| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Les & Joyce Carlsen |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2022 | Artist Website: Les Carlsen |
| Tracks: 9 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 39:15 |
He’s Coming, the fall of 2022 independent debut solo album from iconic vocalist Les Carlsen, retains many of the eighties metal qualities to the band in which he is better known, Bloodgood. Yes, ‘eighties metal’ is an open-ended statement, but as it applies to Bloodgood, it runs the gamut from the more commercial side of things (melodic metal, melodic hard rock and AOR) to that heavier (traditional metal and even some speed metal leanings). Hence, manner in which He’s Coming represents the next logical musical step for Carlsen, or at the very least I can see it appealing to fans of the Seattle, Washington based group whose career spanned four decades and included six studio albums and three live albums.
Any comparison to Bloodgood traces to the fact He’s Coming employs each of the four guitarists to grace the Bloodgood lineup: founding member David Zaffiro (lending his abilities to two tracks), his replacement Paul Jackson, Oz Fox (appearing on one song) and Craig Church (co-writing three songs and contributing solos to two others). Most compelling reason, obviously, is presence of Carlsen himself, whom brings to the project his recognizable at times high end and soaring and others gritty and raspy vocal style. In an era when many Christian metal bands included a vocalist a near dead ringer to a mainstream counterpart (intentional or otherwise), Carlsen allowed Bloodgood to separate from the pack with its own distinct sound.
For those wondering, Craig Church participated on The Rock Theater video from 1989 and later assumed second guitar duties subsequent to Oz Fox departing the band.
Such is the case with opening cut “I Wanna Know You”, a classy Bloodgood style melodic metal piece with a mirthful tempo to see bass driven groove to converge with Jackson’s crunch heavy riffs. I can see it being a good fit on the group’s 1989 fourth album Out Of The Darkness correspondingly. Immediate impression is how Carlsen vocally sounds resoundingly fresh and inspired in joining a host of Christian metal front men from the eighties whom despite the passing of time have not lost anything in terms of range and delivery.
Subsequent cut “Scars” ranks with my album favorites with its draw you in at once melody. It ups tempo to an upbeat form, galloping in compelling fashion through its introspective verse sections to see Carlsen lower his register. Refrain, however, breaks out in catchy fashion with the type of immediate hooks to command FM radio back in the day. The breakdown at the two and half minute mark as song slows to quietly played guitar brings to mind “Awake” off Bloodgood’s 1986 self-titled debut. Lyric snippet:
The Kingdom stands, nations fall
There is one who is Lord of all
The hands that created the stars
Still have scars
The Kingdom stands, nations fall
No force of darkness or plan that’s been made
No evil worship, or sin will remain
Gather my children and listen to me
These are the scars that set your souls free
“Judas Is Dead” features albums lone appearance from Oz Fox, whom in the liner notes handles production to the song and all instrumentation. I identify with it as one of albums heaviest, with guitars of a straight on metal aspect but also a dramatic allure to see periodic spoken word vocals in line with the songs moving themes. One cannot deny, of course, Fox’s blues drenched soloing. Am I out of line to suggest it would sound at home on Detonation (second Bloodgood album from 1987) if placed on the track listing ahead of “Crucify” and “The Messiah”? Lyric snippet:
I want another chance to start again but
This is the end, I killed my friend
I have his blood on my hands
I can’t return, nothing’s the same
Nothing’s gonna change,
I am to blame
I’m the one, He said all would be saved except for one.
Thirty pieces of silver for the Messiah… innocent blood?
I won’t be saved. I must do this.
I’ll take my life. I’ll take my life!
Play on words cut “The Jesus Freak Show” is another showstopper. I also sense a low-end touch of groove, and when combined with the blocky in and out of the mix riffs, I am reminded of the as noted Dangerously Close. The carnival style narration throughout lends a felicitous touch, as do lyrics which exhort the listener to ‘join the army of the Lord, whosoever believes in Him has joined the army of the Jesus freak show’. The blazing guitar leads of Jackson prove perfectly distinctive.
Smoothly flowing melodic metal of “Faith Is Tested” does a good job highlighting albums refined production in terms of crisp rhythm guitar, balanced bass and forwardly placed drums. It otherwise emanates its span to some of the most polished vocal melodies you will hear outside Stryper, not to mention a mid-tempo allure that allows pulsating bass of Ricky Rogers to stand out. Lyric snippet:
Open up my mouth to worship
Seems my inner peace is gone
Crashing thunder, prayers like lightning
Left and right hand hold each other
Head is bowed, knees are screaming, “Stand up!”
