| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Jim Erdman & Steve Griffith |
| Record Label: Star Song / Eonian | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1990 / 2026 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 / 16 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 49:11 / 78:40 |
The short version? Seraiah is one of the more underrated and overlooked bands to emerge from the eighties ‘White Metal’ scene. Beyond the hair metal image, the Evansville, Indiana based group delivers the musical licks and chops, unmistakable groove, catchy hooks and distinct swagger to compete with the Holy Soldier’s, Stryper’s, Guardian’s, Novella’s and Bride’s of the era. My introduction to Seraiah dates to a review of its 1987 self-titled debut demo in White Throne issue #3, which offers comparison to Stryper and the David Lee Roth Band while pinpointing creatively entitled tracks such as “Rock Without Sin”, “Known In Hell” and “Foxy On The Inside”.
I later picked up the groups Star Song Records 1990 debut Carnival World only to relegate it to the ‘like but not love’ category. Despite delivering a sound I identify with as melodic heavy metal as opposed to the more commercial ‘glam’, ‘hair’ and ‘pop’ metal of the time, Carnival World feels flat and subdued, almost as if Seraiah were held back in the studio and not allowed to exude its true musical personality. In other words, while I appreciate the album musically and feel it is well written, it rarely if ever made it to the top of my routine play list.
This rectifies, however, with the July of 2026 Eonian Records CD and vinyl Definitive Deluxe Edition reissues to Carnival World, which in addition to being re-mixed (courtesy of Jeff Garner of Plus One Audio Services) and re-mastered (noting the work of Rob Colwell), features colorful new cover art and a 36-page mini booklet. The booklet sets the standard, inclusive to a detailed band biography in addition to a hundred previously never seen band photos. CD version includes bonus material in the form of six live soundboard recorded tracks from the groups show at Croswell Wesleyan Church, Croswell, Michigan on December 31, 1991.
Due to losing/misplacing my original CD copy of Carnival World, I am unable to offer a remix/re-master comparison. That said, what I hear in the Eonian rerelease is a heavier and more dynamic version to Seraiah in which extraneous guitars better imbue the mix along with a more enterprising low end. In the process, much of the group’s inherent energy rises to the surface in addition to a rawness that strips away any overt commercial proclivity. The comparison offered to early Mötley Crüe in the Seraiah press material justifies accordingly.
Albums opening title track sets the standard in such regard. Initiated to the sound of a circus ringleader, “Carnival World” combines equal parts Quinton Gibson’s feverish licks and chops - I find him more than a match for contemporaries Tony Palacios (Guardian), Oz Fox (Stryper) and Paul Jackson (Bloodgood) - and Bradley Beckey’s brusque mid-ranged vocals to convey of the technically hook driven. I see fans of classic metal getting into this one. Lyric snippet:
Round and round you go
Where you'll stop nobody knows
Don't be deceived
You've just got to see it
For what it is
Carnival world
See it all around but you say what can I do?
'Cause all of the pain and the hurt are too much to overcome
This fight you're fighting is already won
The victory is yours if only to God you'll turn
Likewise, “Devastating Daydream” from revealing an uplifted tempo that intimates of the kinetic if not outright athletic. Catchy guitars bordering on the mesmerizing separate accordingly, with burly backing vocals and gruff harmonies further enabling the irresistible sensibilities. I cannot help but think of early Stryper.
“Hear Their Cry” initially impresses of a ballad with its one-minute Spanish guitar opening. Any potential commercial sentiments, however, are short lived as buzzing feedback gives way to frantic double kick drum and heavy-set ‘Overcome’ backing vocals to achieve a kinetic flair. Yet, halfway in and song descends to a softer melodic tincturing ahead of an extending instrumental run essential to daring lead guitar. The creativity allows “Hear Their Cry” to rate with my album favorites. Lyric snippet:
You hear their cry you can’t deny that a murder’s taking place
Your silent heart has opened up and now you ask what's next?
Jesus Christ is the answer
He's going to set you free
Give Him your life
Ask Him what’s right
Just ask Him in and then believe
“The Nature Of Things” traverses melodic heavy metal. Song finds timekeeper Kyle Dietz putting on a clinic, Launching things to a drum solo ahead of imbuing the galloping rhythms and brazen guitar harmonies with its technically inclined low end groove. Instrumentally, things descend to a classical guitar solo. Seraiah is so tight and in tune on this one, it is a loss it not attract major label attention.
An eighties style ballad reveals on “No More Tears To Cry”. It proves a very good one, effusing its span acoustically to emotional vocals and wondrous harmonies to reveal a moving radio friendly allure. A Holy Soldier like metal aspect reveals in the rough-hewn lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
All the hurt and all the pain
Jesus you came and took it away
I just want to tell you
When you found me I had no more tears to cry
I was searching for what was missing
I tried to fill the void with so many things
Then I felt the touch of your hand
“Rise Up” exudes a speed based bent, launching to another drum solo only to rush its span to high pitched falsettos, enlivened guitars and detonating rhythms. Refrain kindles in full force. I sense a bit of a classic US power metal bent akin to Sacred Warrior.
