I haven't heard an album start off this powerfully for a long, long time. Opening with a passion-spitting speech that is as good an ending as it is a beginning, when this angry voice shouts the following words at you, you simply feel the urgent need to obey: "...Put your knee in the dirt and bow to the God that holds your blood red destiny in the palm of His awesome hands. It's your choice!"
What follows this slam-you-against-the-wall intro is a non-stop slamfest for 10 songs. While comparisons to The Crucified will be made, these guys still remain in their big bro's shadow. Of anyone I've heard, though, these guys come the closest to matching the intensity of a band we said goodbye to in '93.
1994 says hello to these hungry bro's who kick it out. Word has it that they're packing out shows all over the West Coast.
With this bridled aggression, it's cool to hear lyrics like, "Never use a fist, only an open hand/ Never intend to hurt, only to understand." ("Walk Beside Me") "Perfect Will" is like a "worship with hardcore intensity" (a new t-shirt slogan for HM maybe?) song. It kills. What's really cool about this album is you can find a riff in every song to really dig on, whether it's the romping intro to "Blinded" or the slammin' staccato in "Open My Eyes."
In the tune "Forward," we hear a surprise: an acoustic intro to a hardcore song. The contrast works to make the band's unified entrance an even larger sound. Produced by Jeff Belew, this sonics are full and the guitars have that lovely nasty distortion. The vocals, though raw, are over the top and powerful. If you ever wanted to show someone a powerful Christian band, Focused would be a perfect choice. This album's full of power, intensity and energy. If you could melt this CD and packaging down, I'm sure it would smell like sweat. Focused, you're definitely alive and awake.