Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock	Produced By: Kerry Crafton
Record Label: Quicksilver / Roxx Records	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 1985 / 2024	Artist Website:
Tracks: 10	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 39:06

Follower is what happens when you lash hard rock guitars onto a backbone of AOR and melodic rock.  The group thus makes heaviness a focal point to extent it competes with the Guardian’s (think Fire & Love), Fear Not’s (self-titled debut) and Novella’s (One Big Sky) of the world.  Yet, it places equal emphasis on a commercial propensity allowing it to invite comparison to White Heart, Allies, Sweet Crystal and Mastedon.  Hence, the two-fold musical direction to the Follower 1985 Quicksilver Records debut full length Into The Son. 

It does not hurt that Follower is an ‘all-star’ project of sorts.  Lead guitarist Brian Wooten, for instance, was a member of White Heart between 1990 and 1995 and co-songwriter on Petra albums No Doubt, God Fixation and Double Take.  Rhythm guitarist Kerry Crafton has worked as a producer/engineer for over 40 years with record labels and artists too numerous to mention, while bassist John Howard is a Nashville veteran who has appeared on hundreds of recordings, television shows and tour dates all over the world.  Vocalist Lance Keltner performs with Lance Keltner & Nuevo Retro in addition to running a guitar amp/effects pedal company, Smart Belle.

As one might imagine, the vinyl and cassette Quicksilver versions to Into The Son went out of print and turned into hard to find collectors items.  Enter Roxx Records, whom re-mastered (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound), re-mixed (noting the work of Crafton and Wooten) and re-issued Into The Son in November of 2024 for the first time on CD.  Layout and design to include new cover art and multi-page mini booklet featuring an interview with Crafton along with lyrics and detailed liner notes attributes to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.

Opener “You Gotta Choose” mirrors the Follower heavier side.  With hard rock guitars out of the gate, song muscles at a sinewy upbeat tempo to power riffing, hustling momentum and all the groove-laden hooks you could ask.  The Gospel choirs over the final minute lend a soulful aspect in line with the songs rollicking demeanor.  Lyric snippet:

There are only two ways to go
Only the darkness and the Light
In every choice you make
You either pick the wrong or the right

The prince of darkness will promise you
The world and all its gold
But the price you have to pay him is your immortal soul   
 
The strapping focus carries over to “Father Of Lies”.  It represents albums heaviest, with rhythm guitar approaching all out metal and Wooten decorating the ignited scene with his ablaze - almost hammer on driven - lead guitar (sort of like Rex Carroll of White cross).  Despite the turbulence, ample room exists for indelible hooks to rise above the surface.  Lyric snippet:

Only one thing saves you from both Lucifer and sin
Look to the Lord above, and ask Him to come in
It’s Jesus Christ that’s King, and He’s the One who rules
The black prince Lucifer is just an evil fool

Subsequent to a pair of opening scorchers, album settles down to its first AOR influenced track, “Kill The Nazarene”.  With guitars tempering to a melodic form, song upholds a pointed radio friendly melody and worshipful slant in line with the songs abetting subject matter.  All the while, Keltner proves no small talent vocally, exhibiting a smooth and even mid-ranged touch but capable of hitting a high note with ease.  Lyric snippet:
 
They could not take His life
He laid it down
Even death could not keep Him in the ground

So, they could not kill the Nazarene
He conquered death, He is the King
Ruler of the earthy eternally
He died for you upon a tree

Abject heaviness returns on “A Tear From God’s Eye”.  Song proves slow and moody, rooted in bluesy hard rock in traversing its pebbly verse sections but brightening as keyboards emanate to accent the exacting refrain.  Wooten again steps forward with another stretch of expert lead guitar (the guy is massively underrated- it was a coup for White Heart to land him).  Lyric snippet:

The heavens sing Your Glory
And the night winds tells Your story
The earth remembers bloody stains
This is the place Your Son was slain