“You Know” ensues as a high-energy groove rocker akin to Die Happy and Red Sea. Michael McClung’s bass plays a lead role, underpinning steam rolling verse sections and sticky as it gets but curtly woven refrain. Abrupt time signatures realize to a jam like instrumental run and bluesy guitars to close. Brilliant. Lyric snippet:
I was searching for what was missing
I tried to fill the void with so many things
Then I felt the touch of your hand
When you need someone anytime
He's there for you
Just call to Him He's by your side
He'll run to you
A semi ballad inclining reveals on “Helpless Without You”. Song mixes equal parts acoustic guitar and searing feedback with ample doses of melodic guitars to emanate of the laid back and reticent. Layered backing vocals further reinforce the plush melody.
“Let Him Take Control” takes a full on ballad heading. Acoustic guitar leads the undiluted way, orientating with echoing harmonies to reinforce the gallant melody to hold sway. Whether it is choice ballads or stern hard rockers, Seraiah reveals a deft songwriting touch. Lyric snippet:
Jesus came and died for you and me
He's plainly laid out for all us to see
If your heart hungers for Jesus Christ today
Don't put it off just get down on your knees and pray
Just let the Lord take your hand
Let Him guide you time and again
Jesus let Him take control
Just ask the Lord into your life
He'll forgive your sins and make it right
Jesus let Him take control
Album closes to six-minute classic metal epic “Fallen Heart”. It takes a semi-progressive heading reminiscent to Barren Cross and Messiah Prophet, emboldened with an assertive bass presence and storming guitars to make one of albums heavier statements but not discarding the enticing as quite the accessible manifesting plays an equal role. The Maiden-like extended instrumental run dominates to extent “Fallen Heart” represents another top number.
Bonus live tracks sound surprisingly clean for ‘soundboard recordings’, with point being they are by no means muddy to the point of unlistenable as can happen with bonus live material. Of the six, only “Let Him Take Control” is off Carnival World, while remaining the group recorded for its 1992 self-titled sophomore album (also Star Song).
Things get going with anti-cult song “New Kind Of Voodoo”, which I identify as a catchy groove rocker with all the impertinent harmonies and distorted ambitions to embody the darker Lynch Mob vibe the group intended to define its second album (according to the liner notes biography). It also extends to eight and half minutes from Gibson’s extended open air guitar solo akin to Rex Carroll.
Next two, “When It Rains” and “Whatever Happened To Your Love”, are unplugged ‘cookie cutter’ ballads that while by no means bad, impress as forced in order to meet label expectations to fit on Christian radio. In my opinion, Seraiah is capable of more. Hence, live version to “Let Him Take Control”, which kicks in maintaining the acoustic lacing but mirroring a blues-rock vibe with its grainy guitars and prolonged bluesy soloing carrying it out to seven minutes. Song also serves to introduce new bassist Tracy Ferrie, whom went on to ‘bigger and better’ things with Whitecross, Stryper and Boston.
Closing cuts “Song And Dance” and “Fever” embody the group’s potential. Former resonates of an at times moody acoustic vibe and others a bluesy hard rock essence with choice melody and latter a metal tinged boogie flavored flair not that far removed from early Stryper and Van Halen (got to love how halfway in and Beckey unveils some Robert Plant-ish “Immigrant Song” style falsettos!).
Seraiah debut Carnival World comes to life from the Eonian remix and re-master. What was once a medium to good album now takes to the next level with improved production allowing the groups material to better shine. When factoring “Hear Their Cry”, “You Know”, “Let Him Take Control”, “Fallen Heart” and other choice cuts, I am of opinion a Christian label was too small for Seraiah; rather, the group required a mainstream label with the marketing and big budget production to reach its true potential. Best thing for Seraiah at this point would be to return to the studio and re-record its second album the way it intended in a Lynch Mob vibe and with the songs cut by Star Song. In the meantime, the Eonian reissue makes Carnival World a can’t miss proposition.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Carnival World): “Carnival World” (4:42), “Devastating Daydream” (5:21), “Hear Their Cry” (5:44), “The Nature Of Things” (4:24), “No More Tears To Cry” (5:00), “Rise Up” (3:54), “You Know” (3:45), “Helpless Without You” (4:42), “Let Him Take Control” (4:59), “Fallen Heart” (6:11)
Track Listing (Bonus Live Tracks): “New Kind Of Voodoo” (8:36), “When It Rains” (2:42), “Whatever Happened To Your Love” (3:34), “Let Him Take Control” (6:59), “Song And Dance” (4:21), “Fever” (3:44)
Musicians
Bradley Beckey - Lead & Background Vocals
Quinton Gibson - Guitars, Mandolin & Background Vocals
Michael McClung - Bass & Background Vocals
Kyle Dietz - Drums
