Musical Style: Blues Rock	Produced By: Dale Thompson
Record Label: Girder Music	Country Of Origin: New Zealand & USA
Year Released: 2022	Artist Website:
Tracks: 12	Rating: 80%
Running Time: 56:16

The summer of 2022 Girder Music sophomore album from Dale Thompson & the Boon Dogs, I See Red, builds upon the groups self-titled debut full length from the preceding year (also Girder).  As its namesake implies, the group is the project of iconic vocalist Dale Thompson, whom is best known for his work in Bride but has also participated in projects too numerous to mention but with the most noteworthy in my opinion being The World Will Burn, Perpetual Paranoia, The Reconciled, The Thomas Thompson Earth Project and Sovereign Cross.  As far as ‘the Boon Dogs’ side of things goes, that would include holdover bassist and co-founding member Gregory Bruce Campbell and new drummer Edu Diux in addition to a host of guest guitarists encompassing include brother Troy Thompson, Greg Martin, Garret Thomas, Sean Silas, Scottie Hoaglan and others.

I See Red maintains the blues heavy rock direction to the debut, aligning a gritty guitar proclivity and shuffling bass with artists signature gritty and raspy vocal qualities to create a work I see appealing to fans of Glenn Kaiser Band, Stevie & The Saints, Darrell Mansfield, Greg Chaisson, Sign of Jonah and Big Chris & D'Bare Bones Band. If anything, I See Red takes things to the next level musically by extending songwriting from the three to four minute range to its predecessor to that in excess of five to six minutes.  Upshot is a bit more depth and substance musically from how individual songs are allowed time to build and separate, and make better-defined statements, not that the debut songwriting was in any way flawed (a fine album in its own right).

Those that have followed Thompson’s career know he is no stranger to the blues, noting not just his work in Bride(referencing classic blues based hard rock releases Kinetic Faith and Snakes In The Playground) but also the varied blues-rock solo material he has put out over the years.  Hence, manner in which his stout, lower register vocals complement opener “I See Red”, scratchy and grainy with Campbell’s thickly woven bass, cutting guitar licks and chops but also enlivened with Hammond B3 decorating the back end. If anything, “I See Red”, sets the quality tone for the material to follow.  Lyric snippet:

I’ve seen red, came by water and blood
I’ve seen red, was a gift from above
Forgiveness of sins, clean me set me apart
I am saved from the wrath to come

I’ve seen red lift me up on the last day
I’ve seen red according to the riches of His grace
Bring me near, spirit water and the blood

Including “Hwy 44”, decelerating to a trenchant mid-paced romp in combining equally parts earthy mentality and heavy rocking ‘wah-wah’ style guitars with layered Gospel style female backing vocals.  Sean Silas contributed the inspired lead guitar to one of albums heavier tracks.

“Send Me” smoothly emanates its span, livening with its periodic wave like guitars (that hit quite hard in places) but also darkly tinctures in terms of the almost baritone vocals to mirror a spoken word feel.  Garret Thomas’ expert soloing brings to mind Glenn Kaiser (Resurrection Band, Glenn Kaiser Band).  Lyric snippet:

My name is in Your book, prepare my ways
Oh Lord send me, oh Lord won’t You send me
The road is long and dusty
And the heat will beat my brown

Break up that fallow ground, going to sow some seed
Here am I, hey oh Lord send me
The fields are ripe, prepare my way
Oh Lord, send me, my hands to the plow

“One Lost Coin” is in a similar weighty and bottom heavy mid-paced vein, with deeply woven backing vocals and light dashes of keyboards building upon the emotional scene.  Albums transparent shines in the process, allowing for a full bass mix, steady as it gets drums and Aaron Lucas’s sizzling guitar work to stand out.

Whereas the previous four are very good, taking things to the next level is “In The Thick Of It”.  Song elevates funk-laden bass and groove driven guitars (for its immaculate verse sections) only to break out in forthright fashion as high-end screams and airy backing vocals converge (for the catchy refrain).  Lucas literally makes his guitar sing instrumentally.  Lyric snippet:

Don’t hide that candle under a bushel
Don’t put your money in the ground
Reap where I have sowed
Not gather where I have not strewed

Going to be some weeping and gnashing of teeth
Eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear
Your tables a snare and a stumbling block

Whatcha going to do
When the Master’s at the door and knocks?

