Heavy Metal / Hard Rock / Alternative Rock / Rap Metal
Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Bride is an American Christian metal band formed in the 1980s by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. During the band's peak years it was known for covering a wide range of musical styles and remains popular in places like Brazil. Their song “Same 'Ol Sinner” is on the Digital Praise PC game Guitar Praise.

Bride was formed in Louisville, Kentucky in the early 1980s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Going by the name Matrix at first, the brothers started writing music and recording demos in 1983. They recorded four demos and started selling them at concerts and through magazines. In 1986, the band opened for the Canadian 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 William Sutherland, and drummer Stephen Rolland. With this lineup, Troy Thompson sometimes also played guitar while Dale Thompson played bass. They officially changed its name to Bride and went on to record Show No Mercy. In 1988, bassist Frank Partipilo joined the band and with this line up they recorded Live to Die and Silence is Madness (1989).

With their contract with Pure Metal Records about to end, the band released End of the Age in 1990, which is a compilation album of hits from their first three albums, as well as two new songs that would go to become Bride staples - “Everybody Knows My Name” and “Same Ol' Sinner.” The album signaled the “end of an age” as the band shifted away from the heavy metal of their past towards a Guns N' Roses' influenced hard rock sound.

In 1991, Rick Foley (bass) and Jerry McBroom (drums) joined the band. With a new record deal with Star Song Records, the band released Kinetic Faith. The album spawned some hits in commercial radio. In 1992, it was announced that Dale would leave to join Stryper to replace Michael Sweet, but this never took place. They followed Kinetic Faith with Snakes in the Playground, which became their most popular album and defining moment of the discography. Scarecrow Messiah followed in 1994 after a few delays, and then another compilation Shotgun Wedding: 11 No. 1 Hits and Mrs.. The band finally parted ways with Star Song in 1995. Most of these albums albums produced many successful hits in Brazil, where the band has toured and been received with enormous crowds and fanbase.

That same year, the band signed a one-record deal with a new label called Rugged Records. They also welcomed a new bassist, Steve Curtsinger (formerly of Killed by Cain. Drop (1995) focused on acoustic instrumentation. In 1997, they switched to Organic Records and released The Jesus Experience which continued their alternative style leanings with a slight grunge and post-grunge overtone. The next year, they released Oddities. Although intended to be a return to their roots, the album was more of a blend between alternative rock and hard rock.

After some differences with the label, the band asked to be released from its contract. Some time later, Curtsinger and was replaced with Andrew Wilkinson before Lawrence Bishop took the spot. McBroom also left and was replaced with Michael Loy. Being picked up by Absolute Records and veering into rapcore territory, the band released Fist Full of Bees in 2001. The album was quickly disparaged by a few fans for containing nu metal and rapcore elements.

In 2003, the band independently released This Is It. It was re-released in 2006 under Retrospective Records, digitally remastered and with bonus tracks and a new cover. Most of their next several albums were released through Retroactive Records.

In 2006, Bride released Skin for Skin, with guitar solos from former Bride guitarist Steve Osborne. The album was praised by Scott Waters of Ultimatum, who said it was “a logical step from This Is It and is an honest and successful attempt to progress without worry of what is popular.”

The band reunited with former members, Jerry McBroom and Steve Osborne, to record their next album, Tsar Bomba, which was released on October 27, 2009.

In 2011, Retroactive Records remastered and re-released the band's first three albums (Show No Mercy, Live to Die, Silence is Madness) in a series called The Originals. In addition, 2003's This Is It was also remastered to support the re-releases.

Original guitarist Steve Osborne died of suicide on November 16, 2011.

Incorruptible was released via Retroactive Records in 2013. In December of 2013, after 30 years, Dale Thompson announced that the band was coming to an end. That break proved to be short lived, as the band returned to release Snake Eyes independently in 2018. The band released Here is Your God on Retroactive Records in November 2020. Are You Awake? was released in early 2023.

