Rez
Silence Screams
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Rez returns to their hard rock roots with this long-awaited release and Rez fans are gonna love it. This album is also the debut product on the newly-formed Grrr Records. (Amy has Myrrh and now Rez has Grrr.) It is also the first hard rock album that will be named Word's "album of the month". The title track starts off with an ethereal prelude before kicking into a raunchy blues-based rocker with all the gut and muscle that Rez is known for. Gone are most of the synthesizers Rez experimented with on "Hostage", and present are the "skin and bones" of rock and roll: drums; guitar; and bass. "We're trying to get back to the feel of 'Awaiting Your Reply'," explains guitarist Glenn Kaiser. "You Got Me Rockin'" continues the energy with a sassy, fun-time rocker. Wendi Kaiser handles lead vocals on this one. "Someone Sleeps" slows the pace down a bit with a heartland rock ballad. Glenn adds a lot of emotion to it with his leather-tough vocals. "Waitin' On Sundown" pulls no punches with social commentary lamenting over greedy, power-hungry landlords in big cities. The message is played the way it should be: with workin' man's high-volume rock 'n' roll. "Presence of the Lord", that old Eric Clapton and Blind Faith classic, is resurrected here with a rousing performance. "Light/ Light" is a propelling song with one great hook. This one had the Cornerstone crowd singin' along this year, which is probably the audience that was captured on tape and mixed in for the final chorus here. "Rain Dance" features some blistering steel guitar work a la Eric Clapton or Robert Cray. This song is a fine example of the trademark poetry of Rez. Sung in first person, the writer makes himself vulnerable and shares his hurts as he prays, "Lord, send your rain." "Every Waking Hour" brings home the power chords and heavy drums in a Led-Zeppelin fashion. "Three Seconds" is a story that starts with drugs, arrest and prison, but turns when "an old song (resounds) in his ears/ Amazing Grace for him/ and then came the tears." "You Get What You Choose" starts off with a big acoustic guitar sound very similar to The Alarm, while driving home a no-nonsense message of "it's time to get on our knees." Rez, who has been a pillar in Christian rock for over a decade, incorporates all their influences in this delicious platter of midwestern hard rock. A band which has been known for putting its ministry where its mouth is, delivers the goods on "Silence Screams".