Review: BRIDE – Vipers and Shadows
By Chris Gatto
Bride has been a prolific band this year. With Vipers and Shadows, the band’s first double album, and Lost Reels 4, that’s 30 new Bride songs in 2025. Although live Bride shows stateside have been brothers Dale and Troy Thompson, Frank Partipilo, and Michael Loy, for the studio albums Dale and Troy have been employing their Brazilian friends Nenel Lucena on bass, Alexander Aposan on drums, and Juan Carllos (Oficina G3) played keyboards on “Rescue Me.” (Juan also recently played with King James live at Immortal Fest, part 2.) Vipers is a bit of a departure stylistically from the last 3 albums or so, those being on the metallic side. Fans of the band know that they refuse to rest on their laurels and never stop stretching themselves creatively. So, if you’re a die-hard metal fan and Drop made no sense to you, you’ll probably call this “rock” like that’s a slam and plug up your ears. However, I think the key to Bride’s music is that it’s always groove oriented, regardless of the style, or whatever crazy instruments Troy employs on it.
“Million Miles” opens disc 1 (Vipers) and is the speediest song on the whole endeavor, a segue from the music of the last few albums, if you will. The rest of the album settles into a deep groove. Most of it is slower paced. Some is downright bluesy, if you’re even slightly familiar with any of Dale’s solo efforts. Dale’s vocals are still as strong as ever. His opinions are too, and we all know his views theologically, vis a vis universalism, so I will not pore over the lyrics like I might with another christian band. Bride does best when they have a catchy chorus that sticks in your head and “Anytime I Call On You” and “Take It Out On Me” definitely fit that bill. “Black Kiss” is the Bon-Jovi style ballad. “It’s A Living Hell” gets a little repetitive and “In One Life” ends disc 1 quietly.
Disc 2 (Shadows) starts strong with “Whatcha Doin’ Out There,” which reminds me of “We’re All Gonna Die” from Are You Awake. “Live and Love” is more of that heavy, heavy bass line like an anchor. “Deliver Us From Evil” and “Can You Stoke the Fire” are the shining gems on this disc with a familiar sound like some of the band’s more famous albums have bled through. “Rescue Me” resonates with the listener: “The devil’s not your friend. Satan is a counterfeit…I know how this ends. Come, Lord Jesus, rescue me.” With “Tried So Hard” Troy flirts with country, while Dale’s bluesy rasp drips with emotion. “Name of the Game” rocks. “Tried on the Outside” will remind you of a more restrained “Everybody Knows My Name.” “All My Life” ends the album strong, proclaiming “I don’t want to fight. Leave me alone. I just wanna live. I just wanna love. I just wanna give all my life…” Vipers and Shadows is proof that Bride is not done by a long shot. They are still growing, evolving, and putting out potent material. Some listeners are not going to understand the style changes, sure, and for some bands- like AC/DC- it works to keep punching out music in the same style for decades. For Bride, it doesn’t. Dale and Troy have to be their creative selves. Slow burner for me, but eventually I “got it.” This was also released on a colored double vinyl by Retroactive Records. Get yourself the vinyls and headphones for the best listening experience. (cd- indie, vinyl-Retroactive Records)
About Author
