| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: Steve Griffin |
| Record Label: Star Song / Girder Music | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1991 / 2021 | Artist Website: Bride |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 42:56 |
Fourth album from West Point, Kentucky based Bride, Kinetic Faith, traces to the time between the release of its second and third on Pure Metal Records - Live To Die (1988) & Silence Is Madness (1989) - when vocalist Dale Thompson, having grown increasingly disenchanted with the Christian music industry, decided to pursue a secular career. Subsequently relocating to Los Angeles, Dale became involved in a local group called Thunderball with bassist Rik Fox, a music scene veteran whom he met through a mutual friend, and performed two weeks of shows in addition to spending time in the studio. Once the Thunderball session work was complete, Dale developed the conviction to return to Kentucky and reorganize Bride. One of the things he took home from his California experience was exposure to several bands whose roots trace to Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, influences that helped shape the musical direction Bride would pursue in the early nineties.
Dale’s arrival in Kentucky coincided with him joining brother and guitarist Troy Thompson, bassist Frankie Partipilo and drummer Stephen Rolland to record Silence Is Madness. With its Pure Metal contract complete, and Partipilo and Rolland departing Bride, Dale and Troy recruited the new rhythm section of bassist Rick Foley and drummer Jerry McBroom. Songwriting for Bride’s next album commenced shortly thereafter, with demo version to new songs “Young Love” and “Kiss The Train” reflecting a new straightforward hard rock direction. It was at this point Bride received a call from Star Song Records executive Dez Dickerson advising Star Song had purchased the Pure Metal back catalog and wished for Bride to record two new songs it was planning for a best of compilation release.
Gist was “Everybody Knows My Name” and “Same Ol’ Sinner” to appear on the 1990 release End Of The Age: The Best of Bride, with former staying at the #1 spot on Christian metal radio for 12 weeks and latter 10 weeks. Problem, however, is that Star Song initially had no intention of signing Bride but that changed with the groups newfound success. Later Dickerson met with Dale and Troy about the possibility of signing a deal, and after catching a showcase performance of Bride at a local club in Louisville, finalized a contract.
Bride’s initial Star Song studio release Kinetic Faith followed in 1991. It sees the group abandoning the at times traditional heavy metal and others Gothic influenced and thrash/speed metal based sounds of its first three albums in favor of said hard rock course interlaced with strong bluesy and acoustic components. Fans and critics that offer Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith as points of reference have the right idea, as do those that mention grittier hair metal bands along lines of Dangerous Toys, Kix and Sea Hags. What cannot be questioned is manner in which Kinetic Faith saw Bride reach the apex of its popularity (to see it expand upon its fan base) and artistic achievement (noting every bit acclaimed follow up albums Snakes In The Playground and Scarecrow Messiah).
An out of print and hard to find collectors item, Kinetic Faith saw re-issue in the spring of 2021 on CD and vinyl by Girder Music to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release. Enhanced packaging features lyrics in an easy to read font, vintage band photos and write up from Dale. Re-mastering (by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) improves upon the original Star Song release with a layer of polish to result in an expanded low-end presence, extra edge to guitars and backing details in the form of acoustic guitar and bass standing out clearer in the mix.
Album opens to one of its stronger tracks in “Troubled Times”. Things get going to one of Dale’s trademark screams subsequent to fading in, with roaring momentum carrying the hurried verse sections as guitars play a recoiling role and catchy hooks the plundering refrain. As with several cuts here, guest guitarist Rob Johnson handles soloing, and quite well at that. Lyrics address how we pull together as a nation in times of crisis:
We Don't need no burning crosses
Put out the fire of bigotry
We don't need to count our losses
When they burry you they'll burry me
I have a dream that we can be united
It will only work when fears are subsided
By the sweat of my brow, I won't let it happen
Freedom for our heart's is my battle cry
I rate follow up cut “Hired Gun” every bit high. It introduces the Bride acoustic side, delicately drifting forward from the get go until rhythm guitar abruptly cuts in and braces the supple refrain to repeat songs title in supple fashion. As it progresses, “Hired Gun” continuously recites the classic phrase, ‘I hope you and Jesus have it all worked out’.
An up-tempo hard rock direction is taken on “Ever Fall In Love”. With McBroom’s thunderous drum solo to start, song manifests hooks on high within a vibrant context but interlaced with a surpassing low end and exquisite acoustic facets. Halfway in and “Ever Fall In Love” slows for a passage expanding upon unconditional love:
Love bears all things, believes all things
Hopes all things, endures all things
Love is patient, love is kind
Love is forgiving, love is blind
“Mountain” is straight up hard rock Bride style. No-frills, blunt and in your face, it highlights prodigious groove overtones with surpassing rhythm guitar to make a predominant statement. Yet, the Bride milder side also rears its head as found in the groups ever-present (and delectable) acoustic guitar.
