The latest outing from Whiteheart reinforces the idea that the only constant is change. The official band lineup only includes three members now - Mark Gersmehl on keyboards and vocals, Billy Smiley on rhythm guitars (the band's founders), and Rick Florian on vocals (yes, he's chosen the normal spelling for his name this time around). The supporting cast for the album is a virtual who's who of session players, with a special guest appearance by Choir member Steve Hindalong.

"Redemption" focuses on just that - redemption. It reflects on man's need for and unworthiness of redemption. It celebrates man's joy when he's experienced redemption. It extols us to give the world the same chance we've had by telling them about our own redemption.

Song writing has been the forte of Gersmehl and Smiley for years, and they've turned out some very interesting tunes this time. Without the blazing fretwork of former axeman Brian Wooten, the songs are more dependent on the Gersh-man's richly layered keyboards. Also missing is that signature Whiteheart drum sound I've come to love over the years. Don't get me wrong - there are some songs here with nice crunchy guitars and pounding drums. It's just different than before. Take "Steel & Stone" for instance. The ethereal electronics at the beginning can only be described as, well, weird. But wait for the chorus to kick in! Nice! The guys have made a pretty good step toward the modern rock of the late 90's.

Another track I especially like is "Fall On Me," where Florian practically begs to be bathed in the refreshing sweetness of the Spirit. And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention "Jesus," the album's closer. This one is pretty well destined to receive considerable airplay. One listen to this number about the world-changing, life-rearranging power of Christ will put to rest any qualms you might have had about the band's move to a secular label a couple years back.

For someone who's listened to these guys for 14 years, one word pretty well sums up this offering from Whiteheart. But it's one I'm hesitant to use, for fear of being misunderstood. That word is - evolution (cringe). Hats off to a band that's not afraid to step out into new territory with practically every one of it's 11 studio releases. Here are ten songs that prove that variety is indeed the spice of life.

On their sophomore outing, the members of Grammatrain clearly establish themselves as strong contenders for Hard Rock Album of the Year. "Flying" is a feast for the aural senses from start to finish. John Hampton (known for his work with Gin Blossoms and Audio Adrenaline's "Bloom" and "Zombie" releases) handles the production, engineering and mixing duties, and the result is nothing short of magnificent. The combination of tight instrumental work, Pete Stewart's soul-wrenching vocals, and the insightful, intelligent lyrics makes for the most enjoyable collection of three-minutish songs I've heard in quite a while. Clearly, Grammatrain plays thinking man's rock.

In "Less of Me", Stewart's vocal tone goes a long way to communicating the song's theme, that of anguish at his own selfishness and his fervent desire to step out of God's way and let Him do His will. The title track, "Flying," is nothing short of a brilliant metaphor for Christ's rescue of man from our sinful condition, all in the context of a dream sequence.

"Pain" shows that, even in a search based solely on intellect, the logical conclusion is still that God exists and is active in our world. The band laments the difficulties of leaving family and home for life on the road in "Spiderweb," an especially touching look inside the heart of a career musician.

Another cut worth mentioning here is "Fuse." While exploring the decline of modern civilization, this track uses just two chords, only a half-step apart musically. The beginning reminds me of a 1960's secret agent movie, which then erupts into a full-out sonic assault behind the searing vocal work.

Wow! That's pretty meaty stuff, isn't it?! All that spiritual insight, set against the backdrop of some hot, crunchy hard rock. This disc is spending considerable time in my stereo these days, without much hope of returning to its case anytime soon. For my money, this is the best three-piece band out there, Christian or secular, and "Flying" is a sterling example of the high-quality material that's coming out of the Christian arena.

I've been a fan of live albums for many years, but this one is a notch above most. Captured live on their "Jesus Freak" tour, DCTalk has put together a live package that proves their talents are not limited to the studio. The set list is obviously heavy on "Freak" material, but the group takes us back in time a little, including crowd favorites such as "Luv is a Verb," "Jesus is Still Alright," and "Walls."

Like many bands are currently doing in live shows now, there is the obligatory "unplugged" set, but DCT pulls it off better than most. My only wish is that they'd included "I Wish We'd All Been Ready."

Highlights of this disc include a revised version of "The Hard Way," "In the Light," and the "Jesus Freak" finale. The guys salute REM by covering "The End of the World As We Know It," during which we get a brief but tasty bit of spotlighted solo from each band member.

From start to finish, this album crackles with the excitement the band has become known for in their live shows. I highly recommend it for fans of live albums or for fans of DCTalk. (Those of you who love both, like I do, this is a must-have.)

When I first saw Holy Soldier live in 1990, I was very impressed with the raw energy and expert musicianship of a band that had just released its debut album. Their years in the L.A. club scene really paid off in terms of concert appeal. Seven years and several personnel changes later, that same intense live groove can still be felt on "Encore." If I was asked to pick the standout cuts on this disc, I'd have to choose all twelve.

What makes this live album so enjoyable for me are the circumstances under which it was recorded. Let me explain: for years, I've thought it would be so cool if Petra would do a big show in Nashville and play both old and new material, with Greg X. Volz and John Schlitt sharing the vocal duties. Wow! I'd definitely pay big money to see that!

