Matrix

West Point, Kentucky, USA
Heavy Metal

Matrix was formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. The Thompson brothers were inspired to form a Christian rock band after seeing a band called Asher play at a skating rink in Louisville, Kentucky. They formed a few small bands after that. After Asher broke up, Billy Sutherland of Asher formed a band called Warrior. When Dale found out that Sutherland was auditioning for a bass player, he tried out and got the position even though he did not know how to play bass. Troy became a roadie and explosive expert for Warrior. Dale played for a little while with Warrior but left for personal reasons in 1983. Sutherland remained friends with the brothers and even played on future projects.

The Thompson brothers started writing music and recording demos in 1983. Dale also recorded his first solo recording in 1983, with Sutherland helping him out on guitar. At some point in 1983, the Thompson brothers bumped into the ex-drummer of another Christian rock band called Strait Gate named Steve Childers. The three of them decided to form Matrix.

Matrix recorded four demos and started selling them at concerts and through magazines. Childers lasted about one year and two demos, but school and work drew him away. He was replaced by Joey Johnson for one demo, who was briefly replaced by Steve Gilbert before Stephan Rolland joined for the last demo and transition to Bride.

In 1985, the band had changed their name slightly to Matryx and were opening for the Canadian hard rock 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, Pure Metal Records, which was oriented to metal music. At that time, the band consisted of vocalist Dale Thompson, bassist Troy Thompson, guitarist Billy Sutherland, and drummer Stephen Rolland. With this lineup, Troy Thompson sometimes also played guitar while Dale Thompson played bass. They officially changed their name to Bride during the signing of the contract.

Many Matrix songs were re-recorded on later Bride albums. Several compilations of their songs have been released on CD, as well as some tracks added to later Bride re-issues as well.

1983 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Steve Childers - Drums

1. Old Man Sneed (reprise)
2. Get Away
3. To You My Love
4. Bring You Back
5. Man of Straw
6. Following Me
7. Old Man Sneed
8. Fright
9. Paper Boy
10. White Room

1983 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Steve Childers - Drums

1. We Got Rhythm (3:20)
2. Who Killed the Rock Hero (3:26)
3. Get Away (3:12)
4. What's the Point (4:38)
5. Stand Up and Shout (3:02)
6. West of the Moon (2:15)
7. Spell House (3:16)
8. To Make You Think It's Real (3:00)
9. Missing Children (4:36)

1984 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Steve Childers - Drums

1. Heroes (3:29)
2. Now He is Gone (3:26)
3. Remember Me (4:22)
4. Now You See Me (Now You Don't) (3:08)
5. All Hallow's Eve (2:37)
6. Slippin' into the Light (2:58)
7. We Are Going to Make It (3:37)
8. Forever in Darkness (4:11)
9. He's the Flyer (3:42)
10. Follow Your Heart (3:56)

1985 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Joey Johnson - Drums

1. What Must I Do
2. Fright
3. Rebel on the Run
4. Song Master
5. Look at Me Now
6. Mirror Mirror
7. Child of Dreams
8. Fly Away
9. Melissa
10. The First Will Be Last

1985 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Stephan Rolland - Drums

1. Evil That Men Do
2. Show No Mercy
3. I Will Be with You
4. I Can Fly Now
5. Child of Hell
6. Butterfly
7. Studio Junkie
8. Good Rock and Roll

1994 Independent

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Steve Childers - Drums
Stephan Rolland - Drums on “I Can Fly Now” and “Melissa”

1. We Got Rhythm (3:23)
2. Who Killed the Rock Hero (3:27)
3. Get Away (3:14)
4. What's the Point (4:43)
5. Stand Up and Shout (3:03)
6. West of the Moon (2:16)
7. Spell House (3:17)
8. To Make You Think It's Real (3:05)
9. Heroes (3:31)
10. Now He is Gone (3:22)
11. Remember Me (4:25)
12. Now You See Me Now You Don't (3:09)
13. All Hallow's Eve (2:38)
14. Slipping Into the Light (3:02)
15. We Are Going to Make It (3:39)
16. Forever in Darkness (2:56)
17. He's the Flyer (3:40)
18. Follow Your Heart (4:24
19. I Can Fly Now (3:38)
20. Melissa (3:17)

The songs that appear on this CD are from the recordings of PG-13 and Monkey See Monkey Do. The song “I Can Fly Now” was cut from the first Bride record, Show No Mercy.

2001 M8 Distribution (M8D-1093)

1. We Got Rhythm
2. Who Killed the Rock Hero
3. Get Away
4. What's the Point
5. Good Rock 'n' Roll
6. Stand Up and Shout
7. West of the Moon
8. Spell House
9. To Make You Think It's Real
10. Missing Children
11. Heroes
12. Fright
13. Remember Me
14. Now You See Me (Now You Don't)
15. All Hallow's Eve
16. Slippin' Into the Light
17. We Are Going to Make It
18. Look at Me Now
19. He's the Flyer
20. What Must I Do

2014 Retroactive Records (RR1402)

Dale Thompson - Vocals, bass
Troy Thompson - Guitar, bass
Joey Johnson - Drums
Stephan Rolland - Drums
Steve Childers - Drums

1. We Got Rhythm
2. Who Killed the Rock Hero
3. Get Away
4. What's the Point
5. Stand Up and Shout
6. West of the Moon
7. Spell House
8. To Make You Think It's Real
9. Heroes
10. Now He is Gone
11. Remember Me
12. Now You See Me Now You Don't
13. All Hallow's Eve
14. Slippin' Into the Light
15. We Are Going to Make It
16. Forever in Darkness
17. He's the Flyer
18. Follow Your Heart
19. I Can Fly Now
20. Melissa

Tracks 1 - 8 are from the Matrix demo PG-13.
Tracks 9 - 18 are from the Matrix demo Monkey See, Monkey Do.
The song “I Can Fly Now” was cut from the first Bride album Show No Mercy.
The Matrix release Silent Madness also has a track called “Melissa,” but that is not this recording. The origin of this version of “Melissa” is unknown.