Atomic Opera - Gospel Cola (2000)
Frank Hart and company are back with this newest edition to the saga that is Atomic Opera. If you bought the bands "Penguin Dust" cd and were a bit dissapointed then you might want to give this band another chance. Not that "Penguin Dust" was a bad album, cause it wasn't, it's just that "Gospel Cola" seems to pick up where "For Madmen Only" left off. Big thick rhythms, nice harmonies (ala Kings X style) and memorable choruses make this a great AOR/hard rock disc. The style and power of Frank Hart's vocals carries the weight of these groove filled tracks as he paints a lyrical portrait of life as a Christian. The lyrics of Atomic Opera have always been a bit introspective and make the listener think. The newest release is no exception. If anything the lyrics have improved one hundred fold. Kemper Crabb (who is well known for his intelligent songwriting and also his column "The Christian and art" in HM magazine") has joined the band and brings with him an array of mid-eastern and acoustic musical influences. Kemper also brings some well thought out lyrics that, along with Frank's lyrics, come straight from the heart. Making appearances on the new cd are instruments such as the mandolin, dulcimer, recorder, harmonica, Ocarina and Bozouki. This new instrumentation is set to a backdrop of the heavy guitar oriented rock that Atomic Opera is know for. The additon of Kemper Crabb to Atomic Opera was possibly the artistic element needed to bring this band out of what was starting to look like a rut. The majority of the songs are still written by Frank but some of my favorites seem to be the ones that are either written by Kemper or by both Kemper and Frank. Standout tracks include: Jesus Junk, Reiah Discerns the Times, Silence and Malediction. -- Review by Norm