Brooding, expansive, provocative, and above all forlorn that is Slow Steady Heart. "Hiding my face in light 'till I blind you all" drones (in a good way) Caleb James lead singer for Leo Nine welcoming the listener to the real world. A world that scars but at the same time brings joy, a world that beats you down and at the same time builds you up because of the unseen Hand that holds it all together. The melancholy tone of his voice is reminiscent of David Bazan (Pedro the Lion). It is able to cause the dark that is buried within us all to surface so that the Light may vanquish it. Fans of Coldplay, Radiohead or U2 will easily fall in love with this Aussie band.
Caleb and the boys do a mind blowing job of tip toeing the line between dark and light, clearly expressing the dilemma of human suffering but at the same time pointing to the source that can console us. To sum up "Slow Steady Heart" I would say this album is balm for the hurting soul. The title track and "Dragging My Head Through Mud" upon first listen sound a bit obtuse but with more listens you will see these are two of the best worship songs to be written in awhile.
These guys are exceptional songsmiths who are not afraid to use non-traditional arrangements and combine them with straight ahead, visceral lyrics resulting in ten amazingly great songs. "You're too scared to live inside 'cause you're dying on the outside" this lyric from "Curbside" could be the centerpiece to this masterpiece since all the songs in some way touch on the theme of yearning for something greater than yourself but being held back by the worries and stresses of this life all the while realizing that only through submission can we truly live. Kudos to the band for not hiding behind platitudes and pretensions, but instead allowing us to peek inside their hearts and souls. Music is always better that way, Slow Steady Heart proves just that.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Linus BomanDon't let the subdued tones and overcast imagery of the cover art lull you into a false sense of security. Opening up Leo Nine's latest offering, Slow Steady Heart, you'll be confronted by vibrant, saturated reds and vivid streaks of light. A unique but fitting visual accompaniment to the opening track from this Brisbane-based indie rock group. "The Slow Bullet," immediately gives the impression…Similar sounding releases
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