Somewhere around 1600 A.D., King James of England brought together scholars and manuscripts to give us that version of the Bible which has endured for centuries as the definitive English language translation. About 400 years later, we have another King James, a group of musical scholars studying the rock manifestos of the ages, and they have given us a rock record of Biblical proportions. Well, okay, not quite that big and bold, but it does kick!
Powered by the guitar of fret master Rex Carroll, the founding guitar wizard of that pioneer band Whitecross, King James blazes through ten clearly Christian but not too preachy songs. Rex Carroll plays with technical mastery, and heavy metal power, but more than that, he can play with feeling, the marks of a true guitar hero. Like Whitecross, this band rocks with a catchy sense of melody and pace, but the sound is more updated, at times like Alice In Chains or Soundgarden. Although the record rocks, it rocks at an intensity level and a creative level just slightly beneath what I think Rex Carroll is capable of, and the music is not as potent as some of his previous work. However, even at that level, he still creates moments of hard rock brilliance that lift this record a half step above some other hard rock bands. But in this reviewer's
mind, there are not enough of those moments. The project is also missing one of those patented guitar solo jams that I used to look forward to on Whitecross albums. But those are slight and picky complaints. This is a solid record, a worthy CD for fans of this rock genre, especially, for Rex Carroll fans.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Critical Mass #3Reviewed by Tom EdmondsonI didn't pick up the first King James disc because I had gotten so bored with Whitecross. After hearing this new one I think I'll have to go back and get it. It is not at all what I expected. This album, without having heard the first one, demonstrates a very tight band. The guitar tone is as mean and heavy as I've ever heard from Rex Carroll. Spell it C-R-U-N-C-H! It sounds a lot like he's been…Similar sounding releases
1997TourniquetCrawl to China
2001NarniaDesert Land
1995TroublePlastic Green Head
1994BrideScarecrow Messiah
2001Jacob's DreamTheater Of War
1998Echo HollowDiet Of Worms
