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CAROLYN ARENDS It’s ironic that a wordsmith of Carolyn Arends’ caliber kicks off her 10th album with the lyric, “Words fail, but I just keep talkin’.” In the context of the bouncy opener “Be Still,” I get it, but still. Arends can pack more spiritual and musical riches into a four-minute track than you’d think possible. New this time around is the wide array of styles. The Sojourners join in for a soulful take on “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” and Arends, from Surrey B.C., somehow manages to inject a Celtic flair on the classic gospel tune. With smooth and warm vocals, it’s clear the winner of multiple Juno awards has become willing to do more exploration, bringing Regina Spektor to mind at times with her daring inventiveness. It’s signature Arends on the brilliantly introspective “I Am A Soul,” and she’s as gentle as ever on the delicate standout “Willing.” But when it’s time to go Delta, she brings an authentic bluesy hook to “Roll It,” and the twang is just as incontestable on potent ballad, “The Last Word.”
DAY OF FIRE In October 2004, Christian music label Essential Records debuted the hard-rock band, Day of Fire. After landing a No. 1 single and a Dove award, the band released their sophomore album two years later, which sold over 150,000 copies. Now, three years later, the band is set to release their third effort on mainstream label Razor & Tie Records. Titled Losing All, Day of Fire’s latest effort is an aggressive rock album from start to finish, filled with distorted guitars, grungy vocals, and high-energy tracks. The upbeat songs have mini guitar solos mixed throughout, adding some metal influences to the package. The ballads, such as “Airplane,” “Never Goodbye,” or “Long Highway,” slow the pace down and even add some country influences into the vocals. The album’s closer, “The Dark Hills,” is the strongest song on the album, with it being a happy medium between an upbeat track and a ballad. The song has more of an ambitious feel to its nature, while also having the strongest faith-based message about Jesus and redemption. Overall, Losing All sounds like a mixture of Nickelback and Daughtry, with some metal influences thrown in for good measure. It’s gritty and aggressive, but Day of Fire’s latest effort should be pleasing to fans of the band.
FLYLEAF Flyleaf has experienced runaway success since their debut in 2005. Though initially their foot was mainly in the Christian music industry, heavy touring and promotion helped move Flyleaf from being unknown in the mainstream to a force to be reckoned with. They have since appeared on movie and TV soundtracks, played at sporting events, and even had their No. 1 single appear in the popular video game Rock Band (“I’m So Sick”). With a platinum-selling debut behind them, how does their sophomore stack up? Titled Memento Mori, Flyleaf’s highly anticipated follow up has already received more critical acclaim and attention, debuting at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200. Crunching guitars are back, with soaring tracks and melodies that grab your attention. Lead singer Lacey Mosley can move from singing anthems to singing a softer ballad to belting the occasional scream. Most tracks are aggressive and upbeat, demanding your attention from the second they begin. But the few ballads that do appear don’t feel like filler, as they are also well-crafted and enjoyable. Lyrically, the album tackles tough issues, boasting positive and spiritual influences in the message. Due to the nature of their genre, Flyleaf certainly isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a fan of alternative/aggressive rock or metal, definitely pick up Memento Mori. It builds off Flyleaf’s debut and is a fantastic second offering.
HEARTS OF SAINTS Known as Special D during their independent days, the band renamed and rebranded after signing with Revolution Art, a label owned by the Christian hip-hop group GRITS. Now the band has released their self-titled debut and is taking on the name Hearts of Saints. The group has grown and discovered how to refine their sound and make it their own. With 10 tracks and over 38 minutes of material, Hearts of Saints’ debut is a pop-rock effort that takes a considerable amount of influence from fellow Christian music industry bands. The album is a pretty fair split between upbeat and ballads, with the former tracks trying to take influence from dance music in its rhythmic style. Instead of having manufactured beats on the up-tempo songs however, the emphasis is on the natural drums. The remainder of the tracks feel uplifting in nature, with most boasting worship inspired lyrics. Hearts of Saints is a new band that has been steadily gaining a fan base on iTunes and on the concert circuit.
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