The year 2004 proved in no uncertain terms that the metal revival is in full force, particularly Christian metal. Building upon the excellent momentum established in 2003, 2004 brought us such noteworthy releases as Destra's Joe's Rhapsody, Veni Domine's The Album Of Labour, Stryper's 7 Weeks: Live In America, 2003 and Seventh Avenue's Eternals in addition to the return of Saint in full classic metal form on In The Battle. What helped make 2004 such a good year, however, was the number of exceptional albums released by mainstream bands with Christian members: Adrian Gale (Crunch), Magnitude 9 (Decoding The Soul), Proto-Kaw (Before Became After) and others recording some of the finest releases of the year. Re-issue mania was in full swing as well in that previously hard to find albums by Barnabas, Barren Cross and Haven were made available for the first time in years.
Album Of The Year: Christian
1. Destra: Joe's Rhapsody 95%
Joe's Rhapsody, a concept album bases around the life and times of a death row prisoner who in the end finds Christ, is nothing less than a first class work of art by the Brazilian power metal band Destra. Superlative production values. Top notch musicianship. Catchy melodic based songwriting. Professional packaging. No detail has been overlooked. Destined to be a classic.
2. Veni Domine: The Album Of Labour 90%
Several unforeseen setbacks led to The Album Of Labour, the fourth full length effort from Sweden's Veni Domine, not seeing the light of day for seven long years. Nevertheless, the album was well worth the time and wait in that it proved one of the finest releases of the year, backing a profusion of well crafted songwriting with the bands first-rate musicianship and a refined production job.
3. Neal Morse: One 85%
Former Spock's Beard front man Neal Morse has put together an eight song seventy-eight minute progressive rock masterpiece that combines several epic length numbers - two tracks come in at eighteen minutes and three others stretch past nine - with his ability as a multi-instrumental virtuoso. A concept album, One tells the story of mans separation from God and how, through the salvation experience, man can become "One" with God again.
3. Pursuit: Quest 85%
Recording one of the finest independent releases of the year, Pursuit returns after a nearly ten year hiatus with a very fine progressive metal album entitled Quest. Pursuit stands in full force in what is pretty much a barren Christian progressive metal scene, the band exhibiting a technical and instrumental prowess that nearly matches the likes of Dream Theater, Threshold and Shadow Gallery.
3. Saint: In The Battle 85%
Speaking of hiatus', on In The Battle Saint has releases its first full length studio album in fifteen years. Rejoining founding member Richard Lynch is the bands original vocalist Josh Kramer, the two creating an album that captures a Priest influenced classic metal sound bringing to mind Saint's earlier efforts such as Time's End (1986) and Too Late For Living (1988).
3. Seventh Avenue: Eternals 85%
Germany's Seventh Avenue continues to bring a fast paced style of double bass driven power metal on its fifth full length effort Eternals. What helps make the album standout, however, is the strength of its songwriting, the bands compositions reflecting the more noteworthy melodies when compared to its past releases such as Between The Worlds (2002) and Southgate (1998).
3. Stryper: 7 Weeks: Live In America, 2003 85%
As I am sure most of you reading this are aware, Stryper got back together to celebrate its twentieth anniversary and in the fall of 2003 embarked on a coast to coast US tour. The live album that followed, 7 Weeks: Live In America, 2003, does a terrific job capturing the energy of the bands live performance while including a very well rounded selection of songs from its mid-eighties to early nineties heyday.
Honorable Mention: Delorean: Dauntless, Dynasty: Motus Perpetuus, Saint: Warriors Of The Son: 20th Anniversary Edition
Album Of The Year: Mainstream
1. Adrian Gale: Crunch 90%
The best way to describe Crunch, the third full length album from melodic hard rockers Adrian Gale, would be "eighties hooks galore". Showcasing the raspy lead vocal style of Jamie Rowe (Guardian), the music of Adrian Gale is a throwback to an era when the power ballad ruled supreme. The strength of the songwriting here is such that I cannot help but think Crunch would have sold several million copies if released in the mid to late eighties.
1. Magnitude 9: Decoding The Soul 90%
Ohio has been a recent hotbed for killer metal bands and Columbus based Magnitude 9 stands out as one of the states most noteworthy. Showcasing a polished brand of melodic power metal on its third full length release Decoding The Soul, Magnitude 9 combines its catchy melodic based songwriting with an instrumental prowess that is rivaled by only a select few. Rob Johnson stands out with his adept lead guitar work while keyboardist Joseph Glean and vocalist Corey Brown prove equally able.
