The Violet Burning
Chosen
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
When I started to "grow up" in college, I began to appreciate different styles of music other than metal. Today, there's a number of "alternative" groups that I really, really enjoy. Add The Violet Burning to that list. Here's some fresh music from The Vineyard church's new label - New Breed. This is killer stuff with an esoteric blend of pop, dance, psychedelic, funk, straight-ahead, and college-radio rock. Tunes like "Rise Like a Lion" grab my attention with an infectious beat and drive home a message about the love Jesus longs to give me, and the love I long to give Him. "The Killing" wrenches the passion from the crucifixion and bludgeons it into my heart with every hammering sound. Hot stuff for paisley ears. In a day where some alternative bands seem to hide behind layer upon layer of poetry and weird music, it's refreshing to see a band print the following message in bold print on the back of the cd insert: "If any of these songs stirred your soul, whether you believe or don't, I urge you to lay your life at the feet of Jesus, ask Him to be real to you, to take away your drug addictions, your sexual immorality, to replace your empty life with a new life in Him. Let Him heal the loneliness. He will do it. Let it be done. All glory and honor is His." Amen.