Even with a pretentious-sounding title like "Triumphant Return", Whitecross delivers another hot album that lives up to their high standards. The production allows lots of breathing room for a full sound. The low end sounds big and tight, thanks to ex-Outlaw Rick Cua on bass and Frank Liva (who, I think played with Rex in Fierce Heart) on drums. "Attention Please" starts off the album with an arresting rhythm guitar line and lots of quick lead breaks filling in. "Over the Top", "Stop Light", and "Heaven's Calling Tonight" are all highlights that bear the Whitecross trademark - commercial hooks mixed with loads of fancy fretwork from guitar hero Rex Carroll. "Over the Top" sounds like Motley Crue, with it's snappy vocal delivery and loose but tight rhythms. In "Stop Light", lyricist Steve Schmutzer (also Heaven's Metal graphic artist) penned several sassy four-liners that express the truth that "sin is the disease," and "the cure's gonna bring you to your knees." "Down" has a very melodic feel to it, due to vocalist Scott Wenzel slowing down for a pout, which graduates to a growl, and then settles into a talk/sing delivery. One can hear a Whitesnake influence (a la "Still of the Night") during the bridge, with slow, pulsating rhythms and talkover vocals. "Behold" is another fair ballad from Whitecross. They're getting close, but it seems that Whitecross has yet to reach their potential in this area and record the perfect ballad. It's not bad, though, and it's got a great message that focuses the listener's attention on the Lamb of God. "Shakedown", which was on the Axemen album, is a groovy blues metal number that the band pulls off with all the energy and punch of their live performance. It seems as if Rex has done his homework and studied his Led-Zeppelin records for that tasty-blues rock rhythm guitar sound, which feels good all throughout the album. The instrumental guitar solo on this album, "Flashpoint", accomplishes the challenge of departing from Rex's previous studio solos, as well as thrilling guitarists all over again. This time he takes a heavy hammer-on approach with a little Bach influence. "Simple Man" reveals a new facet to the Whitecross stone: a folksy vocal performance accompanied by acoustic guitar. The vocals are kinda dry, though, making this one of the album's low points. Overall, Whitecross doesn't break much new ground here...but hey! It's heavy metal, dude! They do progress from their last effort; building on their successes and making few mistakes while at it. In a crowded world of metal, where a song ain't good unless you can still remember it 10 minutes after it's over, Whitecross still stands out.