Saved By Grace - "For What You Have Done"

Album review by Mark Cuthbertson

The first track of this album, "the beginning of the end", raises expectations and offers promise. Sure, the rest is probably going to be a metal album, but some people like that sort of thing, and maybe a portion of the album won't sound just like every other metal/hardcore band. But the second song, "what it takes to feel normal again", reveals the band's Achilles heel: the vocals. This is worse than "cookie monster" vocals since The Cookie Monster could usually be understood. This vocalist makes sounds with his throat, but not a word is understandable, and he sounds more like a sick and angry wild boar. It's a real shame since so much more effort and talent went into the instrumental portion of the record.

Furthermore, this is a Christian band. They base their name and theme of many or all of their songs on this ideology of spreading the good word. Why, then, is the music dark and menacing as possible? Why form a band to serve a missionary purpose and leave all words indecipherable?

Why bother? Why listen? This album gets a generous two out of a possible five head-bang-induced headaches.

For more information about this band, visit their website.

--Mark Cuthbertson
mark@thezone.org