Venice Beach, California (USA) crossover thrashers Beowülf are self-releasing their sixth album on December 23, 2011, entitled Jesus Freak, produced by founding member, vocalist/guitarist Dale Henderson and ex-FEAR FACTORY guitarist, Christian Olde Wolbers. The tracks were cut at LiL’ Antwerp Studioz and Wolbers is credited as the engineer. It’s been a long time since the early breakout of this band during the mid 80’s from the legendary “Venice Scene”. They had their first album produced by ST’s Mike Muir and released via Suicidal Records. Flash forward to now, after several lineup changes, and this reviewer finds that Dale and the boys can still bring it with the best of them. Former ST bassist Louiche Mayorga is even thrown into the mix here, so any fan of the old school, true grit feel of “Taste The Steel” will simply love what they are throwing down today.
Personally, I think Dale Henderson has grown as a performer over the years and continues to push the envelope with his completely unique style of singing and songwriting. While others just go the safe route, this guy has always been daring, somehow managing to keep the Beowülf sound ‘real’ from a street perspective. However, let it be known that Henderson and Beowülf’s music has morphed over time into a much more serious and grown-up statement. The drum work from Rich Rowan here is solid. As always, Henderson’s guitar playing is mean as hell sounding… snarling punk-fast riffs, cutting to the nerve of its listener like a cold metal blade pierced into someone’s throat. My favorite songs are the totally rocking “Mad Man” and the absolutely stellar “Front Door Smoking”. On the latter I dig the way the bass line starts out alone and then Henderson’s guitar comes thundering in. Forget punk rock… that’s just plain metal. All in all, I am just stoked as hell that Beowülf is still going after all this time, and this reviewer seriously hopes everyone gives Jesus Freak a shot, because it’s a clever rocker indeed.
ROCKET REVIEW:
[starreview tpl=16]
Beowülf – “Jesus Freak” (CD)
(Venice Underground Entertainment/2011)
1. Peace Maker
2. In Captivity
3. Jesus Freak
4. Front Door Smokin’
5. Mad Man
6. Godsend
7. Sunday (Killer Comes Home)
8. Righteous, Righteous
9. Bitter Song
10. Just Passing Through
11. 13 Past The Hour
12. Anything
http://www.beowulfbwf.com/
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