Power! Raw, yet pure; brutal, yet soothing. The Advent Of A Miracle is the second effort by the Florida-based Strongarm, and only goes to show that a truly awesome band can get better, tighter, and more technical. Chris Carbonell delivers us some of the finest hardcore vocals I've heard this year. Yet many songs have softly spoken words that almost haunt their way into your heart. You can feel his emotion right off this disc from the very first song, "These Times That Try Men's Souls." This song takes off at a breakneck pace, and sets the mood for the entire album.
Musically, the band is incredibly tight on this album. Chad Neptune performs some remarkable bass lines on this disc, and thanks to a superb production process, they can be heard very easily. This really adds a nice element to the music that the hardcore scene has not explored as much as it should. Steven Kleisath does not drill to death the bass drums either, but still comes up with some very technical playing-you can hear him all over his set on this album. The guitarists, Nick Dominguez, and Josh Colbert, combine for some fine efforts as well. This is not your typical "chunga-chunga" hardcore-this music keeps you interested.
Like most hardcore out there, the lyrics are very straightforward and honest. There is no hiding Whom these guys serve. Take the following from "Council Of Perfection:"
All sacrifice and all suffering is redemptive Formed in the palm of God's mighty hand Shaped by the work of His will And alive from the breath of His loving heart Man's inspiration is God's touch on the quickened nerves of the spirit
These guys glorify His name and are not afraid to let it show. Further, the insert shows evidence that they are out there delivering their message to the unsaved. Inside the cover is a passage from the band that states,
The philosophies of man have risen and fallen; tides of popular thought have come, have gone, and will go. Is it any wonder that we choose to stand on that which is eternal, that which has served as a beacon through 6,000 years of human history? Come let us reason together...am I still not your brother? The 'Scene' and all of its cliques, its politics, only divide. Disagree, if you must, but at least respect my right to dissent. And I shall defend, till death, your right to do the same.
If there is a downside at all to this album, it is its length-the nine songs total just under 30 minutes of music. After dropping your money on this disc, it does seem to end on you far too quickly. Yet there can be no fault found with the music contained within. This album is surely for all those who enjoy hardcore such as Zao, Focused, Focal Point, or Unashamed.
Similar sounding releases
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2001Brain:FAQBrainstorming
2005BlacklistedWe're Unstoppable
1996Zao / Through and ThroughTreadwater...
2004Jesus WeptSick City
2003All Out WarCondemned to Suffer
