Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In the past all manner of Christian bands have fused raucous rock rhythms with rap but this is probably the first time a predominantly black band have done so, and marvellous it is too. This team out of Los Angeles have been around awhile and looked like they were making ground with their debut album 'til their record company went bust. Now, signed to hip ol' Gotee Records, everything seems in place to bring their blistering synthesis of R&B voices, uninhibited rapping (both male and female), funkily programmed bits and cathartic rock guitars to click with the mass Christian music public and eventually even crossover to the mainstream. My favourites here are the haunting "Overloaded" with its memorable confession that it's only God that's stopping the singer from going insane, and the hugely radio-friendly opener "Stereo". The only snag in the production, by the band Ahmad Jones and Timmy Shakes, is the linking answer phone messages in between tracks which is clichéd, self-indulgent and quickly palls. But the music here is groundbreaking stuff.

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