First off, I am a big fan of rock music and rock drumming. As I have mentioned here long past, rock is the style that drew me into drumming. I also like CCM and some Christian rock. So I am not hating when I state my following opinions.
Overall, I like the concept sound in the clip. However, my overall feeling was as with a lot of Christian rock is that the vibe/sound was too light. It wasn't street cred/legal/authentic. The mix wasn't dirty enough because the play wasn't gritty/hard enough. Synth guitar just is not enough... you have to have an axe with some real crunch and a nice pedal board. Too much compression on the drums... too tight on the tuning, cymbals too small or thin. I say this having read the band's sonic influences on the YouTube page (Skillet, need, Linkin Park, Kill Switch, Nickelback, Brandy, Tonex, Fireflight ). These are all considered Corporate Rock bands. The Corporate Rock sound is very much like today's RnB for the most part in it has an over processed sound with a lot of harmony and melodic movements. Nickleback is really the only band that is standing out in there recorded releases as having the sound of a "Rock" band. That has a lot to do with the fact that front man Chad Kroger, writes everything and is really good guitar player.
*** Note I am a huge fan of Corporate Rock bands: Nickelback (Danial Adair on drums/vocals), Linkin Park (Rob Bourdin on drums), Evanessence (now Will Hunt on drums) and some others so again... no hate in my commentary. Nor are they without knowledge of the genre sound in question.
All that being said, I think that this a sound that is missing in the Urban Christian arena in large. Micah Stampley on both releases and Israel Houghton captured it on Power of One. Myron Butler and Levi touched on it on Stronger particularly with I Live. Shekinah Glory really taps into the sound under the radar. The sound is a pure power worship from the soul reminiscent of your Hendrix, Santana, Clapton, SRV, White Snake (our Christian brother, Tommy Aldridge on drums) type soul-filled guitar bands. The artist/bands I just mentioned all understand the spiritual connection of music for sure (documented) and they purposely deliver that energy. Other bands today do as well.... We have to bring it with the same passion we had when we brought it out in the world. That is the street cred/authenticity I think folk are speaking on here.
Give them another project to get their swagger and a Les Paul playing guitar munstah ya'll because, this has lots potential to compell the youth to come in from the highways and by-ways.
