Reviewed by Jamie Maxwell

To describe a record as genre-defying has become something of a cliché, but there can surely be no better use of the term than for this offering from Toronto-based David Jacques, an independent artist trading under the name of The Dementians. The immediate impression is that this on the edgier end of the Christian rock spectrum. Intricate guitar motifs, complementing some dissonant chordal harmonies, impress. Lyrically it pushes boundaries and there even are a couple of "did he just say that?" moments on "Craziness" where he, sadly, drops the F-bomb on more than one occasion. A few of the tracks seem to lack a clear focal point, sometimes meandering a little aimlessly, but these are not intended to be three chord rock anthems and it would but unfair to write them off as such. All of this adds up to one of the more intriguing review assignments I've been given and it's hard to know how to rate it. Given that it is a completely independent solo project, it is not that surprising that the production doesn't live up to the standard to which the modern music buyer has become accustomed. Nevertheless, I found this record oddly fascinating, and its provocative edginess is more than welcome in a music scene that is crying out to be shaken up.

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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