1. Proto-Kaw: Before Became After 90%
Originally known as Kansas - the bands second incarnation before it went on to great commercial success with the hits "Dust In The Wind" and "Carry On My Wayward Son" - but returning following a thirty year hiatus, Proto-Kaw got together after its early seventies demo tapes had been re-issued in September of 2002. What initially started as a jam session between its original members in time turned into Before Became After, a sixty-five minute progressive rock masterpiece highlighting the bands still vibrant musicianship and the creative songwriting genius of guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren (Kansas, AD).
2. Pyramaze: Melancholy Beast 85%
Pyramaze is the brainchild of Danish guitarist Michael Kammeyer who pursued his dream of composing an album of all original material, the end result being the melodic power metal of the bands debut Melancholy Beast. While Kammeyer was originally slated to handle the albums lead vocal duties, the bands management suggested he instead use a professional vocalist who could bring his material to the next level. The resulting search for a lead vocalist ended with the talented Lance King (Avian, Balance Of Power).
2. Threshold: Subsurface 85%
UK based progressive metal band Threshold continues to back its trademark catchy melodies with a metal flavored rhythm guitar sound to create one of its most noteworthy efforts to date in Subsurface. Featuring the gut-level lead vocals of Andy "Mac" McDermott and the technical lead guitar work of Karl Groom, Threshold is often referred to as an "intellectual band" due to the manner in which it addresses weighty issues in order to make its lyrics every bit as thought provoking as its music.
Honorable Mention: Nineteen88: The Great American Rock And Roll Spectacle
Album Of The Year: Independent
1. Pursuit: Quest 85%
Please see Album Of The Year
1. Saint: In The Battle 85%
Please see Album Of The Year
2. Delorean: Dauntless 80%
On its full length debut Dauntless, North Carolina based Delorean does an effective job of taking a foundation of progressive rock and combining it with elements of classic hard rock and metal. The end result is a very fine effort in which the band backs its adept songwriting with the strength of its instrumental sound.
2. Nineteen88: The Great American Rock And Roll Spectacle 80%
Nineteen88, the new project to feature "The Handsome Mick Rowe" (Tempest, Goliath), takes a nostalgic look back at the eighties but from a "metal perspective". Delivering a combination of AC/DC style hard rockers and more commercial melodic metal based numbers, the band backs an abundance of catchy hook filled songwriting with an equal amount of eighties influenced sound, energy and attitude.
2. Saint: Warriors Of The Son: 20th Anniversary Edition 80%
Twenty years have passed since Saint released its debut EP Warriors Of The Son. The band, nevertheless, has returned to the studio and recorded the album from scratch in order to take advantage of technological advances not available in 1984, the end result being a much more polished effort when compared to the original. Two new songs, "Killers And The Destroyers" and "The Reaper", were included that could not originally be completed due to budget constraints.
Honorable Mention: Dream Quest: The Release
Song Of The Year: Christian
Delorean: "Intrepid"
"Intrepid" does an excellent job of showcasing the strength of Delorean's musicianship in addition to its ability to write a song with a catchy refuse to go away melody.
Destra: "My Little War (My Big Disgrace)"
Destra: "Cruel Jungle (Part Two)"
The upbeat melodic power metal of Destra stands out best on "My Little War (My Big Disgrace)" and the energetic "Cruel Jungle (Part Two)", both songs highlighting noteworthy melodies in addition to the blistering lead guitar work of Eduardo Parronchi.
Destra: "Darkness Land":
The eight minute "Darkness Land" gives prominence to a more progressive side to Destra's songwriting abilities. By far my favorite track from Joe's Rhapsody, the song features a superlative melody in addition to more of the bands superior instrumental prowess.
Dynasty: "Following The Sign"
Dynasty: "The Word That Remains"
Dynasty has scored two noteworthy winners in "Following The Sign" and "The Word That Remains" from its debut Motus Perpetuus, the former moving in a more progressive influenced metal direction, while the latter reflects a melodic power metal based sound.
Eterna: "Epiphany"
The title track to the Brazilian Catholic power metal band Eterna's fourth full length album is a catchy and upbeat five minute explosion of non-stop double bass driven power metal.
Neal Morse: "Author Of Confusion"
A nine minute progressive rock epic, "Author Of Confusion" stands out as the heaviest and most guitar driven track from Morse's concept album One. Beautiful vocal harmonies are interwoven with an abundance of hard and driving rhythm guitar.
