Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


Bride
Tsar Bomba



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 67 minutes, 20 seconds
Street Date: October, 2009


Bride made a name for themselves in the early to mid 90s releasing memorable classics such as Snakes in the Playground and Scarecrow Messiah. Initially, they started out as a dark metal band with a sound similar to Dio (former lead singer of Black Sabbath) on their debut album Show No Mercy in 1986 and Live to Die in 1987. Kinetic Faith is where Bride began a new chapter with a more commercial hard rock sound, although they still had plenty of surprises available to the diehard fans. Their newest album, Tsar Bomba, is quite a departure from the Bride we knew in the 90s. It's still Bride, but it's a little heavier than past efforts, and it has a sound that would share a place with bands like Deliverance.

"Industrial Christ" and "All We Are" are straightforward tunes that sound like something that could easily fit on the Scarecrow Messiah album. Both tunes are a good way to begin Tsar Bomba. Much like Relient K's Forget and Not Slow Down, Bride has many small instrumental tracks on album ("Prokofiev," "1973," "Bach Minuet," etc.). "Never" is a song that covers issues such as people underestimating what they don't know such as the power of God. The sound is very reminiscent of Alice in Chain's "Man in the Box."

Later, the album provides a more melodious song, "Downward," complete with piano accompaniment. It's one of Bride's most memorable ballads in recent years since "Goodbye" on Snakes in the Playground. Bride seems to have a well balanced album here as they continue the album by offering songs, "Look in My Head," "We Are the People," and "When I was a Kid" that would easily please fans from the past.

Unlike musicians from older generations, Bride has given listeners something that is truly unique and different than past projects. Tsar Bomba doesn't have a tired sound that many bands seem to invoke after 20 years. Bride brings the diehard fans something to appreciate and some material that might astound listeners considering the band's age. This could be Bride's best album since Scarecrow Messiah. Fans of Bride, Alice in Chains, and Disciple should appreciate this massive 67-minute event.

- Review date: 1/10/10, written by Wayne Myatt of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



Bride reigned as one of the top metal acts in the Christian industry in the early 90s. The band's best efforts are arguably Snakes in the Playground and Scarecrow Messiah, but the metal act seems to have struggled with each album since then to recreate the magic captured on those albums. Moments on a few follow-up records did get close, but for the most part, it's been an uphill battle for Bride. Tsar Bomba doesn't do much to help things, either. While it has a few standout tracks - like "Industrial Christ," "All We Are," and "Last Thing That I Feel" - it's things like Dale Thompson's rough and worn vocals that are regrettably unable to perform the kind of jawdropping feats they once could. The instrumentals (which there are too many of) don't really add much to the album either, other than to break up the onslaught of metal-flavored hard rock. Tsar Bomba isn't necessarily a bad rock record, but it's not a great Bride record either. When you have a band who has produced some amazing songs ("I Miss The Rain," "Would You Die For Me," "Beast," "Thorns," "Murder," to name a few), material like that found on Tsar Bomba is pretty much just disappointing. It's a record worth checking out, especially for the most devoted Bride fans, but ultimately, it's not the grand finale many were hoping for on Bride's reported final album. - John DiBiase

 

. Record Label: Retroactive Records
. Album length: 17 tracks: 67 minutes, 20 seconds
. Street Date: October, 2009
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Industrial Christ (4:30)
  2. All We Are (5:11)
  3. Prokofiev (0:20)
  4. Love Shine (5:29)
  5. 1973 (0:27)
  6. We Are Together (4:40)
  7. Never (5:57)
  8. Separate (4:48)
  9. Nothing Means Anything To Me (6:05)
  10. Bach Minuet (0:59)
  11. Last Thing That I Feel (4:38)
  12. Chopin Nocturne In E Flat Minor (0:34)
  13. Downward (5:52)
  14. Look In My Head (4:40)
  15. When I Was A Kid (4:16)
  16. Rhapsodie Für Eine Gitarre (5:02)
  17. We Are The People (4:04)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images