| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Tracii Guns |
| Record Label: Frontiers | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 46:05 |
The name Sunbomb might evoke images of a star gone supernova to some hard music fans, but to us it describes a ‘super group’ comprising renowned Stryper front man Michael Sweet and every bit noted L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns. Whereas one might expect any musical partnership between the two to reflect the bands in which each is best-known, melodic metal and hard rock in reference to former and Sunset Strip sleaze metal as it pertains to latter, that would not be entirely accurate. Rather, what we have in Sunbomb is a combining of traditional metal and doom metal that walks a fine line between Judas Priest and Black Sabbath to represent the heaviest project in which Sweet and Guns have participated.
Sunbomb traces to 2019 when president and A&R Director of Frontiers Music SRL Serafino Perugio contacted Guns about recording a solo project for the label. Guns started work on material and soon reached out to Sweet, whom was the logical choice to front the groups 2021 Frontiers Records debut Evil And Divine in light of not only the long run of well-received Stryper albums on Frontiers but also the fact he has been writing and playing in an increasingly heavier style. Upon receiving a completed song from Guns, Sweet loved the vibe and agreed to sing on the entire album.
The June of 2024 Sunbomb sophomore album Light Up The Sky (also Frontiers) finds the ‘Guns and Sweet partnership an effective one’ in that the duo maintain their penchant for composing material ‘with an even balance of catchy hooks and guitar fortitude’ (quoting the 90% Angelic Warlord review of Evil And Divine either way). Opening cut “Unbreakable” shines in this regard, ransacking with its widespread guitars and lancing momentum but not forsaking the alluring found in the emphatic aptitude at hand. Song sets the vehement tone for remainder of albums material to follow. Whereas not a Christian band, Sunbomb lyrics hint of Sweet’s faith:
With shattered dreams
And silent screams
I forged a path
That’s been ripped at the seems
The trials I’ve faced
And battles I’ve faced
A warriors heart
Built by grace
Consider ensuing piece “Steel Hearts” to feature a similar joining of indignant imprints, noting how Sweet reaches down and unveils a lower register segment to his soulful, classic tenor vocal delivery, and fetching appeal, Guns’ blade like (almost thrash laden) guitar riffs refuse to depart with repeat play. Catchy as all get out, I cannot help but think this is something Barren Cross might compose. Lyric snippet:
Steel Hearts ablaze
Breaking the chains
In the name of good
We’ll banish the stains
A choir of thunder
We stop when were done
United by love
And bound by the Son
Six minute “In Grace We’ll Find Our Name” tempers impulse to a measured direction. With clouting guitars leading the way, song touches upon the groups doom metal side - the crawling and grasping temperament is stark as it gets - but also revels in rugged melody when noting the underpinning passion to hold sway. I appreciate equally the minute long slogging rhythm guitar fade out to close things. Lyric snippet:
Beneath the stars, a guiding light
A beacon in the darkest night
A passion true
That’s pure and wide
A refuge in the raging tide
A flame that burns
A love untamed
In Grace we’ll find our name
Albums title track finds Sweet and Guns paying homage to their eighties metal and hard rock roots. “Light Up The Sky” takes a moderate tone compared to some cuts here, bordering on the commercial with a fashionable semi-ballad form as acoustic guitar to start transitions to guitars on the modest side and paramount melody takes hold of the lavish scene. Sweet establishes he can still reach those upper end high notes. Lyric snippet:
Through every trial
We’ll find again
The strength of a lion
And purpose within
With passionate hearts
And fiery souls
We’ll conquer every challenge
Achieve every goal
Sunbomb throws a curveball with albums shortest piece in the two and half minute “Rewind”. Truncated, however, means no less able, as hooks of a pointed form rise above the surface to make an instant imprint. Of equal note are the generous blues drenched guitars that bring to mind Place Of Skulls. Normally, I do not take to tracks of such abridged span, but I make exception for this one with its catchy inclining. Lyric snippet:
Living in sorrow
Hope always finds
A spirit that’s broken
A body that’s frayed