Another top track is “You Are the Man”, which embodies traditional blues with its leisurely bass and every bit sluggish tempo, speaking of the relaxed and laid back as Thompson augments his voice to come across hauntingly similar to Larry Norman to the point I am reminded of his blues rocking 1981 release Something New Under The Son.  Derek Ferwerda’s bluesy slide guitar proves particularly striking. 
   
Albums highlights in my opinion are its three tracks in excess of six minutes.  “Judgment Day” is first of the three, another easygoing piece to crawl its span, as atmospheric guitars (courtesy of Scottie Hoaglan) and Hammond B3 lend to the steady scene.  Earthy vocals and scintillating lead guitar underscore the manifest melody.  Lyric snippet:

Let sleeping dogs lie, they can’t warn us now
My knees are calloused from praying
I’ve been listening to what the preacher’s saying
He said today is the day of salvation

But some folks are still waiting, guess they want to see how the end turns out
Locusts take to the sky, the sky be burning red
Give me a revelation where I stand
Judgment Day’s upon us, the time is at hand

Second “Sword For Gideon” is my I See Red favorite.  Song ups tempo and heaviness, with guitars approaching the hard rocking (referencing the work of Kevin Wale) to almost bring to mind some of Resurrection Band’s blues heavy material, particularly that from Civil Rites (1991).  Momentous refrain radiates without flaw in continuously repeating the songs title: A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!

Back to tradition blues with “The Binding Of Isaac”, third and final epic to deliver a tempered aligning of flowing vocal melodies and accenting organ to speak of the soothingly reserved either way.  Wonderful guitar work of Greg Martin lends to the amiable aura.  Again, I hear a touch of Glenn Kaiser Band.  Lyric snippet:

Sarah’s womb was barren like and empty tomb
But the promise had been given, a miracle very soon
Mother of the Nations, Abraham Father of us all
She would conceive and bare her husband a son

From the inconceivable Isaac he was born
God swore no greater oath, swore upon His throne
Jesus is our redeemer, our redeemed righteousness
He has proclaimed you’re not guilty and endorsed man’s innocence

Albums potential lone downturn occurs on its three shorter pieces in the three-minute range.  It’s not that “Father Abraham” and “Raising Lazarus” are bad per se, each is fine in its own right and not skip worthy, but at such abbreviated span neither is given opportunity to grow and build and ultimately make defining statements as they should.  Lone song in which I pass is the blues grass influenced “The Bugaboo”, a song I find to be well a ‘bugaboo’ of sorts in that it fails to play to my tastes with its use of banjo and quirky if not offbeat rhythms and ‘ahh-ooh’ backing vocals.

I See Red equates to a solid blues heavy rock album.  It cannot be questioned how blues allows Thompson to be in his natural elements vocally while bassist Gregory Campbell plays every bit the crucial role, as do the varied guest guitarist bestowing their complementary abilities.  Songwriting, of course, makes a defining statement with nine top of the line tracks with the lengthier material best appealing to my tastes.  Production is up to standard as is packaging to feature eye catching cover art and multi-page mini booklet.  If a fan of blues or hard rock with a bluesy feel then you can do not wrong with I See Red.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “I See Red” (4:37), “Father Abraham” (3:02), “Hwy 44” (4:18), “Raiser Lazarus” (3:06), “Judgment Day” (6:21), “Sword For Gideon” (6:24), “In The Thick Of It” (4:22), “One Lost Coin” (4:37), “Send Me” (4:37), “The Bubagoo” (3:10), “You Are The Man” (5:07), “The Binding Of Isaac” (6:31)

Musicians
Lead Vocals - Dale Thompson
Organ - Graham Carruthers
Bass - Gregory Bruce Campbell
Drums - Edu Diux
Guitars - Greg Martin, Scottie Hoaglan, Sean Silas, Aaron Lucas, Scottie Hoaglan, Kevin Wale, Garret Thomas, Troy Thompson, Derek Ferwerda, Greg Martin
Banjo - Phillip Thompson