With the opening high vocals of Seraphim's first cut on its self-titled release, metal fans might be quick to press the stop button and say, "not another Stryper clone," and they would be partly right. Vocals by Ken Lancaster and guitar work by him and guitarist/keyboardist Glenn Arthur are reminiscent of that already top-selling commercial metal band. But after giving some of their other songs, like "Evil Dreams", "Don't Turn Back", and "Fire Of Life" a listen, it's clear that Seraphim have potential to create music that's their own. With bassist Andy Norman and an attempt at heavy rhythms on these songs, Seraphim is best at rockers than their more mellow material. The lyrics deal with looking everywhere from money to women for everlasting love and finding it in Jesus. "Starry Eyed" speaks to many of us who often look to musicians more than Jesus. The instrumental "Praylude" has some good keyboard work, but doesn't have a place in this release. Seraphim's rockers are worth hearing, but on the whole the release will leave you hoping that in the future these guys will make their own mark in commercial metal.
