One definition of equilibrium is a state of balance, with no tendency to change. On the surface, Whitecross' latest effort fits this description very well. The lineup is the same as on Unveiled, Whitecross' previous project, with Jimmie Lee Sloas returning as producer. The sound is similar, too, with the same mainstream hard rock tone you loved (or hated) on Unveiled.
A more accurate description of the state of Whitecross, though, is an equilibrium growth path. Whitecross reaches for, and usually hits, a higher mark on Equilibrium. The arrangements are tight, but more complex; Scott Wenzel's vocals remain as sharp as a jagged razor, but guitarist Barry Graul takes the mike for "Full Crucifixion." Though the album does have a cheesy "canned" sound in places, Sloas' production is crisp and clear and appropriately varied as the band moves, almost literally, from a whisper to a scream.
One constant on any Whitecross album is their unswerving dedication to Jesus Christ and no-holds-barred evangelism. In places, this leads to trite, formulaic lyrics. "Fallen Star," for example, is a typical "you lose, Devil" rant with predictable heavy guitar-crunching. (Will a rock band ever create the equal of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters?) "The Balance" has a fun alliterative beginning, though, and Sloas contributes some particularly memorable songwriting on "Full Crucifixion," where he likens the effects of the Fall to a river:
Twist and curve it wraps the root Of every nerve And numbs it like a stone ...Beneath this house, the water flows And hollows out Foundations I have laid
Overall, this is a fine album that ought to appeal to any rock or metal fan. Equilibrium grew on me in a way that Unveiled did not; here's hoping that the next album will be even better.
