| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Bryan Carman, John Mokma & Garret Thomas |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 45:05 |
A common theme that ties together the Angelic Warlord reviews to the first two We Are Resolute albums Shine The Light (2020) and Only Human (2022): ‘I like them. There’s really nothing wrong with them. I just don’t love them’. We Are Resolute traces to a partnership between multi-instrumentalists Bryan Carman (guitars, keyboards, vocals & drums) and John Mokma (drums and guitars), whom join forces with veteran vocalist Dale Thompson (Bride and side projects too numerous to mention) for a bluesy aligning of metal and hard rock with a strong acoustic basis. Third Roxx Records album Fallen Angel from November of 2023 maintains the same lineup and musical sentiments.
Songwriting wise Fallen Angel follows suite of its predecessors in mostly encompassing material in the good to very good range with a few clunkers thrown in but little if anything separating as truly great. Please note nothing is wrong with that when factoring how each of the three We Are Resolute albums are musically solid but by no means are contenders to rank within the top five or top ten albums of the year. Where We Are Resolute takes things to the next level is in the area of production when noting how Fallen Angel gives prominence to a well-defined rhythm and acoustic guitar alongside a clean mix of guitar leads, bass and drums.
“Don’t Walk Away” is first of four hard rockers to open Fallen Angel. It begins to a signature scream from Thompson ahead of plowing forward to freight train like momentum, with stern as it gets verse sections propelled by radiant guitar trading off with an equally keyed up refrain of a soaring nature. I see Bride fans embracing this one. Lyric snippet:
We fight the powers unseen
Battle against the flesh
When will we learn to trust Him
Make it to the end of this life
A gift we will receive
Lay a crown down at his feet
Likewise “In Him”, a shorter (three minute) but faster speed based track rocketing its span to the group’s exuberant rhythm section - noting Mokma’s perseverant timekeeping - and exuberant demeanor to match. Carman’s lead guitar work is ever bit blues as it is expeditious. Lyric snippet:
You don’t know where you’re going
But you know where you’ve been
No need to be afraid
He has you in His hand
If you’re in Him
You’re in His hand
And if you know Him
You’re in His plan
“Holy Ghost Writer” represents one of albums top tracks. It begins to blowing wind ahead of settling in at a mid-paced clip, pointing to a bluesy hard rock basis with its shuffling guitar layering and earth as it gets melody to command. Thompson’s emotional vocals further build upon the gritty scene that would sound at home on any early nineties Bride album. Lyric snippet:
Write a poem, write a song
Abide in Him and ride along
On a journey that’s unknown
Bow before Him at His throne
When the Spirit speaks to you
Take heed and listen to
Words of wisdom, words of life
Submit to Him, end the strife
Albums title track impresses as a classic eighties metal ballad. “Fallen Angel” is awash in melody its span, intrinsic to burnished harmonies, melodic bass and vocals taking a complementary gritty and raspy tone. I can see this one making its home on eighties FM radio if given a boost. Lyric snippet:
They call you the father of lies
Wit your words you hypnotize
And I know you’re a fallen angel
You come to me in your disguise
In the dark I give you my mind
Then I know you’re a fallen angel
Album moves on to two straight acoustic cuts in “Wretched Man” and “Trust In You”. Former proves crisply woven with its layered harmonies and bluesy soloing but equally engaging in terms of its stately, almost hymn-like refrain; latter features the laid back, mid-ranged lead vocals to Carman, whom is joined by the violin and cello of brother Troy Thompson to lend a cool Country Western flair. Again, hope I am not out of line to again invite a Bride comparison in reference to the group’s 1995 seventh album Drop.
Things return to hard rock territory with “Shout”, another truncated (three minute) piece that takes a swiftly moving route in unleashing high energy and the spirited momentum to match. Yes, I like the song in that hooks are defined and guitars groove with the best of them; that said, I hope I am not out of line to suggest the continuously repeated ‘Shout!’ backing vocals get redundant in time. Lyric snippet:
This song was written for you to sing along
Praising God together makes us strong
He wants to hear us, wants us to shout
For all to hear and shout it out loud…
We need you upon on your feet
Many souls have fallen asleep
Time has come for us to get up and go
Gotta shout out loud and let love show
“Ungodly” represents another top quality metal cut. It blasts of venom from the get go, plunging with its edgy bass presence but equally captivating in terms of the immediate hooks to draw in at once. Harmonies reflect upon the knife like and vocals an echoing form. In the end, this rates with my album favorites. Lyric snippet:
Get on your knees
Look toward heaven
Call on His name
Put your trust in Him
Go tell the world
That He dies for them
Rose again to save them
Never be the same again
Fallen Angel is at its heaviest beginning with follow up cut “The Fight”, a classic metal instrumental with a slugging mentality in which piercing harmonies combine with a darker semblance to remind of Jacobs Dream. Follow up cut “Die With My Armor On” maintains the straightforward metal themes albeit in a more upbeat form as militant rhythms and bombastic mentality point to a slight European aesthetic. Troy Thompson returns with an exciting lead guitar run.
Albums final half also includes a couple more acoustic pieces, with “God Gave Me You” my favorite with its extended bluesy guitar solo and rhythm guitar edges over its final minute. I tend to pass on “I See You”, which while also featuring Carman on lead vocals and by no means bad, potentially wears out its welcome as the fourth acoustic number on a twelve-song album.
Fallen Angel equates to another good album from We Are Resolute. Despite a couple skip buttons, songwriting is consistent, while musicianship meets the mark and vocals stay true to the metal meets hard rock basis at hand. Presence of Troy Thompson lends further value. I welcome another addition from We Are Resolute to my collection.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Don’t Walk Away” (4:10), “In Him” (3:10), “Holy Ghost Writer” (4:04), “Fallen Angel” (3:30), “Wretched Man” (4:24), “Trust In You” (3:35), “Shout” (3:09), “Ungodly” (4:20), “God Gave Me You”, (3:52), “The Fight” (2:50), “Die With My Armor On” (4:16), “I See You” (3:44)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Bryan Carman - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards & Drums
John Mokma - Drums & Guitars
Troy Thompson - Bass, Violin, Organ & Lead Guitar
