W.A.S.P. Golgotha

I don't remember much when I was 13.  But what I do remember was that there were tons to metal bands.  Metal Edge and Hit Parader magazines were saturated with tons of the latest stories and interviews of the hottest bands dressed in leather.  Somewhere in the colorful, glossy pages, I saw posters and written text of W.A.S.P.  But unlike other fellow budding metalheads with raging hormones at that time, I didn't pay attention to them.  I was too busy with my musical love affairs with Poison, Motley Crue, and Guns & Roses.

Well, time has passed and has done well for both me, you, and all of these rock stars...most of whom are still around and making great music.  One of them is none other than Blackie Lawless. 




But like many, things are different-and better-for him:  Lawless is now a born-again Christian.  Around September, I read an article about him and his conversion and the announcement of Golgotha.  In just a short time, I went from not giving this band much thought, to counting down the days (in my mind) to when this CD would be released.  I couldn't wait to hear it.  My curiosity was piqued, to say the least.

For anyone reading this who have been lifetime W.A.S.P. fans, I thought I'd make you proud by saying I'm taking a self-taught, self-paced "W.A.S.P.-ology" course.  I will be listening to as much of this music as I can over the next few months.  I decided on this when I heard Golgotha.  What a beautiful voice Lawless has!  For a moment, my heart broke.  That voice had been lost in lyrics for a long time that hadn't done him justice.  As it is, I had needed something deep, something meaningful to listen to.  This hit the spot. 




This music has feeling, depth, and maybe on a level I had never known in hard rock.  I can "hear" it in songs like "Last Runaway," "Eyes of My Maker," and of course the title track, "Golgotha."

There is even that power ballad of "Miss You."  So there's a little bit of everything on this CD. 

As a critic for both Christian and secular music, I sometimes feel let down when I don't hear depth in the lyrics, and in the music, too...for it to go all-out.  The only other bands I've heard this from are Stryper, Love and Death, Disciple, Guardian, and Third Day.  As you can tell, I'm very selective about this genre of music.  Let me be bold in adding W.A.S.P. to that list.  To me, that's appropriate. 

In taking my W.A.S.P.-ology course, I saw the video of "I Wanna Be Somebody."  I think there's some beauty to that.  Though it took a few decades to get there, I hope Lawless feels like he is somebody now, especially when he has gained yours truly as a fan.