A shooting star lights up the sky
It’s just a tear from God’s eye

Straightforward hard rock with “Tired Of Running”, a seventies influenced three and half minutes launching its length at a headlong tempo as groove driven Hammond B3 and what sounds like a horn section decorates the backend.  Strident guitars dominate the forefront along with a fitting raspy vocal performance from Keltner.  I take to John Howard’s bass solo instrumentally.  Lyric snippet:

I’m getting pretty tired of runnin’ away from You
You’re always lookin’, seeing everything I do
Everywhere I try to find
I find you waiting there inside

I’m tired of runnin’ from You
I’ll do what You say to do

Drawing upon the heavier and AOR sides is this reviewers choice cut “Bathe Me In The Blood”.  Song entices at once with its commercially packaged hooks and palatable vocal melodies, but also delivers a staunch blow in the form of intractable guitars placed staunchly in the mix.  This one represents the pinnacle of the Follower songwriting abilities.  Lyric snippet:

I feel Your presence here filling me with peace
And deep inside my heart, I feel the torture cease
The blackness in my eyes is now a blinding light
The black prince can no longer stand Your holy might

Bathe me in the Blood
Blood of the Lamb
Wash me in Your love
Save me from the damned

“Fear No Evil” is first of two hard rockers to ensue.  It smoothly flows from the start to a burly bass line and ethereal guitars, gaining increasing initiative as rhythm guitar plays an ironclad role leading the way to the curt but catchy refrain backed by soulful vocal melodies.  A run of shred lead guitar tops things off.  Lyric snippet:

You might not believe
Where I’ve been, what I’ve seen
But you know God is real when you’ve been where it’s mean
The lights in your heart turn from red to green-
You must stand and fight for what you believe

“Tribulation Times” upholds the virulent focus.  Hitting hard from the start, song echoes of the bluesy with its unflinching guitars and gutsy vocals (sort of like early nineties Bride) but not forsaking the arresting as another instantaneous chorus hook refuses to let go.  Keltner lowers his register with a gravelly rasp to extent Joe Dokken (no relation) of Scream In Eden comes to mind.  Lyric snippet:

The Lamb broke the first seal
A white horse went to conquer
Red horse from the second
And men would slay one another

Tribulation times are coming soon
Tribulation times could be your doom

Closing album are two AOR laced cuts that while solid I rate a slight notch below the previous eight.  First “In The Son” mirthfully flows at an upbeat tempo characteristic to feathery rhythm guitar, buoyant harmonies and pop based hooks, while second “Praise The Lord” as its name implies is a calmer worship rock piece of a leisurely form intrinsic to a distinguished semblance I see Christian radio of the time embracing.

Into The Son represents a quintessential example of melodic hard rock meets AOR with an at times guitar prompted and others commercially embossed basis.  I find it ingenious manner in which Follower carefully melds both sides of the fence to create a consistent package of songs in which while some are better than others, referencing the brilliant first eight, each holds up under repeat play.  Likewise, ‘all star’ band level talent cannot be denied in that each Follower member is a crucial performer in his regard.  Which begs the following: I cannot help but think the ceiling of potential for the group unlimited if it had stayed together and recorded four or five additional albums.  Regardless, if a fan of AOR meets hard rock then make the Roxx Records re-issue to Into The Son an immediate purchase before it goes out of print.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “You Gotta Choose” (3:02), “Father Of Lies” (4:12), “Kill The Nazarene” (4:27), “A Tear From God’s Eye” (5:10), “Tired Of Running” (3:22), “Bathe Me In The Blood” (3:52), “Fear No Evil” (3:38), “Tribulation Times” (3:18), “In The Son” (4:02), “Praise The Lord” (4:03)

Musicians
Lance Keltner - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Brian Wooten - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Kerry Crafton - Rhythm Guitar
John Howard - Bass & Kurzweil Strings
Fred Howard - Drums