Pioneers in Christian hard rock. Started out in Sweden as early as 1975, by Ulf Christiansson. Highlighted their career in 1987, with the release of 'Dancing On The Head Of The Serpent'. Released most of their albums both in Swedish and in English language versions. Ulf has also released a bunch of solo-albums, mostly worship albums.
KRIGSMAN (1981) PRIM (CDR)
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitars, Lead Vocals Dan Tibell - Keyboard Peter Carlsohn - Bass Klas Anderhall - Drums
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Man, it's a hoot rediscovering these almost forgotten gems from the past. 'Krigsman' (or 'Warrior' as the English version was called) is probably Jerusalem's finest moment. All of the songs have become classics. It's just something about Ulf's lyrics that just grabs me. And he really is a master of writing great hard rocking melodies, combined with the most heart-wrenching ballads. That gives the album a perfect balance. I wish that this album would get a proper re-release, in it's entirety. I do own the 'Jerusalem Klassiker 2' re-release, but it doesn't contain any liner-notes, and the last track is missing.
Killer tracks: All of them.
DANCING ON THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT
(1987) JM (Swedish version)
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Michael Ulvsgärd - Drums Peter Carlsohn - Bass Reidar I.Paulsen - Keyboards |
Some times you have so high expectations about an album, when you finally get it, it just isn't the same as you thought it would be. I remember playing the crap out of my brothers tape of this album. I loved every single second of it. So I've searched everywhere for a CD copy. But now that I own it, it's not the same. The production is dated, the sound is almost silly (guess who was trying to sound like the popular pop-metal bands that ruled the mid-eighties?), and quite a few of the songs no longer holds water. But after a few listens, some of the charm comes back. The first 2 tracks are still great, and Uffe is, as always, writing amazing lyrics. "The Night When...." is one of his most personal songs I believe, and what a testimony it is! Another cool thing about my copy, is that the last track is pretty rare. It was only included on the first pressing of the album.
Jerusalem also released a USA-version of 'Dancing...', which I now own a CDR of.
Killer tracks: Dancing On The Head Of The Serpent, Plunder Hell And Populate Heaven, Come Higher, Still, Covered By Blood
DANCING ON THE HEAD OF THE
SERPENT (1988) REFUGE (US version) (CDR)
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Sweden's biggest Jerusalem fan sent me this CDR of the US version of 'Dancing....' (thanks, David). The cover is a bit different, and the production is slightly heavier. Some of the tracks have even been re-recorded, ending up with different intros, solos etc. Would eventually like to get my hands on an original copy.
Killer tracks: See above
10 YEARS AFTER VOL. I & II (1988) REFUGEE
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I remember one of my older brothers owning a double cassette version of this album. And ever since he carelessly lost those tapes, I've been on a search for the CD version of it. And finally I was able to track a copy down. It cost me a bit, but I think it's worth it. '10 Years After' is a compilation album which I think works as a good retrospect of the bands music. All of the songs are in chronological order. The early material is to me just as good as the latter. But there are some stuff in between that isn't all that good. As far as I'm concerned, the stuff from 'In My Dreams', Uffe's solo-album, and 'Can't Stop Us now' is really bad. But out of the 17 songs presented I only skip on 3 or 4 of them. And when you get awesome stuff like "The Flower", "Noah", "It's Mad", "In His Majesty's Service" and "Dancing On The Head Of The Serpent" I say you're bound to have a good listen. I only wish they'd included the awesome "Ashes In Your Hands" from their live-album. On the cassette and vinyl version the songs were divided into 'Vol. I The Early Years' and 'Vol. II The Latter Years'. But the CD has both Vol. I & II on 1 disc. The track listing on the back insert is also wrong. I think that is due to some small changes (probably because of space-problems on the CD) from the vinyl/cassette versions to the CD version. The original tape and vinyl had the songs "Covered By Blood" and "Like A Thief In The Night" included. That is not the case here.
JERUSALEM KLASSIKER 1 (1993) FRUIT
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Line-up tracks 1-10 from 'Jerusalem': Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Dan Tibell - Keyboards Bertil Sörensson - Bass Danne Gansmoe - Drums
Line-up tracks 11-17 from 'Volym 2': Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Dan Tibell - Keyboards Anders Mossberg - Bass Klas Anderhell - Drums
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The only way to have the first 2 Jerusalem records on CD is buying these compilations. The positive thing about it is that you finally can enjoy these great songs, without having to listen to some scratched up old vinyl. But the downside to it is that there are 2 songs missing from each of the original records!! And there is a booklet so thin, it barely contains the line-up information. Let's hope that Uffe finds a way to release these old classics properly some time, because the music is so great, they are well worth it! I like the songs from their debut album the best. 'Volym' 2 has worse production. And quite frankly worse songwriting too. You do get classics like the awesome "Jag Vill Gje Dej En Blomma' though, so it's not all bad.
JERUSALEM KLASSIKER 2 (1993) FRUIT
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Line-up tracks 1-7 from 'Krigsman': Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Dan Tibell - Keyboards Peter Carlsohn - Bass Klas Anderhell - Drums
Line-up tracks 8-14 from 'Vi Kan Inte Stoppas': Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Dan Tibell - Keyboards Anders Mossberg - Bass Michael Ulvsgärd - Drums
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The next 2 Jerusalem albums compiled on one CD. Again we get 1 song missing from 'Krigsman', and 3 from 'Vi Kan Inte Stoppas'. I like the songs from 'Krigsman' the best. 'Vi Kan Inte Stoppas' has to be the worst album this band released. Although I seem to remember that the tracks from that album were better on the English version. Funny how I seem to every second album Jerusalem released, while those in between doesn't sit all that well with me.
