Though still an uneven record (an ongoing problem), her best vocal work is represented here, including an impressive live take on "Amazing Grace." ~ Thom Granger, All Music Guide
John David (Arranger), Crystal Lewis (Vocals), Crystal Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Crystal Lewis (Main Performer), Crystal Lewis (Artwork), Gene Eugene (Engineer), Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Linda McCrary (Vocals (Background)), Brian Ray (Producer), Brian Ray (Photography), Alfie Silas (Vocals (Background)), John Schreiner (Arranger), John Schreiner (Keyboards), Brian Kilgor (Percussion), Debbie McClendon-Smith (Vocals (Background)), Scott Osborne (Engineer), Shawn Tubbs (Guitar), Shawn Tubbs (Arranger), Joe Potter (Art Direction), Andrew Carney (Trumpet), John Knox (Drums)
Representative Albums: "Best of Bride: End of the Age", "Snakes in the Playground", "Very Best Of
Representative Songs: "Thrill a Minute", "The Worm
Biography
Unlike many of their Christian metal colleagues of the '80s (Stryper, Barren Cross, etc.), Louisville, Kentucky's Bride continue to preach their message of faith, uninterrupted by personnel and stylistic about faces, going on two decades now. Originally calling themselves Matrix, brothers Dale (vocals) and Troy Thompson (guitar) began writing songs as early as 1983, but it would take them three years of anonymous labor -- recording demos to sell at concerts and through Contemporary Christian Music magazine -- to attract the attention of Refuge Records. When they did, the label went so far as to create a new imprint -- appropriately called Pure Metal -- specifically for the band, which by this time also featured guitarist Steve Osborne, bassist Scott Hall, and drummer Stephan Rolland. There followed two albums: 1986's Show No Mercy and 1987's Live to Die, whose nasty titles and aggressive, Judas Priest-inspired songs belied the ultra-devout Christian messages evident in their lyrics. 1989's Silence Is Madness found the band reduced to a four-piece, and 1990s End of the Age proved a rather premature greatest-hits collection, since Bride returned to action the very next year with their fourth studio album, Kinetic Faith. As well as introducing a new rhythm section (consisting of bassist Rick Foley and drummer Jerry McBroom) to back up the Dale and Troy Thompson, this and subsequent LPs Snakes in the Playground (1992) and Scarecrow Messiah (1994) showed a mellower side of the group, which appeared to have adopted the prevalent hair metal trends of the time. Another greatest-hits set -- curiously entitled Shotgun Wedding -- emerged in 1995, and after welcoming new bass player Steve Curtsinger, Bride carried on releasing albums (1995's Drop, 1997's The Jesus Experience, etc.) and touring regularly throughout the decade, culminating in a series of live albums to usher in the new millennium. 2001 found the indefatigable brothers breaking in yet another new rhythm section (bassist Lawrence Bishop and drummer Mike Loy) with the Fistful of Bees album -- the better to commemorate their 20th anniversary in music with 2003's This Is It. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
Steve Osborne Rick Foley
Scott Hall
Steve Curtsinger
Stephen Rolland
Lawrence Bishop
Michael Loy
Bride is a Christianheavy metal/hard rock band formed in the 80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Despite being criticized for their abrupt changes in style, the band has remained largely popular in the US and other places like Brazil.
Bride was formed in Louisville, Kentucky in the early '80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Going by the name Matrix at first, the brothers started writing music and recording demos in 1983. They recorded four demos and started selling them at concerts and through magazines. In 1986, the band opened for the Canadian group, Daniel Band, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. This performance caught the eye of an agent of Refuge Records. He decided to sign them to their new label oriented to metal music. The band, already consisting of guitaristSteve Osborne, bassist Scott Hall, and drummer Stephen Rolland, officially changed its name to Bride and went on to record Show No Mercy and Live to Die in 1986 and 1988, respectively.[1]
After a change in line-up, they recorded Silence is Madness in 1989. With their contract with Refuge about to end, the band released End of the Age in 1990, which is a compilation album of hits from their first three albums. Ironically, the album indeed signaled the "end of an age" as the band went on to change their metal roots to a mellower rock sound more attuned to the mainstream rock of the era. With bassistRick Foley and drummer Jerry McBroom filling the line-up, and a new record deal with Starsong, the band released Kinetic Faith in 1991. The album spawned some hits in commercial radio, and the band continued to focus on that road. In 1992 it was announced that Dale would leave to join Stryper to replace Michael Sweet, but this never took place.[1] They followed it with Snakes in the Playground and Scarecrow Messiah before releasing yet another compilation called Shotgun Wedding and finally parting ways with Starsong in 1995.
That same year, the band decided to sign a one-record deal with a new label called Rugged Records. They also welcomed a new bassist, Steve Curtsinger. The band departed more from its heavy side and went on a completely different route with Drop in 1995. Drop featured an alternative rock-oriented sound which included banjo and mandolin.[1] Following recommendations of producer and friend John Elefante, the band went on to sign with Organic Records, another up and coming label that was eager to pick them up. In 1997, they released The Jesus Experience which continued their alternative style leanings, however, with a slight grunge and post-grunge overtone.[2] The next year, they released Oddities. Although intended to be a return to their roots, the album was more of a blend between alternative rock and hard rock.[1]
After some differences with the label, the band asked to be released from its contract. Some time after, McBroom and Curtsinger left to pursue other projects. They were replaced with Lawrence Bishop and Michael Loy. Being picked up by Absolute Records and veering into rapcore territory,[1] the band released Fistful of Bees in 2001. The album was quickly disparaged by fans for containing nu metal and rapcore elements. In 2003 the band independently released This Is It, which marks a return to a more rock-driven like that of Snakes in the Playground. It was re-released in 2006 under Retrospective Records, digitally remastered and with bonus tracks and a new cover. In 2006, Bride released Skin for Skin, which returned to their hard rock sounds akin to earlier Bride albums. It also contained guitar solos from former Bride guitarist Steve Osborne. The album was praised by Bride fans, most prominently Scott Waters of Ultimatum, who said it was "a logical step from 'This Is It' and is an honest and successful attempt to progress without worry of what is popular." [3]
The band has reunited with former members, Jerry McBroom and Steve Osbourne, to record their latest album, Tsar Bomba, which was released on October 27, 2009.[4]
Dove Awards
Bride has received four Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association. Three were for "Hard Music Song", in 1992, 1993, and 1994.[5] The fourth was in 1995 in the category "Hard Music Album" for Scarecrow Messiah.[6]
This Is It (2006, Retroactive Records w/ bonus tracks)
Why "Bride"?
This is a reference to the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2,9; 22:17), another name for the church of true believers in Christ, which will be married to the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven after Christ's Second Coming and the creation of a new Heaven and Earth.
References
^ abcdePowell, Mark Allan (2002). "Bride". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 110–112. ISBN1-56563-679-1.