1986 Pure Metal Records (SPCN7900601171)
1999 Millennium Eight Records (M8R-1005)
2011 Retroactive Records (RAR7805)
2021 Retroactive Records (RRCD1574)

Dale Thompson - Vocals
Steve Osborne - Lead guitar
Troy Thompson - Guitar, keyboards, violin
Scott Hall - Bass
Stephan Rolland - Drums

1. Evil That Men Do (3:37)
2. Now He is Gone (3:49)
3. Fly Away (4:12)
4. Forever in Darkness (3:43)
5. Follow Your Heart (4:29)
6. Show No Mercy (3:36)
7. I Will Be with You (4:29)
8. Thunder in the City (5:53)
9. No Matter the Price (4:18)
10. The First Will Be Last (4:07)

1. I Can Fly Now (3:40)
2. What Must I Do (4:00)
3. Butterfly (3:54)
4. Missing Children (4:24)
5. Fright (3:28)
6. Look at Me Now (4:12)
7. No Matter the Price (demo version) (4:12)

1. Slippin' Into the Light (Demo) (2:54)
2. We Are Going to Make It (Demo) (3:34)
3. Stand Up and Shout (Demo) (2:58)

The song “I Can Fly Now” was recorded for this album, but cut before it was released.

1988 Pure Metal Records (SPCN7900602933)
2006 M8 Distribution (M8D-5000)
2011 Retroactive Records (RAR7806)
2021 Retroactive Records (RRCD1504)

Dale Thompson - Vocals
Steve Osborne - Guitar
Troy Thompson - Guitar
Frank Partipilo - Bass
Stephan Rolland - Drums

1. Metal Might (3:36)
2. Hell No (3:51)
3. In the Dark (4:12)
4. Out for Blood (3:00)
5. Live to Die (2:54)
6. Fire and Brimstone (4:27)
7. Whiskey Seed (3:43)
8. Here Comes the Bride (2:29)
9. Heroes (7:11)

1. Hell No (live) (4:28)
2. Whiskey Seed (live) (3:22)

1. Too Late For Me (live '89) (3:43)
2. Dirty (live '89) (3:25)
3. All Hallow's Eve (demo) (2:32)

The original working title of this album was “Out for Blood.”

1989 Pure Metal Records (SPCN7900604243)
2000 Millenium Eight Records (M8R-1023)
2011 Retroactive Records (RAR7808)
2021 Retroactive Records (RRCD1584)

Dale Thompson – Vocals
Troy Thompson – Guitars
Frankie Partipilo – Bass
Stephen Rolland – Drums

Rob Johnson – Guitars
Armand Jon Petri - Keyboards
John Caruso - Bass on “Under the Influence”
Bill “Bolan” Scott – Harmonica

1. Fool Me Once (3:57)
2. Hot Down South (3:10)
3. Silence is Madness (5:15)
4. Until the End We Rock (3:10)
5. Evil Dreams (4:04)
6. Under the Influence (4:03)
7. All Hallow's Eve (5:10)
8. No More Nightmares (4:12)
9. Rock Those Blues Away (5:35)

1. Everybody Knows My Name
2. Same Ol' Sinner
3. Military Halo
4. Child of Hell
5. Butterfly
6. His Love is Everywhere
7. Studio Junkie
8. Lost in His Love

1. Dirty (demo) (2:58)
2. Good Rock 'n' Roll (demo) (3:06)
3. 18 and (On Her Own) (demo) (3:00)
4. Same Ol' Sinner (demo) (3:48)

1989 Independent

Dale Thompson
Troy Thompson
Frank Partipilo
Steve Gilbert

1. Same ol’ Sinner
2. Melissa
3. Dirty
4. Good Rock & Roll
5. 18 and (On Her Own)

1989 Independent

Dale Thompson
Troy Thompson
Frank Partipilo
Jerry McBroom

1. Kiss the Train
2. Everybody Knows My Name
3. I'm the Devil
4. Hollywood
5. Hired Gun

1990? Independent

Dale Thompson
Troy Thompson
Rik Foley
Jerry McBroom

1. Pyramid Club
2. Sweet Louise
3. Young Love
4. I Miss the Rain

1990 Star Song Records (PMD 7900)

1. Everybody Knows My Name
2. Hell No (from Live to Die)
3. Hot Down South (from Silence is Madness)
4. Forever Darkness (from Show No Mercy)
5. Heroes (from Live to Die)
6. Same ol' Sinner
7. Thunder in the City (from Show No Mercy)
8. Fire and Brimstone (from Live to Die)
9. Evil That Men Do (from Show No Mercy)
10. All Hallow's Eve (from Silence is Madness)