PROPHET
(1994) VIVA
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Michael Ulvsgärd - Drums, Back Vocals Peter Carlsohn - Bass, Bass Pedals, Back Vocals Reidar I.Paulsen - Keyboards, Back Vocals
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I remember being very disappointed when this album came out. Jerusalem had adopted U2's echoing guitar-sound. But upon really listening to this disc, new doors opened. This is now actually one of my favorite Jerusalem albums. Ulf sings like he's never done before, and the songs are filled with emotions. From the opening rocker "City On Fire" to the heart-wrenching "Berlin 38", and ending with the anthem "Soldier", this album is a masterpiece. Even my wife really likes this album! I truly hope this isn't the last we hear from Ulf & Co. (As you see further down, it wasn't)!
Killer tracks: City On Fire, Risen, The Waiting Zone, Face In The Crowd, Berlin 38, Soldier
CLASSICS 3 (1995) FRUIT
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Line-up on tracks 1-7 from 'In His Majesty's Service - Live In U.S.A.':
Ulf Christiansson
- vocals, guitar
Line-up on tracks 8-17 from 'Dancing On The Head Of The Serpent': Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Michael Ulvsgärd - Drums Peter Carlsohn - Bass Reidar I.Paulsen - Keyboards |
Part 3 in the 'Classics'-series is as usual a mixed affair for me. It's so far the only place to get the 'Live In U.S.A.'-tracks on CD. But it is of course missing songs. Still, it's great to finally hear "Read Between The Lines", "The Tide" and "In His Majesty's Service" again! Too bad they decided to leave off the magnificent "Ashes In Your Hands". 'Dancing... ' is presented in it's entirety (save for "Covered By Blood"), and i think this is the Swedish version of the album. I hope Ulf can get all Jerusalem albums re-released properly as separate albums again. After 30 years in the business, they sure have deserved it!
VOLYM TRE (1996) FRUIT
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Klas Anderhell - Drums, Back Vocals Anders Mossberg - Bass Dan Tibell - Keyboards |
Well, Jerusalem returned after only 2 years. This album continues the legacy of the 'Volume 1' and 'Volume 2' albums, both in name and sound. At first I dismissed this record, as none of the songs appealed to me upon first listen. But already on the next spin, I discovered that this is almost as good an album as all the rest of their material. It lacks 1 or 2 highlights, but holds an even flow throughout the record. Nobody sings with the kind of emotion that Ulf does!! The English-language version is called 'Those Were The Days'. 'Volym Tre' does actually contain old tracks that never mad it to the first 2 albums, and which Ulf have now recorded properly.
Killer tracks: Flugit Gjenom Rymden, Le, Le, Le, Vår Kärlek Var Död
VOLÜM FYRA (1997) FRUIT
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Lead Vocals Klas Anderhell - Drums, Back Vocals Anders Mossberg - Bass Dan Tibell - Keyboards |
Another cool album from Sweden's best hardrock band! I like most of the material here as well, as I think it sounds undeniably Jerusalem. It has more in common with 'Volym1' than with 'Prophet', and that's probably why he named it 'Volüm Fyra' (Volume 4). "Vänd Om" is a Procol Harum song, that Ulf rewrote the lyrics to. 'Volüm Fyra' contains songs written between 1977-1985. That explains why there seems to be some different versions of the band present here. This album is released with English lyrics also, then under the name 'R.A.D.' (Rock Against the Devil).
Killer tracks: Lossa Banden, Close, Vänd Om
LIVE - PÅ REN SVENSKA (1998) FRUIT
(2CD)
CD1:
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Line-up: Ulf Christiansson - Guitar, Vocals Klas Anderhell - Drums Anders Mossberg - Bass Dan Tibell - Keyboards
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CD2:
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I waited the longest time to buy this album. I really love the 'Live In America'-album, but I didn't think it would be quite so interesting with a double live disc in Swedish! But the joke was on me, 'cause this is one anointed album! Jerusalem rips through a set-list, filled to the brim with so many good songs! I guess it helps that I, being from Norway, understand Swedish just as good as my own language. But Jerusalem's songs speak for themselves. Tracks like "Dagarna Går", "Kom Till Mej", "Jag Vill Ge Dej En Blomma" and "Krigsman" are so filled with The Holy Spirit, tears of joy ran down my face, upon first listen! Jesus Christ is there on every Jerusalem concert, and you can even feel it through this live recording. I have seen Jerusalem live, and this album has managed to capture the bands essence, glory to God! Hallelujah!!!!
CD1:
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CD2:
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Celebrating 30 years in the music industry is not something every band get to do. And who would have thought that the pioneers of the Christian hard rock movement would experience such a landmark? Well, they did, and here is a double compilation album to prove it! Because after 30 years of being active, 1 CD is not nearly enough to show the entire span of this bands career. But these 31 songs is doing a great job at it. Here we get songs in Swedish, and in English. We get the band live, as they should be experience, in my opinion, and we also get a brand new track. I find this compilation to be fantastic, and I am proud to call myself a fan of this band, and their ministry.
Jerusalem also appear on:
V/A - 'Righteous Metal'
V/A - 'Heavy Righteous Metal'
V/A - 'Ultimate Metal'
Michael Ulvsgärd guest appearances:
Liberty N' Justice - 'Soundtrack Of A Soul'
Liberty N' Justice - 'Independence Day'
Related artists:
