Reviewed by Joel Lewis

Newsflash! BTR carve out a new rocked up sound for themselves! We kick off on this album with an excellent cover of Brent Milligan's "Still Breathing" (previously recorded on the 'One Point Oh' compilation). The rest are by the band's own Steve Wiggins and do not lower the standards. "Lovely Mausoleum" examines the way people hide the emptiness with a false exterior. "Wouldn't It Be Cool" is a lot deeper than it's title suggests. They mellow out a little on a couple of songs, but the overall feel is somewhat like a whirlwind locked in a box - ready to blow the lid off at any moment! Which is exactly what happens on the last four tracks. In the four (yes, four) "hidden" tracks the CD nearly leaps out of the deck with the sheer energy they exude! In a marvelous touch of irony, they are actually the best tracks on the album. Rockier and free from the slightly over produced feel of the others. In them, Steve roundly slams religious legalism, finger pointing critics and gives his very definite views on those who think they will be able to argue with God's final judgement. If this is the new sound of BTR, I am all for it. Since this is also an AVCD, those of you with PCs will be able to view the video for their hit single "What Would Jesus Do?". Brit pop it's not, but a smouldering slab of rock and roll it is. Value for money, too - what more could you ask?

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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