| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: Plinky |
| Record Label: Star Song / Girder Music | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1992 / 2021 | Artist Website: Bride |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 46:31 |
Not many albums actually deserve the label ‘iconic’, but West Point, Kentucky based Bride’s 1992 Star Song Records fifth full length offering Snakes In the Playground earned it. As in warranting mention in the same sentence with other iconic albums of the time including 1986 third Stryper release To Hell With The Devil and sophomore Bloodgood and Deliverance efforts Detonation and Weapons Of Our Warfare from 1987 and 1990, respectively. If in doubt consider that Snakes… placed 13th in an online pole several years ago at the Christian Metal Realm forum counting down the top 100 Christian metal albums of all time, while ranking 9th in a similar list to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Heaven’s Metal magazine (issue #54). Angelic Warlord even got in on the act by rating it fifth in an article listing the top 50 Christian metal and hard rock albums from the nineties.
Musically, Snakes… represents a continuation of Bride’s 1991 fourth album Kinetic Faith (also Star Song) in which it pursued a newfound blues based hard rock heading. Difference is manner in which Snakes… better captures Bride’s live sound with a heavier and rawer feel in comparison in addition to backing from much of its predecessors acoustic sentiments. What has not changes - at least according to fans and critics - is how Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith remains musical points of reference not to mention grittier hair metal bands such as Dangerous Toys, Kix and Sea Hags.
Album history dates to period following the release of Kinetic Faith in which the classic lineup of vocalist Dale Thompson, guitarist Troy Thompson, bassist Rik Foley and drummer Jerry McBroom took to the road playing mostly club dates and a handful of Christian festivals. Bride later landed a role as the opening act for Stryper on its late 1991 tour of the East Coast and Midwest, performing at such noteworthy locations as Derringers (Boston), The Canton Palace (Canton), The New Union (Sioux Falls), Canes Ballroom (Tulsa), The Back Door (Houston) before finishing the tour at Freeman Hall in San Antonio. Once the tour was complete, however, vocalist Michael Sweet departed Stryper.
When Dale called drummer Robert Sweet to confirm this, Robert - impressed with Dale’s performance throughout the tour - asked if he would be interested in the open lead vocalist position. Dale agreed to give the matter a great deal of thought in addition to doing two shows with Stryper at Knott’s Berry Farm. Flying home from California following both shows, Dale was tempted with the offer but decided against it. The determining factor in his decision pertains to how he saw God’s hand at work in both the songwriting and recording process to Snakes…
An out of print and hard to find collectors item, Snakes… was re-issued on CD and vinyl in the spring of 2021 by Girder Music after having been re-mastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound. Enhanced packaging includes lyrics in an easy to read font, vintage band photos and write up from Dale Thompson. I always felt production to the Snakes… original version was fine for its era but Colwell re-mastering improves upon an already good product by adding a dose of polish and bringing the album up to modern standards in the process. Gist is backing details such as guitar leads and acoustic guitar better standing out in addition to rhythm guitar delivering added edge and low end setting the added momentous tone.
“Rattlesnake” starts the album to the signature preacher voice exclaiming, ‘Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart today’. At that point, we are off as wailing sirens give way to Troy’s snarling rhythm guitar and intense groove action to power its distance. Dale sings his guts out and Foley and McBroom make an intense low-end statement, all the while predominant hooks reigns supreme.
With clashing symbols to start, “Would You Die For Me” bludgeons forward to slamming guitars switching between battering rhythm section explosions. A similar dogged intensity takes over but with an added darker, bottom heavy feel, albeit without backing from the accessible qualities. Dale continues to exhibit his gritty and gutsy vocal delivery. Lyric snippet:
Are you in love with Jesus Christ?
Would you die for me?
If you see me and my bones consumed
Will you feed me?
If I was standing on the edge of my mind
Would you give your wings to me?
Would you still wear the thorns if I denied you thrice?
Would you love me?
“Psychedelic Super Jesus” hard charges from the get go in raising-up on high ample doses of lower register verve but upholding a similar intractable if not exacting form. Guitars take a freely, flowing funk-like quality, aligning with the mesmerizing ‘that’s the way, that’s the way, psychedelic super Jesus’ refrain. Nice job by Troy with his blues guitar leads.
