Dual Edge
Knock 'Em Alive
Reviewed by Paul Q-Pek
I'm going to break up this review into sections so you'll know what's what. 1) Album cover. Wow! What great graphics! This cover features an excellent drawing of the band. Of course all the members have beautiful hair and facial features (I wonder if they really look like the picture?). Oh well, they'll rack up several sales due to the album cover alone. 2) Instrumentality. This album is full of great guitar hooks, licks and leads. Sole guitarist Rick Wald provides 75% of what is good about this album. John Avery on bass and Terry Steinmeyer on drums provide solid support and a good foundation for Rick's guitar work. If you doubt Mr. Wald's talents, check out his solo on "New Life." It's hot! 3) Vocals. You can tell right away, from the acappella vocal opening track "Lift Him Up," that Dual Edge is putting a lot of faith in their vocal harmonies. Unfortunately, this is the weak link on Knock 'Em Alive. There are times that the harmonies are good, then there are times that the listener is forced to cringe a little. Lead vocalist Scott Turner at his best sounds like a cross between Michael Sweet and Vince Neil, but at times he lacks energy and seems to go a little flat. We must remember that this is the first effort from a young band and in time their weak areas will surely improve. 4) Lyrics. The words on Knock 'Em Alive are most definitely evangelical. A simple, straight-forward presentation of new life in Christ. And here's something totally new in a Christian metal album: absolutely no reference is made to the devil, Satan, the beast, the enemy, or anything like that. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it is refreshing. This is a good first effort from a good band and I'm sure we will be hearing more from them in the future.
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #11Reviewed by Doug Van PeltTheir tape, entitled Knock 'Em Dead, was recorded on a 16-track studio and was produced by Brian Bart, who plays in the hottest bar band around Minneapolis. The opening number seems to promise an album full of pop-metal, but don't be fooled. These guys eventually kick it out, but not until the fourth song: "Be With You." It's kind of like a Def-Leppard song. "New Life," the fifth song, is the…