Reviewed by Paul Gallagher

The latest band from Audio Adrenaline's Flicker Records label, Staple continue in the tradition of P.O.D. and Pillar, delivering 40 minutes of non-stop, Bible-based, ear destroying rock, infused with just enough melody to be accessible to the open-minded radio listener. Lead singer Darin Keim can scream with the best of them, and in less shouty moments his voice takes on a surprisingly emotive quality, contrasting nicely with the harder edge. But lyrically, the songs are generally too earnest and concept-heavy for the listener to figure out what they are actually about. Lines like "Incited scars are bleeding and now I believe" from "Dictatorship Vs Democracy" fly past without leaving any impression or clear meaning. One notable exception is "Remember Sammy Jankis". The title is a reference to the film 'Memento', and the song questions the reliability of memory as a motive for revenge. Overall, Staple will keep hard music fans happy, but are not likely to entice new listeners to the genre.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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