| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Darrell Mansfield |
| Record Label: Frontline / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1986 / 2019 | Artist Website: Bloodgood |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 37:48 |
Bloodgood proved it can handle the eighties metal landscape like a pro in embracing to varying degrees just about every form of hard music to have come out of the decade. Beginning with its eighties back catalog and going back chronologically, the Seattle based four piece potentially released its most consistently heavy album in Out Of The Darkness (1989), a straight on metal work that as its namesake implies has a darker edge but also does not forsake the commercial as found in a pair of finely done lengthy ballads. Those commercial leanings better realize on Rock In A Hard Place (1988) to find the group stretching towards a more accessible sound to emphasize not just melodic metal but also melodic hard rock and even AOR. Detonation (1987) separates as the Bloodgood magnum opus with its melding of the heavier, noting aggressive moments to impress as speed metal and borderline thrash, and lighter, as revealed in a signature ballad and added melodic hard rock aspects.
Which brings us to the groups highly regarded and Darrell Mansfield produced Frontline Records self-titled debut (1986) to spotlight every form of metal and hard rock to grace the as noted three subsequent releases. You could say Bloodgood established precedence in this regard, or at the very least sets the stage in terms of that to follow, which speaks highly of its legacy. Due to such musical variances Bloodgood set itself apart from much of the hair-pop-glam metal prevalent at the time and proved itself difficult to pigeonhole as a result, although I find ‘heavy metal’ a sufficient catch all label to describe its sound. Further separating the group is one of the more unique eighties front men in Les Carlsen, whom with his at times raspy and others melodic (almost operatic) classic tenor style, cannot be accurately compared to many vocalists of the period. Hence, it might be sufficient to suggest Bloodgood stood out in an era that produced too many bands of an all too much sound the same alike quality.
Bloodgood re-issue history traces to 2010 and Intense Millennium Records, whom re-mastered (credited to Steinhaus mastering) and re-issued it with an alternate take of the cover art. Fast forward to the spring of 2019 and Bloodgood is again re-mastered (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks sound) and re-issued but by Retroactive Records in a highly upgraded format. In addition to a superior scan of the original cover at, the Retroactive re-issue is home to an improved mini booklet (by Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal) to feature vintage photos and lyrics in an easy to read font.
The Bloodgood signature diversity manifests on opener “Accept The Lamb”, which begins to angelic choir vocals prior to morphing into a melodic hard rocker to realize stauncher guitar driven verses and symphonic refrain to find the angelic choirs to make a cameo appearance. Heavy but melodic, this one proves a fitting representation of the early Bloodgood sound. “Accept The Lamb” encourages the listener to do just that:
Run in the night, can you feel your body's growing weaker
On the fright, expecting anytime a roaming creature
All of your days, are measured by the way you serve your master
Lives in a maze, loving all the time your own disaster
Falling asleep, empty
Screams from the street, "Not me!"
Pulling away, from the bloody hands that try to hold you
Calls from the grave, you try to yell out but you're too afraid
Barely escaped, ensnared
Still he waits, no one cares!
Accept the Lamb of the Living God
Accept I AM He's the Living God
The melodic sensibilities carry over to “Stand In The Light”. With a purposeful bass line (noting the work of Michael Bloodgood) leading the way, the song brings a catchy mid-paced vibe that hints of melodic rock and AOR but backed by the needed guitar driven fortitude to prevent your attention from wavering. I always have identified this as one of the groups more overlooked tracks.
“Demon On The Run” represents one of the albums darker, heavier and better cuts. The song finds guitarist David Zaffiro putting on a literal clinic, forging a thickly weighty rhythm guitar sound to push things into classic metal territory but also letting loose with a skillful stretch of agile soloing. Carlsen soars with the best of them in aligning with the passion at hand. Lyrics are as powerful as the music:
The Lord has taken command
The Kingdom of God is at hand
He lives in you and me
Oh, the Lamb has set us free
By the power of His grace
Only He reserves a place
For each and everyone
Who believes in His Son
“Anguish And Pain” elevates impetus to up-tempo territory. No, not speed metal fast but expeditious nonetheless, with J.T. Taylor lending to the keyed up scene with his technical timekeeping as breakneck riffing conveys things front to back. This one helps set the stage for some of the faster, more aggressive material to follow on Detonation.
