I received a letter from Damascus some time ago. They invited me to review their latest tape. I accepted with great anticipation because their fact sheet described them as an "artistic" band! This is a claim that intrigued me. Their goal is "to combine the delicate serenity of a symphony with the unbridled intensity of rock." I thought to myself, "Okay, you've given me very high expectations of your tape. I dare you to impress me." Well, I received the Will I Find You There? tape and I must say I am very impressed. They are polished in technique and have an artistic flair for emotional creativity. If you appreciate the band Yes, you will undoubtedly like Damascus. Side one has four songs which feature mood changes that progressive or, as some call it, "pomp rock" groups form their music around. A quiet piece flows acoustically along until a winding rhythm takes the song away with some fast electric guitar or organ work. The vocals fit well with the musical sound. The music is full and rich. Big money production would only make this group mesmerizing. "Will I Find You There?" promises a bright future for Damascus. Side two features a nine minute song called "The Lost Prayer," which holds true to the progressive rock tradition. It is an epic with numerous tempo changes. They tell us that their hope is "to make each word that is sung be felt as much as it is heard; to unite lyric and music so closely that they speak the same language." "The Lost Prayer" achieves this fusion between message and music. The first movement presents a fragile and honest confession of a person's doubt of God's presence and the loneliness that is felt. "Lord I'm scared and alone/ There's someone here but it's not you/ I hear him call, he's calling out my name/ He's pretending that he's you." This is interrupted by the electric guitar trumpeting away the soft sounds. The speed gets faster and angrier as the other voice accuses the character of the song: "Your soul is cursed forever/ Your heart is hardened fast/ Your life of being a hypocrite/ This anguish you can't last/ Maybe you should wish/ That maybe you were dead." This fast and aggressive dialogue of the devil is put at peace with the third movement when Jesus enters with His words of comfort: "I promised to deliver you/ If you only took my hand/ But Life's not always calm at sea/ So you hunger for the land/ I've been the one who's carried you/ When you refused to walk/ Claim the victory for I have won/ And don't listen when Satan talks...You need to live by faith/ And I will never leave your side/ To take away your sin/ That's the reason that I died/ I Love You, I Love You." The music, as well as the words, comfort the listener. Damascus started performing live in 1982. The band consists of: Dave Coy on drums; Tom McKeown on lead and background vocals, electric guitar, organ, piano and synth; Marc Reich on lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitars; Cliff Zweibruck on bass and background vocals. With their sound, one would expect real long hair and satin gowns and other Renaissance-style clothing.
