Review: WEAPONS OF GOD- TRIbulation
Dayton, OH’s Weapons of God is: Steve McGowan on guitars and vocals, Leon Black on guitars and vocals, Ed Girard (ex-Four Star Revival) on bass, and Jason Harmon on drums. The band’s third album on Roxx Records: TRIbulation represesents real growth for the guys. The band is modern metal, as viewed through the lens of Kiss and Pantera, and the newer material adds a doomy tone at times, as well as an apocalyptic note on the final three songs of the trilogy. “Death of Me” has been gaining traction on christian radio. I viewed the album in thirds. Although the entire album is their heaviest to date, I’m most drawn to the first third which lives in a heavy groove metal state, and the final third, which is dark and speedy, and all things apocalyptic.
“Devilution” starts the album with the radio dial spinning to news story after story showing how dark the world has become. The music matches the same mood- dark and somewhat doomy. Such is the state of affairs in the world today. “Lord give us strength to carry on and on!” A highlight of the album-“Death of Me” slips into a deep groove that stays with you, as the listener realizes he doesn’t have to remain in the dark and chooses to “leave behind the old, step into the light.” “Double Barreled Medicine” is a fun tune, again in a heavy groove, not overly deep, with imagery to match the 12 gauge shotgun shell on the cd tray insert. “Hypnotized” opens with an ominous intro, seguing into a groove metal, warning the listener not to become hypnotized by the Jezebel of this age.
“Frame of Mind” offers a slightly different style of singing and the focus is on how the mind of the believer is different than that of the average bear. “Empty Room” continues in the same vein with a song speaking to the concepts of life, death, and life after death with Christ. “An Open Letter to Corporatocracy” warns against the big businesses who would step on others to get ahead in life- reminds me of a phrase from the 70’s about “standing up to the man.” “Tribes” eloquently addresses celebrating our differences, while loving our neighbor in “this tribal society.” Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech features prominently in the song, but you realize the band is talking about so much more than race. “Innocent Blood” opens with children singing and slows the pace down in a 90’s alt rock ode to the unborn child in a world where life is increasingly disposable.
The final 3 speedy and super heavy songs form the Tribulation Trilogy, a glimpse into Revelations. “Ten Crowns,” “Damnation Riders,” and “Salvation Is Here” paint a dark portrait of the great tribulation- a realm usually reserved for the mighty Saint- but we await the arrival of the Son of Man upon the clouds. And if you let the cd play out after the last song, you’ll hear a humorous take on “Get off my lawn!”, which has become something of an inside joke among the guys, laughing at the idea of getting old.
The instruments sounded very crisp this time around, and Jason’s drumming was especially spot on. There was a bit of a doom vibe going on, although there can be some overlapping between doom and sludge metal. Weapons certainly have their own musical heroes, but it’s great to hear the band develop and shape a sound of their own. Kudos for cultivating a variety of sounds. It might have been my own ear hearing the album in distinct thirds, but variety is indeed the spice of life. I applaud the stand for the life of the unborn. Packaging looks great. For the cover, the band’s modern take on the armor of God features a gas mask, and in the reddish haze of fire, we see a demon reflected in the goggles of our warrior and know that our enemy seeks us harm. TRIbulation is a great album, the finest effort yet from these metal warriors. FFO: Eternal Decision, Pantera, Alice in Chains. (Roxx Records) (Resurrection Records)
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