Lazarus
Breaking Into the Night
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
This is one of the tapes I picked up at Cornerstone, and I'm glad I did. It's mixed well and features a straight-ahead sound that will survive the competition in the metal jungle out there. This 6-song tape starts off with a jolting thunder crash and the reverberated voice of Jesus saying, "I am the resurrection and the life./ He that believes in Me/ he will live./ Whosoever lives and believes in Me/ He will never die. He..." Then the guitars smash in and grind away. The vocals are being sung/yelled with authority and grit. This song, "Lazarus Come Forth," definitely starts this hot tape off with a bang. The song ends with more thunder and rain effects and melodically goes into the title track, which is a ballad/anthem calling us into the world. It incorporates good use of the guitar, with a finger picking ballad-type texture mixed with well-timed chopping rhythms and finished off with fast and frantic notes. "We Rock" is an all-out rock ballad, which lyrically opposes Satan and the powers of darkness. There's some really good leads in this one too. "Holy Is Your Name" is a worship song of the Psalm 150 order. Lazarus is shouting praises to the Lord with all their might. The chorus is a glorious proclamation to the Lord: "Holy, Holy, Holy is Your Name/ Let all creation now proclaim/ The glory of His Majesty/ We lift You up for all to see." It's a great worship song that very directly glorifies our Lord with wonderful music. "The Battle's Raging" is another metal anthem to encourage us - the army of the Lord. There's an awesome chorus that feeds our spirits and minds a strong Word: "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." "Lights Out" closes off this metal onslaught of a tape with a direct plea to those held by the devil. It's a blunt, prophetic statement to those that are lost. This is a killer tape to give to an unsaved friend (or enemy for that matter). This band doesn't have the looks, but they've got the sound. This one's worth picking up. You can get it for $7 by writing Lazarus @ PO Box 1873, Martinsburg WV 25401. White Throne reports that Mark Buchanon, the lead singer, has left the band. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from Lazarus in the future, for they think their next project will blow this one away.