In 1984, Les Carlsen joined forces with Michael Bloodgood to form what would become the notable Christian metal act BLOODGOOD. Sadly, Michael Bloodgood passed away in 2022, and the group disbanded. Even though Carlsen was into his seventies at that point, he continued on in a solo capacity, and his latest offering, Free Will, showcases that he still has plenty of creativity and prowess left in the tank.

The crowd-funded record opens with "Truth and Love," a perfect statement about what Carlsen hopes to accomplish throughout the album: "The mission, the metal, the message / Truth and love." The two singles released ahead of the album follow, starting with the title track. The song contains an incredibly catchy guitar riff and solo from Carlsen's former BLOODGOOD bandmate, Paul Jackson, that stand out as highlights even on an all-around strong record. Front and center, the lyrics declare the need for all people to accept Christ and make that choice in their lives. "He's God" picks up right where "Free Will" left off and declares the powerful nature of who God is. This time, Craig Church lays down the quality guitar work. All of the musicians on this record deserve a shoutout because, as great as Carlsen is at the helm, the contributions of the guitarists - as well as drummer Dan Needham and bassist Juan Van Dunk - elevate this project to a higher level.

The speed slows down a bit for "Epic," the longest of the ten tracks. In the thoughtful ballad, Carlsen explains, "Epic is by definition / A long poem / An ancient tradition / That goes on and on / Generation to generation / The history of a nation" and, in light of that, focuses on how the story of Christ's death and resurrection perfectly fit the definition: "Greatest story ever told / Current news from days of old / Opened up the eyes / Parted seas and skies / That's what's called an epic love / … / The greatest promise ever made / Life restored beyond the grave / From the crown of thorns / We are all reborn." The moving piece encourages the listener to dwell on the significance of what Christ accomplished for all of us. "Make Way" thematically works well as the next track, diving deeper into Christ's imminent return and calling people not to wait, but prepare now for the day it happens.

"Everyday" gives Joyce Carlsen, Les's wife, her first prominent moment. Here, she mostly provides backing vocals, but her voice works well with her husband's, and her efforts enhance the track. The combination of strings and crunchy guitars make for a unique song and a nice way to start the back half of the album. In a way, Joyce's appearance in "Everyday" serves as a teaser for "Bite My Tongue." Les steps away from vocals and songwriting, and Joyce takes on both of those roles instead. The lyrics discuss letting go and receiving freedom through submitting to God: "He's breaking the shackles apart / I'm giving in, I'm surrendering / Not gonna implode / 'Cause He carries the load." She excels in carrying forward the message of the album while delivering a fantastic vocal performance. Considering that Les and Joyce are in their mid-to-late seventies now, they both sound remarkable on this record.

"He Loves Deep," the heaviest offering of the ten tracks, drives home the reminder of God's constant and unconditional love, while "Keep Pushin'" encourages believers to continue on in their faith even when challenges arise. In the latter, Carlsen uses multiple lines of Scripture throughout the lyrics and powerfully delivers a spoken word reading of a selection from Psalm 23, showing that the talent of his voice carries beyond just the medium of singing. "Come To Me" closes the record with the call to go to Jesus and rest in Him regardless of the circumstances. While a fitting conclusion to the album thematically, and not at all a poor track, "Come To Me" may be the album's weakest offering musically.

Still, Les Carlsen makes the case that his lengthy career is not fading just yet. Free Will hits a variety of subgenres within metal that keep the record exciting without losing the flow of the album. He does all that while also boldly proclaiming the gospel message. Fans of 80's metal will not want to miss this latest release from the former BLOODGOOD frontman.

- Review date: 3/30/26, written by Noah Schmidt of Jesusfreakhideout.com