In 1983 Dale and Troy Thompson started a band named Matrix in Louisville, Kentucky. Matrix recorded four self-financed demos, which were distributed at live shows and through the mail via Contemporary Christian Music Magazine (CCM) and various fanzines of the day. Their ministry continued to grow in the Christian rock underground but it was not until 1986 that they managed to break into the mainstream. Opening for Daniel Band in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Matrix caught the eye of the representatives of Refuge Records who were forming their subsidiary label Pure Metal. In the latter part of 1986, there were two events that occurred simultaneously that would ultimately be a major turning point for the band. It had been nearly six months since Refuge Records expressed serious interest in the band. In an effort to expedite an impending offer from Refuge, Dale and Troy mailed to the Refuge office all of the hundreds of letters from fans all across the United States. Additionally amid the growing popularity of the Ohio based secular Matrix, the decision was made to change the name to Bride. Shortly thereafter, Bride became the second band to be signed to the Refuge Records subsidiary label Pure Metal. Unfortunately the band have always felt they have to change styles, and play music that is trendy. Bride are still around, and they are one of the few "surviving" Christian metal bands of the 80's.

SHOW NO MERCY (1986, 1999) M8

This was Bride's first release. I really loved this album, when it was new. Bride used to have awful sound, but some really great songs. This was originally released on Pure Metal Records, but I have the M8 reissue, with several bonus-tracks. I searched forever for a CD-copy of it! It's signed by Troy and Dale, but I have no clue if the signatures are real.

Killer tracks: Now He Is Gone, Forever In Darkness, Show No Mercy, The First Will Be The Last

LIVE TO DIE (1988) PURE METAL

Bride's second, and in my opinion best record, is an all metal album. No ballads, just signature Bride material. The production is a bit better than on their first album, but they still have a long way to go production-wise. Most fans that started listening to the band from the beginning, wish that Bride had stayed this way. "Hell No" is probably the best known track by this band, and it is still played live today. Dale's vocals was what made Bride stick out in the scene. He has this screaming, yet melodic voice. And here it comes to it's fullest.

Rock trivia: Bride got to record this album at Grand Slam studio in West Orange, New Jersey. This studio was used to record some of Bon Jovi's early efforts. At the end of the record, after the song "Heroes", there is an awful noise which many have equated to the sound of demons (No one in Bride has ever heard a demon and can not attest to the similarity in sound). This was disturbing to many Bride fans who was not prepared for it; since it did appear after a sizable pause. The noise was simply the producer, John Petri, playing the inside of a piano while howling like Yoko Ono. He made it a point to wake the band up in the morning by making this hideous sound. The band thought the noise was funny, not scary, and wanted it on the album as a reminder of the fun they had in the studio.

Killer tracks: Metal Might, In The Dark, Fire And Brimstone, Heroes

 SILENCE IS MADNESS (1989, 1999) M8

Bride's 3rd album. By most fans regarded as the bands last heavy metal album. It's just as good as both it's predecessors, but I always favor 'Live To Die', if I have to pick one. 'Silence Is Madness' has much better production, though. And this reissue contains 8 bonus-tracks! The 2 first are songs recorded for this album, but they didn't appear until the best-of compilation, 'End Of The Age'. The rest are songs recorded by Dale Thompson, and released in 1983's 'Lost In His Love' album. I strongly dislike the bluesy "Hot Down South Tonight" track, that also appeared on the best-of compilation.

Killer tracks: Silence Is Madness, Until The End We Rock

BEST OF BRIDE - END OF THE AGE (1990) PURE METAL

Everybody Knows My Name Hell No Hot Down South Forever In Darkness Heroes Same Ol' Sinner Thunder In The City Fire And Brimstone Evil That Men Do All Hallow's Eve

This is a best-of compilation, but with 2 new tracks. So this is well worth getting. You could always complain about the track-list, but with 3 albums behind them to choose from, this will always be the case. The 2 new tracks, "Same Ol' Sinner" and "Everybody Knows My Name", show the direction Bride was going to follow. More hard rock, less metal. Even the title hints that something is about to change.

