Gears of Redemption - The War of Blood and Rust (2000)
14 tracks of aggro-metal is what you get on this modern groove heavy feast in the vein of Sevendust. Rapcore, hardcore and metal influences abound as this disc just serves to prove another band with strong Christian lyrics can compete in the mainstream market. The production is top-notch showcasing the flawless work of producer Kirk Campbell (from Eternal Decision) on yet another great release. The music chugs along like a freight train, slowly stirring any mosh pit into a frenzy that explodes into instant insanity on tracks like "Fake". The guitars are thick, crunchy and downright heavy! At times the guitar work reminds me a bit of Korn. The vocals are decent, harsh, and sometimes emotional in the style of Sevendust but not quite as good. The music however is so good that it makes up for any weakness in the vocal area. My personal preferance would have been a bit more clear or more heavy on the vocals, either direction could have improved the vocal delivery, which as stated is not bad and most people into this style of music will find the vocals just right and overall fitting to the genre. This is a must have cd for fans of Gnashing of Teeth, Sevendust, These 5 Down, Travail, and even fans of heavier bands such as Soulfly will dig this! -- Review by Norm