Spirit says, “Stay down” (Stay down)
And my comfort is lost
My faith is tested
Open up the seas
Part the skies
Do the same in my life
“How Long” represents a varied piece. It hard charges from the get go to bulky mid-paced guitars only to calmly settle down upon acquiring a relaxed refrain home to AOR style backing vocals hinting of 1991 Bloodgood effort All Stand Together. Several tasteful instrumental runs tie both the heavier and more reticent sides together.
“River” is another favorite with its over the top melody. Musically, it brings a commercial metal sound that wound not sound out of place on 1988 third Bloodgood album Rock In A Hard Place, with no small measure of this regard attributing to fact David Zaffiro contributes rhythm guitar with his flowing and atmospheric mode of playing. Craig Church contributes the masterful soloing. Introspective refrain could not be more immediately engaging in aligning with the reflective nature to the music at hand. Lyric snippet:
You’re so steady and you quench my thirst
As I see you overcome everything in your path, everything in your path
You move with force as you make your way
So graceful with power and strength
River, you inspire me, River you inspire me
Wherever you go you’ll always flow
River, you inspire me
River, be inside of me, your majesty has set me free
Wherever you go you share your soul.
River, you inspire me.
Zaffiro also appears on albums title track but contributes lead guitar instead. “He’s Coming” is a forward thinking metal cut, initiating to offbeat keyboards prior to intensely driving ahead as Carlsen sings with passion and conviction over a basis of Dan Needham’s steadfast timekeeping. Zaffiro rips it up with a stretch of authentic soloing- it is too bad we have not heard more from him over the years in that he is an underrated talent (hopefully he will follow artist’s example and release a hard rock solo album as well). Lyric snippet:
You make it up to suit your cause
You turn your back on Jehovah’s laws
He will return, thief in the night
Destroy the dark with blazing light
Hide in the rocks or in the cracks
The child on earth is coming back
He’s Comin’, He’s Comin’, He’s Comin’… He’s Comin’
“Return Me To The Fire” features lead vocals from spouse Joyce Carlsen, whom does a commendable job with her expansive vocal presence (sort of like a combination of Christine Steel and Lisa Faxon). Song proves a keyed up eighties style hard rocker with its commercial hooks and guitars that walk a fine line between straight on metal and that on the melodic side of things. Lone complaint - and please forgive me for nitpicking - but it would have added to the song if Les had made a cameo appearance (perhaps handling a verse or two or at the least providing harmony vocals) to turn it into a duet. Still, “Return Me To The Fire” proves a solid effort and worthy deep cut to close the album.
If a fan of Bloodgood, Carlsen’s vocals or eighties metal and hard rock, then He’s Coming represents an essential purchase. Musically, its material is of such quality it would have formed the foundation of a very solid Bloodgood album or at the very least is a good musical indicator to the direction the group might have taken if it had recorded an album in follow up to Dangerously Close (R.I.P. founding member and bassist Michael Bloodgood). It is also good to hear Carlsen in such fine form vocally, not to mention Bloodgood cohorts David Zaffiro, Paul Jackson and Oz Fox. Packaging and production are also up to a high standard. Only constructive element is that at just nine songs, He’s Coming could use an extra track or two; that said, if no new material is available, perhaps artist could have re-recorded a couple Bloodgood classics (“Eat The Flesh” and “Heaven On Earth” would make good candidates in my opinion). Regardless, “He’s Coming” stands out as a can’t miss proposition.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “I Wanna Know You” (4:29), “Scars” (4:22), “Judas Is Dead” (5:38), “The Jesus Freak Show” (3:28), “Faith Is Tested” (3:44), “How Long” (3:54), “River” (6:21), “He’s Coming” (3:24), “Return Me To The Fire” (3:53)
Musicians
Les Carlsen - Lead Vocals
Joyce Carlsen - Lead Vocals
Paul Jackson - Guitars
David Zaffiro - Guitars
Oz Fox - Guitars
Craig Church - Guitars
Ricky Rogers - Bass
Dan Needham - Drums
Nathan DiGesare - Strings