KINETIC FAITH (1991) PURE METAL

So this is the direction Bride were heading. You heard it on the 2 new songs on the compilation, and here we hear it on the entire album. All in all it is not so far from 'Silence Is Madness', only a bit more hard rock, and less metal. I would describe it as a mix between Mötley Crüe and Billy Idol!! I like some of the songs, but others, like "Ski Mask" (what a lame title) have not become friends with me. Too bad that when Bride finally got to have good sound on their albums, they changed their style. This will not be a dust-collector, but not a frequent player either.

Killer tracks: Troubled Times, Young Love

 SNAKES IN THE PLAYGROUND (1992) STAR SONG

I actually bought this album as a new release. Back then I really liked the album, but after a while I grew tired of it. So in this collection clean-up I had, I sold it, along with the 'Scarecrow Messiah'-album. But now that my Bride-collection is growing again, I thought I'd give it another try, and got myself a copy once again. I still like many of the songs on the album, and I guess I even prefer 'Snakes...' over 'Kinetic Faith'. "I Miss The Rain" is a beautiful ballad, with Troy playing the mandolin!! Still this is the last album by this band, that I want to own. All releases from now on are of no interest to me, because they contain no metal related material at all.

Killer tracks: Rattlesnake, Would You Die For Me, I Miss The Rain

SCARECROW MESSIAH (1994) STAR SONG

Reading the last sentences in my 'Snakes In The Playground' review seems a bit weird now, since I once again have started to collect some more Bride. 'Scarecrow Messiah' is yet another hard rock album from them. A couple of the tracks are good, like the title-track. But the rest are mediocre hard rock, at best.

Killer tracks: Beast, Scarecrow

SHOTGUN WEDDING... 11 #1 HITS & MRS. (1995) STAR SONG

Psychedelic Super Jesus (The Buzzsaw Mix) Would You Die For Me Everybody Knows My Name Place Fallout Same Ol' Sinner Time (The 12 Gauge Mix) Rattlesnake Troubled Times Beast Hired Gun (The Anvil Mix)

Yet another compilation disc. This one marks the end of the bands relationship with Star Song. And I'll be darned if the title of the CD is not an indication of the bands feelings toward this release. 11 #1 hits, compiled from Bride's last 3 efforts is what you get. So overlooking the 3 remixes, which I could not really hear any differences in, this is "old new" so to speak. This is not my favorite Bride era, so this album is a collection filler, rather then anything I spend time listening to. Gotta love finding it used in an antique shop for under 3$ though.

THIS IS IT (2003, 2006) RETROACTIVE (EXPANDED)

Every time Bride releases a new album, the same thing happens. They say that the new album will be a return to their roots, and I expect more metal. But every time they continue to follow the trends, and I get disappointed. I mean, how's playing modern rock or rapcore returning to the sound of 'Live To Die' or even 'Scarecrow Messiah'? So when the hype about 'This Is It' was raging, I stayed pretty calm. It was not until Bride put a sample of a new track on their website that I dared to get excited again. This time the rumors seemed to be true. The band has managed to pull off a return of sorts. 'This Is It' has a lot in common with 'Snakes In The Playground' and 'Scarecrow Messiah'. Sure, we get some modern influences here and there. But most of all we get songs that sticks to my mind. Guitar-driven hard rock, with plenty groove-laden hooks, and Dale's great singing! I'm not loving all the songs on this album, and they could easily have dropped a title or two to make it an even better CD. But for the most part I like what I hear. Bride sound better, and heavier, than they have in a decade!

The 2006 reissue from Retroactive Records sports 4 bonus tracks, taken from a demo EP, entitled 'Raw', which the band released to raise money to record 'This Is It'. The reissue have been remastered, but this is not audible to an untrained ear like mine. Also the cover art has been slightly changed.

Killer tracks: Blow It All Away, To The Sky, Drop D, Head Lookin' For A Bullet, Microphone

Bride also appear on:  

V/A - 'Heavy Righteous Metal'

V/A - 'Heavy Righteous Metal II'

Dale Thompson guest appearances:

Liberty N' Justice - 'Soundtrack Of A Soul'

Troy Thompson guest appearances:

Liberty N' Justice - 'Soundtrack Of A Soul'