The men of high metal musical standards are back. Besides giving us something to feast on until another full-length album, this 5-song EP shows a further development the band has undergone since adding Luke Easter to the line-up.
The title track is a great tune that starts off the album with the band shaking loose in a new textured sound that is full and brilliant. The added percussion and guitar strumming add the spice to this cool groove. Lyrically, this song drives home a great message about how we all, at one time or another, become wounded in our fight and need the help of those around us -- not condescending judgement.
There's a pretty ballad penned here by love-struck Ted for his fiance, Lizett. Accompanied by piano, Luke's voice carries the song in a very pleasant melodic direction. While not having the vocals of Michael Sweet, this song captures the essence of a song like "Honestly." The remake of "My Promise" achieves a similar feel. It's a lot bigger sounding than the original. "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" is another tune, like "Twilight," that finds the band exploring a more commercial side to their heaviness. While maybe disappointing for the early Tourniquet fan, it still sounds good.
The highlight here is the cover of the old Fleetwood Mac classic, "Oh Well." Again, we see a texturing that adds spice to the original. The acoustic guitars were a creative and unexpected touch. The pounding drums that build the opening crescendo are powerful. I think the lower register that Luke takes in delivering the song, as compared to the striking original, is a little disappointing; but the all-out jam that Tourniquet adds makes up for it big time.
With this small step in between albums, I wonder what the next full-length Tourniquet will sound like?
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse July 1995Reviewed by Erik SellinAs their previous album, Vanishing Lessons, was in many ways a dramatic change in musical style for Tourniquet, Carry The Wounded is in many ways a continuing progression. The group strays further from their heavy history, but develops overall as a solid band in hard Christian music. The 5-song EP begins with the title cut, which is musically along the lines of "Your Take" on Vanishing Lessons.…Similar sounding releases
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