I identify with “Awake!” as a companion track to “Anguish And Pain” in maintaining the upbeat momentum but separates with its worshipful qualities, noting the polished vocal melodies to adorn the refrain and quieter passage halfway in to find Carlsen reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Of note is how “Awake!” is one of three songs here to originally appear on the groups Metal Missionaries demo (1985), with the other two including “Accept The Lamb” and “Anguish And Pain”.
Albums second half opens to metal anthem “Soldier Of Peace”, another of what I consider the better underrated Bloodgood cuts to not always receive the credit it is due. It begins appropriately to a militant drumbeat prior to racing ahead to biting guitars - similar to “Demon On The Run” it resonates of traditional metal - in making quite the assertive statement. Testifying to the quality of “Soldier Of Peace” is how Bloodgood kept it as part of its live show, referencing its appearance on Live In America (1990). “Soldier Of Peace” touches upon spiritual warfare:
Then I heard the sounds of heaven
Crashing seas...seemed like thunder!
I turned my back on the devil
'Cause Jesus broke my chains
Now I live for His glory
Shout whenever I can, yah!
Soldier of Peace
Soldier of Light
Look out Satan
'Cause I'm coming to fight!
“You Lose” joins “Anguish And Pain” as another borderline speed metal ditty, albeit at even the faster tempo. I identify with it as three minutes of unceasing energy, bursting of well-timed falsettos and distorted leads galore. Lone interruption to the furious angst is the tempered bass driven passage at the mid-point.
Closing the album are three all time classic Bloodgood cuts beginning with “What’s Following The Grave”. Bluesy metal with traces of doom might be the best way to describe things, as the song trudges its five mid-paced minutes in speaking of the emotional (noting the affecting verse sections) but also the exacting (referencing the disconsolate refrain). Zaffiro is at his bluesy riffs and chops best.
“Killing The Beast” maintains the five-minute mid-paced leanings, albeit slightly elevated in tempo and with the greater traditional metal bent. It is also the darker work in comparison, revealed in the heavy set ‘killing-the-beast-killing-the-best-killer-the-beast’ backing vocals adorning the surging refrain, as Carlsen wails ‘crushing his head’ at the end. This one ranks alongside “Demon On The Run” as albums heaviest. Lyrics present a victorious message:
One day the King of Kings will put him in an endless pit
And lock it up tight for a thousand years
The Alpha and Omega will begin His reign on earth
And crushing into pieces ancient fears
He'll receive all glory high upon His mighty throne
All nations bowing down in reverent praise
tears of joy and laughter will be our new place and home
Our enemy is doomed in a fiery blaze!
Killing the Beast, Killing the Beast, Killing the Beast
“Black Snake” resonates as an all out speed metal romp. Fast and furious from the get go, it merges tenaciously done riff explosions with timekeeping on the relentless side to make the type of besetting statement to entice those with proclivity towards all things thrash. When impetus lets up it is only slightly for the background vocal driven ‘He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world’ passage near the end.
Whereas I find production to the original Frontline release more than commendable, it potentially comes across dated after 30 years. Enter the Colwell re-mastering, which beyond increasing volume to modern levels and adding a needed sheen of polish, enhances low end to extent bass makes the stronger statement and drums that hit harder.
Bloodgood stands out with so many classic cuts: “Demon On The Run”, “Accept The Lamb”, “Soldier Of Peace”, “Killing The Beast”, “What’s Following The Grave”, etc, etc, etc. I find the album solid from front to back with nothing remotely approaching skip button territory. I know Detonation receives the accolades as the best Bloodgood album – and rightly so in light of the two song suite “Crucify” and “Messiah” – but in revisiting the self-titled debut, it more than makes a case for itself in deserving a place in the collection of any hard music fan. If you missed Bloodgood back in the day or are interested in a version with upgraded packaging and mastering, check the Retroactive re-issue out.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Accept The Lamb" (3:48), "Stand In The Light" (3:44), "Demon On The Run" (4:00), "Anguish And Pain" (3:06), "Awake!" (4:14), "Soldier Of Peace" (3:16), "You Lose" (2:56), "What's Following The Grave" (5:06), "Killing The Beast" (4:43), "Black Snake" (2:56)
Musicians
Les Carlson - Lead Vocals
David Zaffiro - Guitars
Michael Bloodgood - Bass
J.T. Taylor - Drums
