BLOODGOOD – Dangerously Close (2013)
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American White Metal pioneers BLOODGOOD returns with “Dangerously Close”, their first studio album in 22 years!
Commanded by founder Michael Bloodgood and original singer Les Carlsen, the band includes Paul Jackson on guitar, Kevin Whistler on drums and Stryper’s guitarist Oz Fox as guest, who in fact recorded most the solos.
The music of “Dangerously Close” is focused on mid to latter Bloodgood period, leaning heavier melodic hard rock (one of the band’s albums was already featured on this blog, look in ‘Labels’).
You’ll note the ’80s hard rockin’ inspired melodies on tunes like “Lamb of God”, the bouncy “Pray” or the darker “Man in the Middle”. Things more akin to white metal come with “Run the Race”, the groovy “In The Trenches” and “Child on Earth”. Some of these might remind longtime fans of earlier material.
Then, with “Bread Alone” there’s something more heavier with melting solos and modernized harmony vocals that work very well. You get one solid, bluesy ballad with “Father Father”, however, more so with “Crush Me”, a lighter acoustically layered short number.
After 22 years, Bloodgood returned in great form with “Dangerously Close”. Throughout there’s sharp guitar riffs from Jackson and hot solos by Fox, while Les Carlsen sounds as strong as ever, even no different than 30 years ago.
Finally, as it were with most every album, you can’t miss the obvious Christian message in some Bloodgood’s lyrics. This was one aspect that Michael Bloodgood never compromised and that’s a good thing because is one of the band’s pillar identities.
Yet, for those who have some disdain for the ‘white metal’ bands and their message, I tell you that this album ROCKS; it’s full of very strong classic American Melodic Hard Rock in the traditional (late ’80s) vein of the genre.
Easily Recommended.
01. Lamb of God
02. Run Away
03. Child On Earth
04. I Will
05. Bread Alone
06. Pray
07. I Can Hold On
08. Run the Race
09. Father Father
10. Man in the Middle
11. Crush Me
12. In the Trenches
Michael Bloodgood – Bass, Backing Vocals
Les Carlsen – Lead Vocals
Paul Jackson – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Kevin Whisler – Drums
Oz Fox (Stryper) – guest Guitar
Pre-Order:
doolittle.bigcartel.com/product/preorder-bloodgood-dangerously-close
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Well Oz, he sounds a lot like you!
Nice review, but actually, Paul Jackson performed most of the solos. So I have to give credit to my bro!…Oz 🙂
Great review! However, I do have to point out that your comment about Oz playing a majority of the solos is highly inaccurate. If you read the record's liner notes, you'll see that it was in fact Paul Jackson's sweet guitar perfection that made up at least 75% of the solos! Clearly, I'm a Paul Jackson fan, but I love Oz's work as well – but credit should be given where credit is due.
To clarify the solos on Dangerously Close: Lamb of God- Paul, Run Away- Paul, Child on earth-Oz, I Will-Paul, Bread Alone-Oz, Pray-Paul, Run the Race-Oz/Paul (Paul Main solo), Man in the middle- Paul/Oz, Father Father-Paul/Oz, Hold on-Paul, Trenches-Paul and The Word- Paul.