“Ski Mask” represents another top of the line number. Clashing symbols get things going followed by frenetic rhythms to power ahead, as rolling drumbeats and keyed up momentum further build upon the pensive emotion. Catchy hooks (a Bride staple) are not forsaken, and neither is the group’s creativity as found in periodic use of mandolin (courtesy of Troy). “Ski Mask” details a criminal who never found love until he decided to follow God:
Let's go out and have some fun
With our Ski Mask and hand guns
Driving Fast cars to the sun
We'll be blind but we'll die young
There was a time I thought I knew it all
I could walk before I crawled
Jesus crushed my heart of stone
Gave me love I had never known
Halfway in and it becomes apparent manner in which Dale comes into his own vocally. Whereas he has forsaken much of the high-end, soaring ways of the first three albums, Kinetic Faith finds him taking a grittier and gravelly blues soaked approach that while still lending to the occasional falsetto also sees him exercising that much more mid-paced power and guts.
“Everybody Knows My Name” separates as Bride’s signature track. It sees a fitting return of acoustic guitar, gliding its way ahead as Dale rasps his way through downtrodden verse sections ahead of rhythm guitar snarling in and elevating tempo exponentially. Energy peaks for the monumental ‘everybody knows my name, everybody wants the fame’ refrain. Troy makes his presence felt with an adept lead guitar run.
I identify with “Young Love” as a companion track to “Ever Fall In Love”. Both share a similar lively up-tempo allure, with a subtle pop undercoating with hooks manifest but offset by guitars speaking of the disorderly. Bluesy licks and chops reign supreme as does vocals that touch upon the lower register expansive.
“Kiss The Train” jump-starts at once to a drum solo ensued by boisterous energy laced with acoustic guitar. Periodic moments to see guitar drop out and replaced by battering drums, only to see them rebound with increased fury as intractable melody plays a prevalent role. Underrated song I see shining in a live setting. “Kiss The Train” delivers an anti-suicide message:
In my sleep, I could feel the snake
Burning my body until it ached
Signed my name in blood,
Dream of Salvation
The morning will come
My love without reservation
This isn't the way out
There's always hope and time
If you wait on the train
You'll go out of your mind
Kiss the train- I won't do it
Kiss the train- love will take me through
“Crimes Against Humanity” is another quality Bride deep cut. It takes a similar upbeat hard rock heading, also fortified b acoustic guitar and trouncing riffs but accommodating an equally laid-back form in what sounds like female vocal melodies. Groovy and funky at the same time, song plays up some of Troy’s best lead guitar.
Closer “Sweet Louise” is a classic Bride ballad, resonating an acoustic rock ‘n’ roll touch (sort of like Rod Stewart) with airily amicable qualities as Dale skillfully lends a moving vocal touch in slowly building impetus to a forward direction. Peaceful but haunting, “Sweet Louise” is dedicated to Dale’s grandmother whose beliefs and courage were inspiring to him:
Sweet Louise She's still with me
Even though she's gone
Sweet Louise she part of me
She lives in my songs
The door opened and closed
And No One knows our secret place
Where memories are safe
The door opened and closed
And I know we'll be together again
Kinetic Faith might not be Bride’s best album - that accolade belongs to iconic 1992 follow up effort Snakes In The Playground - but ranks well within the top five of a career approaching five decades. Yes, I appreciate the metal direction to the first three albums but also take to the bluesy acoustic hard rock flavorings introduced by Kinetic Faith in including classic material along lines of “Everybody Knows My Name”, “Troubled Times”, “Hired Gun” and “Sweet Louise” (to name a few). Lone complaint revolves around basic cover art featuring brothers Thompson (but not the other band members) does not provide a good indicator of the musical style involved, while I wish Girder had included “Same Ol’ Sinner” and End Of The Age versions to “Everybody Knows My Name” as bonus tracks. Still, if you overlooked Kinetic Faith back in the day or are interested in a highly upgraded version in terms of re-mastering and packaging you can do not wrong with the Girder Music re-issue.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Troubled Times” (4:28), “Hired Gun” (4:29), “Ever Fall In Love” (4:35), “Mountain” (4:12), “Ski Mask” (4:30), “Everybody Knows My Name” (4:23), “Young Love” (3:30), “Kiss The Train” (3:57), “Crimes Against Humanity” (4:05), “Sweet Louise” (4:42)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Troy Thompson - Guitars & Mandolin
Rick Foley - Bass
Jerry McBroom - Drums
Guest Musicians
Rob Johnson - Guitars & Mandolin
Reference List
Arnold, Christy. “Bride Interview.” Take A Stand (September 1991): 1-2.
Bacon, Tyler. “Bride”. Radically Saved Magazine 9 (1991): 14-17.
Muttillo, Dave. “Thunder In The City.” White Throne 12 (1991): 10-12 & 16.
Van Pelt, Doug. “Here Comes Bride.” Heaven’s Metal 22 (1989): 8-11.
“Kinetic Bride.” Heaven’s Metal 32 (1991): 10-12 & 16.
“Bride The Book – Chapter 4.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap4.htm
“Bride The Book – Chapter 5.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap5.htm
“Bride The Book – Chapter 6.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap6.htm