1991 Star Song Records (SSD 8197)
2021 Girder Records (GR1095)

Dale Thompson – Vocals, backing vocals
Troy Thompson – Guitars, mandolin, acoustic guitar
Rick Foley – Bass
Jerry McBroom – Drums

Rob Johnson – Lead guitar, additional guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar

1. Troubled Times (4:28)
2. Hired Gun (4:29)
3. Ever Fallen in Love (4:35)
4. Love on the Mountain (4:12)
5. Ski Masks and Hand Guns (4:30)
6. Everybody Knows My Name (4:23)
7. Young Love (3:30)
8. Kiss the Train (3:57)
9. Crimes Against Humanity (4:05)
10. Sweet Louise (4:42)

1992 Star Song Records (SSD 8261)
2021 Girder Records (GR1096)

Dale Thompson - Lead vocals, background vocals, tambourine, shakers
Troy Thompson - Guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar, cello, viola
Rik Foley - Bass
Jerry McBroom - Drums

Plinky - Piano, keys, background vocals
Rick Elias - Harmonica
Dez Dickerson - Lead guitar trade off
Greg Martin - Lead guitar
Derek Ian - Lead guitar
Ricke Florian - Harmony vocals
Peter Furler - Background vocals
John James - Background vocals

1. Rattlesnake (4:34)
2. Would You Die for Me (3:35)
3. Psychedelic Super Jesus (4:18)
4. Fallout (4:03)
5. Saltriver Shuffle (0:38)
6. Dust Through a Fan (3:08)
7. I Miss the Rain (3:52)
8. (untitled) (0:19)
9. Don't Use Me (4:01)
10. Picture Perfect (4:21)
11. Love, Money (3:48)
12. Some Things Never Change (4:09)
13. (untitled) (0:24)
14. Goodbye (5:20)

1994 Star Song Records (SSD 8283)

Dale Thompson - Vocals
Troy Thompson - Guitar
Rik Foley - Bass
Jerry McBroom - Drums

1. Beast (4:27)
2. Place (3:42)
3. Murder (4:08)
4. Scarecrow (3:52)
5. Crazy (3:44)
6. Time (4:17)
7. One (3:29)
8. Doubt (4:11)
9. DadMom (3:29)
10. Thorns (5:51)
11. Questions (1:51)

1994 Independent
2001 M8 Distribution (M8D-1093) (double CD with The Matrix Years)
2013 Retroactive Records (RAR0516)

Dale Thompson
Troy Thompson
Frank Partipilo - Tracks 6 to 12
Jerry McBroom - Tracks 1 to 9, 14 to 20
Rik Foley - Tracks 1 to 5, 13 to 20

1. How Long (3:42)
2. Fine Line (4:10)
3. Only Hurts When I Laugh (3:24)
4. Lisa (3:42)
5. Let the Son Shine (2:40)
6. I Don't Get It (3:14)
7. Hollywood (3:57)
8. Sugar (2:44)
9. I am the Devil (4:26)
10. Good Rock 'n' Roll (3:05)
11. Dirty (2:57)
12. 18 (2:59)
13. Help (3:29)
14. Could You Live in My World (3:34)
15. Think About Our Future (4:57)
16. Sleepy Southern Town (2:44)
17. Pyramid (4:13)
18. Echoes of Mercy (2:56)
19. I Miss Dancing With You (3:44)
20. It's the Devil (4:10)

Tracks 1 to 5 recorded in 1993.
Tracks 6 to 9 recorded in 1989.
Tracks 10 to 12 recorded in 1988.
Tracks 13 to 20 recorded in 1992.
Tracks 1 to 5, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20 recorded live, straight to a Digital Audio Tape (DAT).

1994 Independent
2013 Retroactive Records (RAR0517)

1. Scarecrow (3:48)
2. Place (3:08)
3. Beast (4:31)
4. Some Things Never Change (4:10)
5. Same Ol' Sinner (3:47)
6. I Miss the Rain (4:33)
7. Kiss the Train (4:09)
8. Everybody Knows My Name (4:07)
9. Hired Gun (4:19)
10. Ever Fallen in Love (3:59)
11. Young Love (3:20)
12. Sweet Louise (4:45)
13. Rattlesnakes (3:32)
14. Would You Die For Me (3:39)

1. We Don't Need No Colour Code (4:07)

(…To Be Continued…)