Ariel
Ariel
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Ariel is a new hard rockin' band from Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. They have a sound their own, which is not too far from the first Daniel Band and Resurrection Band albums. The lead vocals come from behind the drumkit a la Steve Sawatsky. Some excellent guitar work comes from Ron Willes, who also writes most of the music. Bruce Davies lays down a solid bass line. Lisa Sawatsky adds good harmonizing vocals on some of the songs. The highlight of the album has got to be Ron Willes' guitar work. He receives a four-star rating for his efforts here. His playing is real smooth and controlled. It's not flashy, nor is it slow and predictable. You can't hear his guitar pick clicking against the strings, the notes just come out as if it sang by itself! His rhythms have the right amount of distortion to rock the music. Side two of this album seems to out-perform side one. Some of the songwriting and hooks on side one lack a snap or real exciting direction. The first song, "Take Hold," seems to be held back speed-wise by the fact that a drummer is singing. That's what it seems like to me. I know it must be hard to sing in key while moving all your arms and legs at the same time. Before this limitation gets too far, Ron's guitar work comes to the rescue. This band really has mega-potential. Their talent is very evident in this album. Better songwriting could push this band into the limelight easily. I imagine Ariel really shines in concert. Choruses like the one in "Draw Close" sound like they would benefit from the volume, room and energy of a live performance. "Set Me On Fire" is another song that's not loud enough on record. It starts off with some cymbal smashing and a gnarly rhythm that I know would just rock in concert! This album is much better loud than it is soft. (I turned it up so I could hear those cymbal smashes louder) The instrumentation on this album is top-notch. Little accents like the chimes that introduce "Psalm 139" set this album head and shoulders above many other independent releases. The guitar actually starts crying and sings beautifully during this song. Man! I love emotion in a guitar. This could be a Gary Moore song...I mean that! Favorites of the album would have to be the first two songs on side two: "Fight For Your Life" and "Love Not The World." They're "metal-hour radio playable" (what an adjective!) and the hardest tunes on the album. "Love Not The World" should put to rest any accusations that Christian rock writers are shallow in their message: "For He which has called you He is holy/ So be holy in all of your manner/ for you are living stones in a spiritual house/ walk in His love God's holy banner." "The Second Coming" ends the album with shouts of joy. The chorus is pure praise. It sounds like the perfect song to end a concert with right after some heavy preaching and a salvation prayer. It's anointed man! Because of the edifying nature of the lyrics and the quality of the music, I would recommend that all of you buy this album. It is being distributed through Spring Arbor in Michigan. That means you can special order it from your local Christian bookstore. If you don't live near a Christian bookstore, you can contact Spring Arbor yourself by writing: Spring Arbor Distributing, 10885 Textile Road, Belleville MI 48111; or calling (313) 481-0900.