Cornerstone. If you've ever been there, you know about the generator stages. Year after year, bands hang on the hope that they might somehow get noticed. People treat them like a beggar, they walk past and look the other way, engaging in conversation about the most pointless topics just to avoid looking the desperate artists in the eye. Occasionally a band will draw a small crowd of interested onlookers, but rarely does anyone ever ACTUALLY GET SIGNED. Staple managed to not only rise to the ranks of the impromptu stage, but eventually got signed to Flicker records, where they released their S/T debut and now Of Truth and Reconciliation.
As I work at a Christian rock radio station, I face the daily dilemma of playing music that sucks but has "good lyrics". Every once in awhile I get surprised by a band that has viable mainstream talent alongside their clear purpose, and Staple was one such band.
Apparent in their sound on this disc is a chip on their shoulder to prove their distinctiveness. Keim's vocals have always effortlessly transitioned from melody to gravel. Here, he takes on a whole new dimension with some slam poetry evidenced on Honor and Integrity and Gavels from Gunbarrels. Brian continues mincing guitar styles with likeable hard rock riffs, jazz breaks, dissonant, whacked chords, and an overall tasty tone. Israel's bass takes the usual fill-ins and fill-outs for emphasis while adding some subtle arpeggios and scale work. Grant's drums are perfect, laying the groundwork for the dynamics of the heavy progressive songs.
Lastly, the lyrics deal with "Christian" topics of conformity, complacency, judgment, integrity, love, and hope without being cheesy. Again, credit goes to Keim for penning sincere words that go beyond just good, into being effective and actually convicting.
If you at all enjoy heavy melodic music that doesn't err on the side of screamo, there is no reason you would not like this band.
2.5/4
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