Well, who knows if that will ever happen, but Holy Soldier has done it, and I love it. This album was recorded during a live show at Michael W. Smith's club, Rocketown, earlier this year. Current vocalist Eric Wayne and original singer Steven Patrick alternate on songs, and it definitely works. And what's more, they are phenomenal background vocalists for each other!

The disc begins with a new studio track call "Whisper," which focuses on our need to be still and listen to the quiet voice of the Spirit. We immediately join the band in concert then, with Patrick sounding as great as ever on "See No Evil." Wayne then tags in as singer, and uses his muscular pipes to belt out "My World." The band sounds as tight as always, and easily switches between the metal sound of yesteryear and their current modern sound.

Other highlights include "Lies," in which the vocalists take turns on the bridge and chorus, and "Rust," which the crowd really seems to enjoy. Before the final live cut, Patrick asks the audience if there is any certain song they would like to hear. There is a chant for "Stranger," and the group immediately jumps into the tune that earned them a Dove Award in 1991. The two singers again swap lines on the bridge and chorus, and they sound great together!

The last song on the disc is a new one called "In The End," featuring Patrick on vocals, and it talks about the joy we'll all have when we're reunited in Christ's presence one day. There is a slightly uneven spread between the two singers here, with Eric Wayne handling the lead on four and Steven Patrick taking the other seven.
Wait a minute," you say, "That's only 11. I thought you said there were 12 songs on the album!" Oh yeah, I forgot to mention a little gem they slid in right before the last cut. It's an all-acoustic, studio version of "Eyes of Innocence" with a lot of Hammond B-3 organ thrown in, featuring on vocals...drum roll, please...Pat Boone! Yes, that master of mosh, who just released his own metal album, makes a guest appearance on a remake of the beautiful ballad from Holy Soldier's first record. I'm not exactly sure what the thinking was behind this track, but I do know that Boone has been friends with bassist/founding HS member Andy Robbins since Andy was a kid. Pat even baptized a young Robbins in his pool, as I recall. Whatever the reason, this version is hilarious, sometimes sounding like Pink Floyd. I know you won't believe me on that one, so check out Floyd's "The Great Gig In The Sky" (track 4 on "Dark Side of the Moon"), and tell me that the background vocals in that song don't sound like Nicole Mullen's backing vocals in the middle of "Eyes."
Whether you're a long-time fan of Holy Soldier like I am, or you're fairly new to their work, this live disc is a must-have. It's an excellent collection of their work to date, accented by their prowess on stage. It makes me wonder what great things lie ahead for a band that only seems to get better with time.

I want to dance. I want to laugh my head off. I want to pray. I want to jump around my living room. I want to play beach volleyball. I want to sit and think quietly about the grace and mercy of an all-powerful, unconditionally loving, Holy God.
It takes something pretty special to grab my attention as quickly and completely as The O.C. Supertones' "Supertones Strike Back" did. You want fun music? This album's got it. You want fine musicianship? Yep, that's there too. You want challenging, spiritually mature lyrics? Look no further.

From the first few measures of the title track, it's immediately obvious that the musical ride is going to be fun, quirky, and worth every bit of the 41 minutes you'll spend with these guys. Jason Carson and Kevin Chen lay down a lively drum and guitar rhythm, respectively, which, when overlaid with Tony Terusa's energetic bass lines, make for a non-stop party atmosphere. Adding to the excitement is the tightest horn section I've heard since the early days of Chicago. There is fine trumpet (Darren Mettler), sax (Dave Chevalier) and trombone (Dan Spencer) work on every cut.

Matt Morginsky's vocals are all very singable, or, as the case may be, rapable (yeah, that's right, rapable). His fine vocal work is made even better by what he's singing. The Supertones seem to focus on two main thoughts lyrically, and they explore them from a variety of perspectives. The first one is a lack of self-esteem. I don't mean like the teen angst of Nirvana, but in a healthy, Biblical sense. There are so many songs in which Morginsky compares himself to God (the only real standard we need), and as you might expect, he always finds himself lacking. He is constantly wondering why God pays any attention to him at all. Consider:

"Why do you even love me?
Why do you even care?
Why should you think of me?
Oh my God, I'll never know
It's unconditional love, the grace flood." - "Grace Flood"

"My God, what do You see in me?
My God, crowned in Glory
The Lamb of God is worthy.
My sin yells 'crucify'
Louder than the mob that day." - "Louder than the Mob"

The second main theme here is a desire to live a sold-out, totally committed life for the Lord, no matter what the world may think. In fact, there's even a nice tip of the hat to DCTalk in "Shut Up and Play," where Matt wonders, "what will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?" Other songs of devotion to a Godly life include:

"I will make a change today.
Purge my mind of mud and mire.
Cast all my gods away and
I am brand new today, I make my resolution." - "Resolution"

"Last breath before the candle flickers out,
I will speak the name of Jesus." - "Perseverance of the Saints"

It's a rare privilege to hear an album of this caliber from such a relatively new band. This is my first exploration of the world of ska, and I have to say I'm pretty pleased. Kudos to The Supertones for putting together a disc that has such a Scriptural message for today, but also really rocks! This is $15 that's well-spent.