Review Summary: Who could have expected it?
Showbread certainly like their new album a lot, and that's no surprise. The critics sure seem to like it, as well. A lot of their fans, however, have been completely turned off by their latest sound. This is a different brand of the band's trademark genre 'raw rock'; a very different brand indeed. So what do I, as a huge Showbread fan, think of their latest work? I must admit, after my first listen, I didn't come back to it for quite a while. Despite it being my most anticipated album of the year (yes, beating Jimmy Eat World's new record), it did feel like a bit of a letdown.
I knew it was going to be different, but I was not expecting this at all. Josh Dies' infamous raw rock band had been known in the past not only for their controversy in the Christian music industry, but for the pure energy of their music. This original (that being the key word here), highly energetic sound defined what people knew as raw rock. They haven't even expanded on that sound in the way that they did going from No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical to Age of Reptiles to The Fear of God; they've given us something entirely different. Even their purposefully different, more industrial sounding concept albums Anorexia and Nervosa hung onto the original sound established with No Sir in some way; it was undeniably Showbread. This is the new raw rock, described by Come&Live! as a raw rock that's "all grown up." Growing up doesn't necessarily mean becoming boring, but it did feel that way at first with this album.
The band had often previously stated how there wouldn't be any screaming in their future music, and I was cool with this, but here Josh didn't seem to be doing anything interesting with his voice whatsoever. I've heard many call it 'monotonous', and I'd still kind of have to agree. In contrast to older albums, even on this one's more upbeat songs (I Never Liked Anyone and I'm Afraid of People and Myth of a Christian Nation), he doesn't seem to do anything with his voice beyond the same monotone singing, in fact this is true for the entire album. This has lead some fans to say there's a lack of passion in his voice, but I don't think this is entirely true. The lyrics on this album are not only great, but lyrics that Josh clearly really cares about. If you want some good Christian lyrics, this is the album I would direct you to.
Josh Dies is a man with very strong views on all sorts of issues, as a follower of the band's Formspring account I can say that with absolute certainty. However, all of these views come back to Jesus Christ, his relationship with Him and his view of His teachings. The songs here offer up some great ideas through their lyrics, and some could easily be used by other Christians for worship. The music here also has grown on me, though it took a little time. I really enjoy this album now, though it'll always be Age of Reptiles, The Fear of God and more of their older music that originally made Showbread one of my all-time favourite bands. It's great for what it is, however disappointed I may be with the departure of the raw rock I've known and loved. At first, I was upset as I thought this sounded like 'just another rock record', but it's still distinctly Showbread, just a different Showbread. Also, this album is completely, legally free, which is certainly a bonus.
This is an excellent record from beginning to end. I have given this album the time that other Showbread fans need to give it, and I am now reaping the rewards. It's hard to deny the beauty of the lyrics from the get go, but give it a chance and soon you'll find yourself appreciating it for the music just as much. The 'bread have still got it; now I'm simply all the more intrigued to see where raw rock will go from here.
