Reviewed by Sammy Horner

Not quite sure what to make of this one really. Maybe Mr Charlie 'Devil Went Down To Georgia' Daniels is having a shot at some kind of new style progressive country, but unlike, say. Emmylou Harris, or Steve Earle, his formula doesn't quite work so well. This is a 'gospel project' by Mr D and to be fair it's not what you'd call a bad album. Some cuts really make hard hitting points like "New Pharisees" (the last lien will gut ya!) but on the whole, as far as new country music is concerned, the album is in the 'neither nor' section. Depending on your particular theological view you may struggle with certain songs such as "Tribulation" (your stand on eschatology is a much bigger deal in the USA than in old Blighty), but to be honest, and honest I must be. Basically the disc just ain't got the tunes. Much can be forgiven in country music if you just end up tappin' your Justin Boots or crying in yer Bud, but I'm afraid 'Steel Witness' just left me feeling like I was reviewing a one sided American theological journal...that didn't have very good tunes.

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