Album review: BLOODGOOD – Dangerously Close

Doolittle www.bloodgoodband.com

Back in the late 80’s I discovered the delights of Christian rock/metal or white metal as it was known. Now the lyrics can be OTT and preachy at times but the bands on the whole were very good and often you could match them with a secular equivalent like Barren Cross who sounded like Iron Maiden, Idle Cure were similar to Night Ranger and this band Bloodgood, always reminded me of Saxon.

This is the band’s first album in twenty two years! Of the classic line-up Michael Bloodgood is still in the band (he became a pastor in the intervening years), along with powerhouse vocalist Les Carlsen. Stryper’s guitarist Oz Fox is also a member of the line-up since they got back together.

For fans after the band’s sound of classic albums like ‘Detonation’ rejoice as they have recaptured that and then some. Songs like ‘Lamb Of God’ and ‘I Will’ are classy melodic metal tunes, with Les Carlsen belting the vocals out backed by monster guitar riffs and underpinned by that massive bass sound of Mr Bloodgood.

They can bring the pace down slightly on ‘Father Father’ and on ‘In The Trenches’ they dip their toes into a slight bit of industrial metal. With Oz Fox on board the guitars keep that metal edge and like Fox’s other band, Stryper, Boodgood have comeback with one of their strongest albums.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Nick van der Meulen adds…

Bloodgood has a legendary reputation, particularly in the Christian rock/metal circle and the band was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010, despite not having released anything since 1991. “Dangerously Close” is the outfit’s comeback album…

…and it does not disappoint! Melodic, heavy riffs, wailing guitar solos, bombastic, various tempoed songs with a positive message…this is a rocking album which can be played any time. The album has an infectious groove throughout and one has a tendency of playing it over and over…there isn’t a poor song to be found. Stryper’s Oz Fox also appears on guitar with Paul Jackson, another indication of the quality of this work.

Bloodgood, you’ve done yourself proud and have demonstrated that a 22-year hiatus hasn’t affected your ability. The next request is that we don’t have to wait another 22 years for another effort – and that you re-release your back catalogue!

*****

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)