“Fallout” approaches all out metal. It begins to a drum solo ahead of hard charging (and quite engaging) riffs powering in, with bass blithely carrying the intro verse sections until guitar recoils at the moment brusque but immediately engaging refrain takes over. The heightened emotion supersedes at the halfway mark when backing vocals ‘revelation, revelation’ over wails of ‘living in the last day. Lyric snippet:
Turning it up inside my head
When I'm asleep on my bed
They try to say there is no God
People praying to the dark
On my belly if I have to crawl
Warn the world before it falls
I'll pull your hand from the button of doom
If I can break out of this tiny room
“Saltriver Shuffle”, a brief (:37) interlude featuring dialogue between Dale and Greg Martin (Kentucky Headhunters) carried over acoustic guitar and harmonica, gives way to “Dust Through A Fan”. Completing the perfect four-song continuity to open the album, it engages with its browbeating hooks but proves every bit hyperactive in pinpointing its elated speed based hard rock approach. Acoustic guitar at the halfway mark hearkens back to Kinetic Faith.
“I Miss The Rain” is first of two very good ballads. A majestic joining of piano and acoustic guitar underlined by breathing bass gird its distance, with a warm and inviting resonance separating alongside the wonderful commercial melody. Vocal melodies smooth as song peaks at the mid-point for the enduring phrase:
But through it all, one thing is constant and remains
The love of God erases all my pain
Troy’s well placed mandolin solo builds upon the earnest scene. Lyric snippet:
I miss the rain, I miss the rain
My heart's been dry like the tear in my eye
I've been hurting for you again
I miss the rain, I miss the rain
My heart's been dry like the tear in my eye
And the pain that I feel
Lord, I miss the rain
Back to snarling hard rock with “Don’t Use Me”. Song embodies a melodic bass driven form (noting Foley’s decisive work), intrinsic to verse sections capturing a blithely carefree mood only to further uplift for the festive refrain beset with beguiling hooks. Am I out of line to suggest (in a good sense) an underlying pop form within context of Bride’s abject heaviness?
The no nonsense metal to “Picture Perfect” descends to blustering guitar at once, menacing from standpoint of its brash-mid-tempo demeanor but equally alive when factoring the perfectly placed melodic underpinning groove. Instrumental moments roar between the left and right channel as blunt affection holds sway. Lyric snippet:
She had a smile that could light up the day
Someone's put a frown on her serving tray
She's all dressed in black
Waiting on the cable car
But I know the Lord won't let her go that far
If she would come back
She'd be forgiven
Resurrect your soul and start living
“Love, Money” is another top track. Catchy riffs reign supreme, near mesmerizing in capacity in reference to the passionate and keyed up emotion but equally focused in light of the freight train momentum to hammer its span. Similar to “Fallout” feel is hard rock with defined metal edges.
Maintaining consistency is “Some Things Never Change” with its bare bones hard rock charm. Guitar come across blocky and low end unyielding, as song interchanges between groovy-funk like moments (noting the instrumental section) and others to see preponderate guitars hold sway (and prodigious refrain). I enjoy the time change over the final seconds to spoken word delivery. Lyric snippet:
Don't believe in suffocation
Can't you hear my demonstration?
Not brainwashed indoctrination
Give us strength in tribulation
Know our thoughts and situations
There's one hope and one salvation
It is for our generation
God is high for exaltation
Final ballad “Goodbye” is also of quality as piano carries its delicate verse sections and refrain points the way to salvation:
Goodbye to the life that blinded me
Hello to the one that saved me
If Snakes In The Playground is not Bride’s best work it is only challenged by 2020 fourteenth album Here Is Your God, also of the 95% score and album of the year recipient (if I ever put together an article outlining the top albums of 1992, Snakes… would challenge for top spot). It would not be coincidental when factoring how brothers Thompson not to mention Foley and McBroom literally hit their peak form from standpoint of songwriting, performance and production. Album presents with little if any flaw. If you missed Snakes… back in the say or are interested in an upgraded version in terms of re-mastering and packaging, make the Girder re-issue a necessary purchase.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Rattlesnake” (4:33), “Would You Die For Me” (3:35), “Psychedelic Super Jesus” (4:17), “Fallout” (4:03), “Saltriver Shuffle” (:37), “Dust Through A Fan” (3:08), “I Miss The Rain” (3:52), “Don’t Use Me” (4:20), “Picture Perfect” (4:21), “Love, Money” (3:47), “Some Things Never Change” (4:09), “Goodbye” (5:43)
Musicians
Dale Thompson – Lead Vocals, Tambourine & Shakers
Troy Thompson – Guitars, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Cello & Viola
Rik Foley – Bass
Jerry McBroom – Drums
Guest Musicians
Greg Martin – Guitars
Derek Jan – Guitars
Rick Elias - Harmonica
Reference List
Jenison, David. “Bride’s Hard Rock Playground.” Heaven’s Metal 38 (1992): 4-8.
Muttillo, Dave. “Thunder In The City.” White Throne 12 (1991): 10-12 & 16.
“Bride The Book – Chapter 7.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap7.htm
“Bride The Book – Chapter 8.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap8.htm
“Bride The Book – Chapter 9.” Online article available at: www.bridepub.com/chap9.htm