Pursuit: "Answer The Call"
The awesome eight minute progressive metal assault of "Answer The Call" represents Pursuit at its very best. Driven by a near mesmerizing guitar riff, the song combines a solid melody with an incredible display by the band of its instrumental sound.
Saint: "Ryders"
The energy-laden "Ryders" is a first class piece of nail biting classic metal showcasing a superb chorus and a flashy pull-out-all-the-stops guitar solo from Jerry Johnson.
Seventh Avenue: "Future Tale"
Seventh Avenue: "Remission"
The power metal of "Future Tale" and "Remission" both give prominence to infectious choruses that, with repeated listening, are guaranteed to remain permanently etched in your mind.
Veni Domine: "Voice Of Creation"
Veni Domine: "The Healers Face"
Veni Domine best showcases its potential on "Voice Of Creation" and "The Healers Face", two songs standing out with their catchy choruses and Torbjorn Weinesjo's superlative lead guitar work.
Song Of The Year: Mainstream
Adrian Gale: "Faith"
Adrian Gale has scored a definite winner in "Faith", an energetic hard rocker in which, as its title implies, Jamie Rowe makes a statement of faith:
Faith - all my heart belongs to You
Do I have faith? Yes I do?
Magnitude 9: "To Find A Reason"
Magnitude 9: "Walk Through The Fire"
Blending infectious melodies with an abundance of exquisite lead guitar work, "To Find A Reason" and "Walk Through The Fire" prove nothing less than first class examples of melodic power metal at its very best.
Proto-Kaw: "Gloriana"
Proto-Kaw: "Theophany"
Proto-Kaw delivers a pair of very fine progressive rock numbers in "Gloriana" and "Theophany". "Gloria" brings to mind a level of beauty and ambition Kansas captured on Song For America, while the epic flavored "Theophany" allows the band to display the abundant strength of its musicianship.
Pyramaze: "Journey"
Pyramaze: "Mighty Abyss"
Michale Kammeyer has penned two very fine winners in "The Journey" and "Mighty Abyss", the former featuring a melodic flavored chorus backed by Stryper-like vocal harmonies and the latter driven in a powerful manner by an upfront mix of deep and dark sounding rhythm guitar.
Threshold: "Mission Profile
Threshold: "The Art Of Reason"
"Mission Profile" and "The Art Of Reason" display in no uncertain terms why Threshold deserves to rank with the worlds top progressive metal outfits. "Mission Profile" moves at a faster and more upbeat tempo, while the ten minute epic "The Art Of Reason" serves to highlight Threshold’s instrumental prowess.
Re-issue Of The Year
Barnabas: Feel The Fire/Little Foxes
It's about time! After a wait of nearly twenty years, these two very fine classic Christian hard rock albums have been re-issued onto one CD by Retroactive Records. Showcasing the pyrotechnical lead guitar work of Brian Belew and the searing lead vocals of Nancy Jo Mann, Barnabas combines elements of metal and progressive rock on Feel The Fire and moves in a more stripped down hard rock direction on its final studio effort Little Foxes.
Barren Cross: Atomic Arena & State Of Control
The two Enigma releases by the mighty Barren Cross, Atomic Arena & State Of Control, had been out of print and hard to find collectors items for years. But not any longer! A special word of thanks goes to Restless Records for making available these two classic eighties power metal gems.
Haven: Age Of Darkness
Retroactive Records made another good decision in re-issuing this terrific power metal album that went out of print years ago. A highly underrated band, Haven debuted in 1990 with the catchy power metal of Your Dying Day before following up a year later with the more polished sounds of Age Of Darkness. Included with the original eleven songs from Age Of Darkness are seven bonus tracks by vocalist Kevin Ayer's new band Thunderbucket.
Comeback Of The Year
Proto-Kaw
Please see Album Of The Year
Pursuit
Please see Album Of The Year
Saint
Please see Album Of The Year
Veni Domine
Please see Album Of The Year
Best New Artist
Delorean
Please see Independent Release Of The Year
Dream Quest
Coming out of Manitoba, Canada, Dream Quest plays what it likes to refer to as "adventure metal". I might describe the bands full length debut The Release as upbeat double bass driven power metal showcasing the mid-octave ranged lead vocals of Phil Janzen and the lightning-like riffing of guitarist Mark Doerksen.
Nineteen88
Please see Independent Release Of The Year
Pyramaze
Please see Album Of The Year
