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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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And for good reason. Since the release of their first indie album, Metamorphosis in June of last year, and the subsequent release of their sophomore indie album, Original Superman, Pillar has been getting the radio air time that most bands only dream of. Featured in the July/August issue of 7ball Magazine, as one of their top 25 unsigned bands, the band got additional exposure being included in the magazine CD sampler. The label debut, Above, packs a punch that is sure to get the notice of those they haven’t reached with the indie releases. Above, is due out September 26. Musically citing influences such as P.O.D, Pax217, Limp Bizkit, 311, and Rage Against the Machine, the four member Pillar has managed to produce an album with a sound all its own. The opening track, “Live
For Him” starts off heavy, somewhat reminiscent of P.O.D. Energetic,
heart pounding guitar and percussion combinations; serious, thought provoking
lyrics; breaking into melodic interludes for the song chorus. The
song speaks to Christians and non-Christians alike, urging believers to
Title track, “Above” features catchy guitar riffs, sections of high voltage musical energy, interspersed with heavy hitting lyrical passion. “Everything to my God above/He’s my one and only true love.” “Original Superman,” title track to the sophomore indie release, has an almost reggae/funk feel to it. Using imagery from the popular Superman comic, the song compares the comic book hero to Christ with a major distinction: “Kryptonite can’t slow Him down/Nothing can at all/He’s always there for you/He’ll pick you up if you should fall.” Gotee recording artist Knowdaverbs makes a guest appearance in “Galactic Groove.” This is a fun, hip-hop driven song, with a little mixing thrown in. Overall, this is a strong album both musically and lyrically. Thought provoking lyrics, strong vocals, catchy rhythms and attention grabbing musical interludes make this a seriously competitive debut. The musical maturity displayed in the album, as well as the lyrical insight combine for a truly enjoyable listening experience. Kerry Maffeo 8-28-2000
Each time a style of music gains popularity on the backs of its forefathers, a plethora of similar bands flood the market. Trendsetters like Rage Against the Machine, 311, Korn, and EDL (on a smaller scale) paved the way for hugely successful artists like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and P.O.D. Of course, they also paved the way for the wave of wannabes that invariably follows. Does Pillar, a band that defiantly belongs in the increasingly popular rap/rock genre, have a chance to grab a piece of the spotlight in a soon to be overcrowded market? Pillar is a new band recently signed to Flicker Records, a label started by Audio Adrenaline. They have released two indie CD's, but Above is the first label release. Above will be released nationally 9/26/00. I am reviewing based on a pre-market sampler with a selected 6 tracks. The sampler opens up with "Live for Him" a driving tune that aptly balances melodic and hard vocals throughout. "Above" is also a good track, with strong vocals and nice guitar work. This is by far the best track (boring musical bridge aside) and the rest of the disc has trouble living up to it. "Original Superman" has a reggae feel to it and some good rap/rock vocals, but it never reaches its potential. It uses the very tired superman theme to state its message: He'll be your hero in the end, he is that one true super friend"You Should Know" is forgettable and "Something Real" is actually a very bad track. This little sampler closes with "Galactic Groove." Call it retro, call it "old school" or whatever, but leave it in the studio. The guest rap from Knowdaverbs is well done and there is a great Decepticons reference, but the song just isn't good. I know that you are thinking, "jeez, he hated this…" Well actually, no. "Above" is not a bad album (at least the 6 tracks I have), but its not a great one either. The vocals are crisp and clear, the music is strong and the production is tight. There just aren't ANY really good songs. The lyrics are nothing special and the overall package (music, vocals, and lyrics) has been done before. There is a lot of potential here, though. If you are already a fan of this genre than you should enjoy this album, if you want to find out if you are, buy P.O.D. Having said all that, I am looking forward to future outings from Pillar, just please don't make me look back at this one. Matthew Riddle 9/5/2000
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