Musical Style: Progressive Hard Rock	Produced By: Gene Crout
Record Label: Righteous Sinner	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2000	Artist Website:
Tracks: 10	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 58:44

Exchanging Truth For A Lie, the Righteous Sinner Records 2000 debut full length from America Gomorrah, is a well-rounded progressive hard rock album innate to classic rock, AOR, blues-rock and instrumental fusion tendencies.  Little is known otherwise about America Gomorrah other than it is the project of founding member, guitarist and vocalist Gene Crout, whom after graduating from the Miami Music Theory and Composition Department moved to Colorado to pursue a career as an audio engineer.  He later made a decision of faith attributing to the influence of Kerry Livgren (Kansas, AD, Proto Kaw) prior to joining forces with bassist Bob Waldman and drummer Carl Busser to round out the American Gomorrah lineup.

A progressive designator no doubt applies to America Gomorrah, noting how it routinely extends its material into the six to seven minute range, including a closing 13-minute epic to round Exchanging Truth For A Lie to 60 meticulous minutes.  That said I use the term ‘hard rock’ loosely in light of the musical variances present.  Yes, America Gomorrah is not afraid to flex its muscles and approach metal territory, but go beneath the surface and there is musically much more to the group in the form of strong seventies nuances and eighties commercial variants.  It equates to an eclectic release I see appealing to fans of multiple hard music forms and not just that progressive.

Opener “Truth For A Lie” is one of albums heaviest.  Rhythm guitar hits with traditional metal authority, connecting with lustrous albeit outlying keyboards and Crout’s smooth and unreserved mid-ranged vocal abilities.  Hooks are covert but perspicuous in substantiating the imposing mood to prevail.  Lyric snippet:

To you the knowledge of God
Is something lacking in worth
So He has given you up
Depravity for your mirth

We manufacture our perception of Truth
Always taking the easy way out
Every day we journey farther from God
Forsaking Truth for a Lie

“Seven Trumpets” ensues as first of albums three instrumentals.  Song carries over the thickly weighted guitar focus, as bright keyboards lend a symphonic effect and jazzy lead guitar a jam based feel.  Further heaviness reveals in Waldman’s substantial timekeeping.  Yes, a bit lengthy at six minutes, but the deft America Gomorrah execution deftly pulls it off.

A more melodic direction realizes on “More Than A Carpenter”.  Song manifests many of those as noted eighties aspects, realized in rhythm guitar that might not hit hard as some (albeit not without making a distinct statement) and keyboards and vocal melodies playing corresponding forthright roles.  Instrumental moments again prove America Gomorrah is a force deserving reckon musicianship wise.  Lyric snippet:

You think you see, but you are blind
You think you hear; you do not understand
Your hearts are hard, you've closed your mind
Oh, I would heal you!

More than a man
The Son of Man
More than a carpenter
With Eyes of Fire
And voice like a stream/thunder
His words cut to the bone

“Yamiso” mirrors the group’s blues side.  It proves unhurried and moody, ingrained to unsettled harmonies and swarthy residuals - noting the downcast instrumental interlude - as Crout sets an uneasy tone with his soulful vocal abilities.  Song reminds of the bluesy material from Resurrection Band.

“Good And Faithful Servant” is first of albums two seven-minute epics.  Song comes across in form of a classic rock ballad (sort of like Shadow Gallery), distinctive to acoustic guitar and bluesy feedback for its ethereal verse sections but picking up stride on way to the expansive refrain to see rhythm guitar make a stalwart statement.  Satisfyingly, group’s progressive side reveals from manner in which better part of the final two minutes are instrumental.  Lyric snippet:

Well Done. Good job, My son
Well Done my good and faithful servant
Faithful with a few things, I will give you more
Well done My good and faithful servant

But I fear that when I get there I wont hear those words
Cause I know that there is so much more that I must learn
The work of the Kingdom on this earth wont be done
Until the Master brings us home and all our songs are sung

“Revelation 101” returns to heavier rocking borderline metal territory.  It begins to a telephone ringing followed by an answering machine, with chunky riffs soon bashing in and joining rapid-fire vocals and eerie keyboards.  An almost modern power metal slant reveals in the periodic choir like backing vocals to make a symphonic statement and double kick drum adorning the instrumental run.

Second seven minute cut follows in “Better Man”.  What we have is a slow and driving hard rocker, enmeshed in the bluesy as emotionally played guitar, and darker tinctures ranging from lighter acoustic based and walls of unabashed muscle.  America Gomorrah does not fail to forsake melody, as the song seamlessly holds up despite the span, nor its progressive roots, noting the jaw dropping multi minute instrumental passage.  Lyric snippet:

I’ve heard it said
Its easier to die for You than live
I pray that in the end
Its the fighting of the battle not the triumph

He was a better man than I
He was a better man than I
No worse than me you can’t deny
You are a better man than I

Album closes to what I identify with as a three-song suite covering its final eighteen minutes.  Things get going to minute long unearthly keyboard instrumental “Prelude”, which gives way to final instrumental “This Present Plague”.  What we have is a disparate four minutes of oversized funky bass mingled with uncanny keyboards and guitar ranging from striking riffs and scalding leads.

Thirteen-minute Theocracy style epic “Through A Glass Darkly” closes the trilogy.  Song reservedly slinks its first four and half minutes, aloof to ethereal guitar and keyboards but also bluesy in light of the feedback driven guitar boiling at the halfway mark.  It makes an abrupt transition, however, as buoyant (but non-distracting) keyboards take over for the subsequent austere verse sections ahead of rhythm guitar to validate the equally snaring refrain.  The ensuing instrumental run sears to intense lead guitar that settles down to the heartfelt melody covering the impactful final verse to complete the magnum opus.  Lyric snippet:

For now we know in part
But then we will know all
We’ll know the Lord, our God
Even as we are known

All mysteries will be
Revealed to us in time
Hold steadfast to the course
Keep your eyes on the prize

America Gomorrah- where have you been the past twenty-five years?  You release a strong progressive hard rock album only to never be heard from again.  I find it disappointing the high level of artistic acuity exhibited by the group on Exchanging Truth For A Lie did not produce a follow up effort.  Progressive songwriting, expert musicianship and sound production equate to one of the finer turn of the century independent releases.  If a follow up album is not possible, then best option is a re-mastered reissue to include as bonus tracks the songs “Pax Americana” and “Two Sisters” appearing on compilation albums CPT Volume 4 and CPR Volume 1, respectively.

Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track listing: "Truth For A Lie" (4:39), "Seven Trumpets" (6:04), "More Than A Carpenter" (5:08), "Yamiso" (5:32), "Good And Faithful Servant" (6:49), "Revelation 101" (5:00), "Better Man" (7:13), "Prelude" (1:06), "This Present Plague" (4:17), "Through A Glass Darkly" (12:53)

Musicians:
Gene Crout - Guitars, Vocals & Programming
Bob Waldman - Bass
Carl Busser - Drums