| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Jim Morris |
| Record Label: Intense / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1991/2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 15 | Rating: 75% / 80% |
| Running Time: 65:37 |
Ransom traces its history to the mid-eighties and the burgeoning white metal scene to emerge following the commercial success of Stryper. Yes, a well-known player in a literal flood of ‘white metal’ bands of the time, but what set Ransom apart is how it was one of the fronted by a female vocalist. Hence, talented front lady Lisa Faxon, whom founded the group with bassist Michael Ciado under the name First Aid after the two met via an add in a Los Angeles music paper. Change to the Ransom moniker did not come about until prior to recording a 3-song demo entitled Once And For All and placing the track “Sin Killer” on the California Metal 2 compilation from 1988. Resulting notoriety led to Ransom signing with Intense Records.
Ransom’s 1991 self-titled Intense debut brings a joining of commercial metal and hard rock fans of Crystavox, Shout, Stryper, Guardian, Angelica and Holy Soldier will be certain to appreciate. Female fronted groups from the period such as Arsenal, Scarlet Red and Rosanna’s Raiders also deserve consideration.
Two things stand out about Ransom: 1) its overall heaviness 2) creativity to its better material. Both play key roles in muscular pieces “Lasting Love”, noting its unremitting guitar assaults, and “Break Into Darkness”, as found in its periodic double kick drum. Best of the bunch might be “Fallen Angel” in light of its time and tempo variances and exquisite chorus.
Also of note but a notch below are bluesy mid-paced hard rockers “Fool That I Am” and “I’ll Never Leave You” in addition to pop sensibilities of “Etched In Stone”. “Memories Of You” delivers the good far as ballads are concerned. There are a couple songs, however, that fall into the average to good category in ballad “Tonight” and acoustic based “When I Die” along with two others I skip in upbeat rockers “Rumors” and “Your Broken Heart”.
Ransom is not lacking in talent. It begins with Faxon, whom brings heart, passion and attitude to the front-lady role with her gritty and raspy style. Manner in which she sings in a lower register - when placed alongside contemporaries Christine Steel (Arsenal) and Rosanna Palmer (Rosanna’s Raiders) - helps contribute to that heaviness in question.
It also includes first-rate guitarist Tony Ortiz. With his fluid hammer-on driven style, he reminds of Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), although Tony Palacios (Guardian) and David Zaffiro (Bloodgood) also invite comparison. “Lasting Love” and “Memories Of You” highlight his adept soloing, while he lays down perfectly placed harmonies on “Break Into Darkness”.
Ransom first saw re-issue in 2011 on Intense Millennium Records to include the three songs from Once And For All as bonus tracks. Retroactive Records re-issued Ransom a second time in May of 2021 to also feature the three Once And For All tracks and a previously unreleased song in “All My Heart” (off the First Aid demo) along with a 12-page booklet containing lyrics and rare band photos (noting the work of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics). Re-mastering (attributing to Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) cleans up any muddiness to the original in producing the brighter sound to elevate guitar momentum and augment bass presence. Stark differences are such to make the re-issue strongly recommended.
Track By Track
Plush keyboards to start “Lasting Love” give way to snarling rhythm guitar. At that point we are off, as song kicks into high hear and steamrolls through its heavy duty verse sections and surprisingly melodic refrain. Ortiz showcases his pristine lead guitar abilities. Lyric snippet:
Ignite the flame within my heart
Don’t hold back give me all you’ve got
The sparks that cause the fire sear in my soul
Quench these old desires - take full control
Shine down Your love on me
The never ending – lasting love
That brings me to my knees
“Rumors” falls somewhat flat. Yes, it might be a bit unfair in following the brilliance to “Lasting Love” but the song lacks the punch and flair to albums more notable material. It also does not help that “Rumors” brings an overriding eighties rock sound, which contributes to it sounding slightly dated. Still, you cannot deny the crunch to guitars and underpinning bass.
A title such as “Memories Of You” is the perfect ‘tell’ that we have is a ballad. And a very good one at that, slowly maneuvering its way from the start to tasteful acoustic guitar only to pick up pace as bluesy rhythm guitar cuts in to back the moving refrain. Ortiz is on top of things with his emotional soloing.