The weight of the world
Is a heavy chain
But deep in the heart
There is blood to reclaim
Speaking of which, the same applies to the three minute “Scream It Out Loud”. It divulges near punk like energy in cannon balling from the start, adhering to the exhaustive energy its span as implacable riffs and intractable harmonies combine to speak of the beguiling. The crisp rawness to production allows the vibrancy to emanate that much further. Lyric snippet:
Through the wreckage and the ruin
There’s a narrow path
Every single mark is through
Humility not wrath
We know deep within our souls
The sun is shining bright
Work till everybody knows
The day’s beyond night
Back to six-minute territory with “Winds Of Fate”, a superlative semi-ballad with a metallic guitar sheen backed by an echoing bass line. Momentum plods and slog, some of the sluggish riffs bring a doom like feel, but not to the point of extinguishing one of albums most outspoken melodies. Guns’ finds himself in his natural element with his bluesy soloing. Lyric snippet:
Through the valleys below
And mountains up high
If I spread my wings
I can touch the sky
In every trial
I’ll find Your grace
As I’m held within
An everlasting embrace
Up-tempo metal with a blunt edge, “Beyond The Odds” stands apart with its full throttle speed based aptitude: riffs touch upon the ruthless, while drumming is on the impenitent side (wish I could accredit a timekeeper but liner notes provide no details as to the outside Sweet and Guns performing on the album). On the upbeat, lead guitar switches to an expeditious form. Lyric snippet:
In the heart of the struggle
Time will turn the tide
When you’re deep in trouble
His arms are open wide
Don’t think you’re not good enough
Don’t think you’re not high enough
You’ve proven time and time again
You’re beyond the odds
By the grace of God
“Reclaim The Light” tempers momentum in sober mid-paced fashion while backing from some of the heaviness. Rhythm guitar, for instance, reveals more of a hard rock disposition as opposed to metal as hooks again indicate an eighties influence. I can see this one fitting nicely on any early Stryper album. Lyric snippet:
The bottom will rise
Like a phoenix in flight
Mistakes of the past
Help me reclaim the light
A warrior born
With a name on my soul
I’m ripped and I’m torn
Yet I’m perfectly whole
A finely done acoustic ballad ensues in “Where We Belong”. It echoes of the soulful - I detect subtle hints of Bon Jovi’s “Dead Or Alive” in the harmonies - in allowing Sweet to display his eloquent vocal abilities, fittingly lowering his register to align with the warmhearted scene. “Where We Belong” might be outside the box far as what we expect from the duo, but I find it one of albums highlights. Lyric snippet:
So let the light shine through the shadows of the past
In the echoes of our struggles
We’ll find the will to last
With every beat of our hearts
We’ll face the rising sun
On the journey to the kingdom
We’ll find were we belong
“Setting The Sail” is another short (three and half minute) but expeditiously catchy piece that Sweet and Guns prove successful in composing. The shuffling rhythm guitar and bluesy Rez Band style lead guitar cannot be denied, noting the flattering classic rock aspects, nor can the underpinning sense of low end groove (again, wish I could provide accreditation to the expertly performed rhythm section). Lyric snippet:
Against serpent’s lash
Deep in the tempest
Hope finds a way
Lighting the dark and igniting the day
In darkness
Light prevails
Today the devil fails
The blood of every nail
You can believe
He’s setting the sail
Light Up The Sky equates to another strong album from Sunbomb when factoring the choice songwriting and solid performance from Michael Sweet and Tracii Guns. Musically, it stays true to the pattern set on debut Evil And Divine by exploring heavy metal and doom territory, albeit not without the occasional melodic metal and hard rock moment hearkening back to the eighties. If Light Up The Sky and Evil And Divine are any indicator of what the two are capable, not only look forward to hearing a follow up release from Sunbomb but to also see it perform live.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Unbreakable” (3:49), “Steel Hearts” (3:37), “In Grace We’ll Find Our Name” (6:00), “Light Up The Sky” (4:49), “Rewind” (2:30), “Scream It Out Loud” (3:07), “Winds Of Fate” (6:13), “Beyond The Odds (3:29), “Reclaim The Light” (3:41), “Where We Belong” (5:10), “Setting The Sail” (3:30)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals
Tracii Guns - Guitars
