Description
Innocent Blood is the ninth studio album by the American hard rock outfit Resurrection Band (though at this point the band had shortened their name to REZ), independently released on the band’s own label Grrr Records in November 1989, in co-operation with Ocean Records, distributed by Word. The album was recorded by Roger Heiss and Ed Bialach at Tone Zone Studios in Chicago, Illinois; with Tom Cameron and the band producing.
«Rooster Crow», a down South acoustic tune with passionate delivery and lyrics, sets the pace for the rest of this “earthy” blues album. There’s no time to rest, though as «Altar of Pain» comes rippin’ through the speakers at full trot. Rez has a slogan: “Hard rock for hard hearts,” which fits Rez better now than ever before. This song gets down with all the grit Rez is known for. «80,000 Underground» finds Roy Montroy’s bass very loud and very alive, with crunchin’ rhythms reminiscent of Led Zeppelin. This contrasts with «Right on Time», a commercial departure that sounds like Jefferson Starship. «Where Roses Grow» is a nice ‘n’ long blues number that captures Rez doing what they do best: rockin’ blues and real lyrics that touch pain and then offer healing to the wounds.
«The House is on Fire» reveals a prophet’s heart – anguishing over the word God’s given him of judgement, shaking, and purifying. «Child of the Blues» travels far down South again for a steel-guitar/Delta sound. Quite a surprise here is the appearance of The Who’s classic, «Bargain», performed here with all the gusto of that legendary British quartet.
«Great God in Heaven» is a stripped down blues number/worship song that ranks as a classic. It would make a Darrell Mansfield or even a Blind Willie Johnson proud. Overall, this is the most live and full-sounding Rez album I’ve heard. It’s not very commercial, yet digs some mighty deep grooves. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, January 1990]
You want to talk roots rock, forget this mamby pamby lonesome scarecrow John Cougar Mellencamp stuff, let’s talk REZ. You want to talk acoustic, don’t talk to me about Guns N’ Roses whining about patience, let’s talk ‘Innocent Blood’.
After seventeen years you’d think a band would tire out, coasting on past laurels. REZ, though, has come out with their best album this decade, if not their best ever. It’s an album that in a lot of ways gets back to their roots, a surprisingly layered and melodic hard rock album, starting with a simple acoustic guitar and ending with a lone harmonica, sandwiching blistering blues inflected metal in between.
‘Innocent Blood’ opens with «Rooster Crow», a short acoustic fire that threatens to turn into some sincere noise – followed by «Altar of Pain», maybe the band’s most pungent effort to date. The rest of the album follows a dark and dangerous path, from «80,000 Underground», about a real-life subdivision that was found to be built on top of a cemetery, to the swaggering hard blues of «Fiend or Foul», the angriest indictment against abortion yet (detailing how easy it is to commit violence against the helpless).
Other notable tracks include «Laughing Man», about cynicism, and «House is On Fire», which puts the need for salvation in the simplest of terms: It’s a blow-by-blow account of the house burning down, as someone, probably sitting in the den knitting, just can’t seem to leave.
Not only are these some of the strongest songs REZ has done, but they’re giving some of their richest performances as well. Glenn and Wendi Kaiser deliver raspy, demanding vocals, John Herrin’s drumming is tight and thunderous, Roy Montroy’s pulsing bass lines are propulsive – they’re in top shape. And Stu Heiss, long over looked as one of the great guitarists, burns on track after track.
The album, unlike those from a lot of younger metal bands – Christian and otherwise – is much more than simply noise grinding away at the speakers. The sound is layered, rich and sophisticated. The acoustic moments are as hard and demanding as the electric. How many more-famous bands can do that?
The production on ‘Innocent Blood’, at the band’s own Tone Zone Studio, is the crispest, sharpest, clearest REZ has ever had. Moving onto their own label may have been the smartest thing they ever did.
Oddly, enough, the weakest track on the album is a cover of Pete Townshend’s Who classic «The Bargain». There just isn’t enough passion in the performance. Otherwise, though ‘Innocent Blood’ is a great album. Other metal bands come and go, but as always REZ has a way of reinventing itself album after album.
Am I gushing? Maybe I am. But sometimes it’s all you can do. [Chris Well, Harvest Rock Syndicate, No. 4, 1989 (Volume 4)]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/innocent-blood/262537316)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Rooster Crow”
A2. “Altar Of Pain”
A3. “The House Is On Fire”
A4. “80,000 Underground”
A5. “Fiend Or Foul”
A6. “Where Roses Grow”
Side Two
B1. “Right On Time”
B2. “Child Of The Blues”
B3. “Laughing Man”
B4. “Bargain”
B5. “Great God In Heaven”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Grrr Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://resurrectionband.bandcamp.com/album/innocent-blood
A full-page advertisement for the REZ Band album Innocent Blood was featured in the October 1989 issue of CCM Magazine.
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