“Fool That I Am” highlights an earthy hard rock mentality. Song stands out with its tough as nails proclivity but also brings contrasting elements in the form of slower passages carried by quietly played lead guitar. Some of the bluesy flavorings to “Memories Of You” come to the forefront in the process. Lyric snippet:
But seems to me right from the start
You were playing games with my heart
I found a love I can’t compare
To what I thought love could be
They sys that love must be tough
But fool that I am
Right before my eyes a love that won’t deny me
For eternity
High energy “Break Into Darkness” represents a rousing five minutes. Characterized by its immaculate guitar melodies, song intersperses occasional jam flavorings with an elevated refrain joined by pummeling double bass. Ransom brings it all together on this one. Lyric snippet:
It’s hard to see beyond despair
No matter where you turn there’s nobody there
No one there to ease the pain
Riddles and rhythms, they calm your mind
Imaginary friends they jump from the book
Only they have kind words to say
Break into their darkness…
Second ballad “Tonight” takes the heavier keyboard approach as opposed to acoustic based “Memories Of You”. Am I out of line to suggest a Heart comparison? No, not a bad thing, but when placed alongside, I take “Memories Of You” with its guitar driven sensibilities.
“Etched In Stone” returns to up-tempo territory. It mirrors a pop metal flair, as found in the melodic allure to its refrain but also rhythm guitar not quite pronounced as that on albums heavier material. Still, it proves a good effort with solid hooks and added tight guitar harmonies.
By far albums best is “Fallen Angel”. Song starts in slow, ominous fashion, gradually building until melodic guitars take over. Rest of the way it treats to technical time changes, drifting between ethereal based verse sections and sublimely executed refrain driven by polished vocal melodies. Lyric snippet:
Once a portrait of beauty and song
Heavenly host of another kingdom
Rolled the dice to make it all your own
To belike the most high
Fallen angel
You can’t stand against your enemy
The Prince of Peace
Fallen angel
Now you realize His sovereignty
Because of Calvary
Second skip button “Your Broken Heart” does not quite cut it. Similar to “Rumors” something is lacking, such as needed guitar initiative to beef things up but ultimately inspiration of albums best material. Listen to this next to “Break Into Darkness” and “Fallen Angel” and there is no comparison. Lyric snippet:
You just can’t let it go
Play it in your mind over and over
There you go again
Your attitude will cost you
You can’t eat of the bitter sweet
And go on living like you do
Your broken heart – does it have to be a cold hearted one?
Your broken heart – does it have to be as hard as stone?
Slow and bluesy “I’ll Never Leave You” approaches semi-ballad territory. A solid but not quite great deep cut, song moves is span to entrancing guitar harmonies and Faxon’s heartfelt vocal approach. Other pieces I like better but still a solid effort.
“When I Die” closes things acoustically. Again, another piece that is not the bands best but otherwise sound. I wish it had been carried out further than two and a half minutes. Lyric snippet:
The storm outside is raging
Yet I feel so calm inside
All around me war is waging
Still I have peace of mind
When I die
And if I find it was all a story
I would not change a thing
Knowing how You changed me
The Once And For All demo tracks are essential despite some thinness production wise. My favorites include “Sin Killer”, a driving metal slab with traditional guitar edges and fittingly churlish chorus, and “Sticks & Stones”, an upbeat commercial hard rocker with hooks galore and slick backing vocals. “To Be Like You” impresses as a rock ballad with an acoustic and keyboard slant that has wave your lighter in the air written all over it. I also like First Aid demo cut “All My Heart” with its lively melodic hard rock nature and lightly done opening and closing passages.
Ransom adds up to a very good but not quite great album. No doubt, potential exists - as fulfilled in 1992 Intense sophomore effort Soul Asylum - but lacking are a couple more choice cuts to prove crucial in putting it over the top. Therein lies the rub in that each of the four bonus tracks in my opinion are better than several songs that made it onto Ransom. No idea why they were not recorded, but that is also why I assigned grades of both 75% and 80% to the album, with former attributing to the original Intense release and latter the Retroactive version to feature said bonus material. If a fan of eighties metal and hard rock I highly encourage picking up a copy before it goes out of print.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Ransom): “Lasting Love” (4:28), “Rumors” (4:21), “Memories Of You” (4:21), “Fool That I Am” (4:23), “Break Into Darkness” (5:02), “Tonight” (4:14), “Etched In Stone” (3:43), “Fallen Angel” (5:05), “Your Broken Heart” (3:54), “I’ll Never Leave You” (4:28), “When I Die” (2:35)
Track Listing (bonus tracks): “Sin Killer (4:03), “Sticks & Stones” (4:59), “To Be Like You” (5:01), “All My Heart: (5:02)
Musicians
Lisa Faxon - Lead Vocals
Tony Ortiz - Guitars
Michael Ciado - Bass
Additional Musicians
Keyboards - Jim Morris & Brent Jeffers
Joseph Galletta - Drums
