there's no less
But for those who deny
They run to the hills and hide
Forever in darkness away from rain
Forever in darkness to wear the chains
“Follow Your Heart” brings its share of variety. Slowly grinding through its verse sections to crunchy rhythm guitar, it abruptly accelerates for a hi-octane refrain treading the more tempestuous storm. Classical guitar briefly takes over at the halfway point.
Technical riff actions drives albums title track. “Show No Mercy” starts calmly only to take off in a firmer direction once rhythm guitar kicks in, emphasizing amazing guitar harmonies its remaining span but put over the top by its stately done chorus. Lyric snippet:
I won't lay my weapons down to rest
I'll give it my all I'll give it my best
I will fight to win this war
Never settle for an even score
I am strong and your are weak
Jesus gives me power to defeat
I can't be bought and won't sell out
The battle cry is good and loud
“I Will Be With You” starts to a haunting, ethereal based opening. It proceeds to slowly build momentum until taking off at a near speed metal clip, sustaining the spirited direction as Dale lets loose with a series of high-pitched falsettos.
“Thunder In The City” rates as a Bride classic. First minute is instrumental to a joining of swiftly flowing piano and resounding drums, with final five proving an unyielding adrenaline rush as the band plays its tails off in exuding a ton of inspired intensity. Voice synthesizers allow an added dimension of creativity.
Osborne turns “No Matter The Price” into a personal shred fest, as he decorates it front to back with his flashy, pyrotechnical playing. Song otherwise is a driving cruncher giving prominence to an anthem-like aura and operatic flavorings to its sublimely done chorus. It would be interesting to hear Rob Rock cover this. Lyric snippet:
No matter the price it must be paid
We stand our ground we are not afraid
Entrenched in fire he takes, never to give
He is the liar we must fight to live
Dancing in the visions of a chemical escape
A mind that's a waste land narcotic rape
Planning derision's of evil thoughts within
From inside a blackened soul
You can see the dark ones grin
“The First Will Be Last” decelerates to a mid-paced romp. Ominously melodic, it highlights a darkly weighty vibe, reflected in the portent feel to its refrain and bottom heavy low end. Adding to the eerie vestiges is some inauspicious spoken word delivery, which gives way to a blistering lead guitar run. Lyric snippet:
Where will you be when the moon turns to blood?
When the sun won't shine and the stars fall from above
Has love taken you high or has pride taken you low
The elements are coming apart the atoms letting go
The first will be last
The last shall be first
The hungry shall be fed
While the filled will thirst
First of three bonus tracks “Slippin’ Into The Light” opens to narration prior to it mirroring a melodic metal form with hooks aplenty and gritty edge to guitars, not to mention riffs from its instrumentation section later used on Silence Is Madness cut “All Hallows Eve”. Taking a straight on metal heading are “We Are Going To Make It”, escalated in tempo with a chanted refrain and amazing (but non attributed) lead guitar work, and “Stand Up And Shout”, resonating of the bombastic in unveiling an impassioned complexion and fitting raspy vocal edge.
I enjoy each song on Show No Mercy. Of the first three Bride albums, this is only one I can say that. Despite such consistency, there are misgivings in the area of production. Good news, however, is that re-mastering to the Retroactive re-issue improves upon production and comes as a necessary purchase as a result. Improved packaging not to mention quality bonus tracks make an already very good product that much better.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Evil That Men Do" (3:38), "Now He Is Gone" (3:49), "Fly Away" (4:12), "Forever In Darkness" (3:44), "Follow Your Heart" (4:29), "Show No Mercy" (3:36), "I Will Be With You" (4:29), "Thunder In The City" (5:53), "No Matter The Price" (4:18), "The First Will Be Last" (4:07), “Slippin’ Into The Light” (demo bonus track) (2:54), “We Are Going To Make It” (demo bonus track) (3:34), “Stand Up And Shout” (demo bonus track) (2:58)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals & Bass
Troy Thompson - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Piano & Violin
Steve Osborne - Guitars
Scott Hall - Bass
Stephen Rolland - Drums
