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Forever Changed
The Need To Feel Alive
2005, Floodgate Records
Florida has been churning out quality rock and roll in the ‘Christian‘ market for the last few years, to the point where I‘m wondering if it‘s something in the water , from the breakout crossover success of emo-metal kids Underoath to the stately, nuanced rock of Further Seems Forever - and not by coincidence, Forever Changed‘s major-label debut was produced by James Paul Wisner, who‘s spent time behind the soundboard for both of the aforementioned standouts. Ergo, this album clearly sounds great - bright, bouncy rock that‘s thankfully entirely devoid of unnecessary screaming (I see you, Silverstein and your ilk). Forever Changed are not a hardcore band, and they are not an emo band; they‘re simply good rock and roll: effective, catchy hooks and upbeat, spot-on singing. Such an amalgam of influences have no doubt combined to forge FC‘s sound that no single one stands out, save perhaps Further‘s Hide Nothing, particularly on the title track here. There are hints of Underoath‘s guitars, Spoken‘s infectious spirit (‘Something More‘) and the late Denison Marrs‘ eloquent vocal performance (‘Great Divide‘) - another Florida product, no less. ‘Great Divide‘ combines brassiness and crunch, ‘Romance In Denial‘s new-wave, Duran Duran-esque verses bloom into an expansive arena-rock chorus, and ‘Opportunity (We Could Be The Ones)‘ floats like a heavier Acceptance. The entire album is satisfyingly heavy and anthemic while never once losing the excellent melodies - the one exception being ‘Alone‘, a song that never really finds itself, but one for eleven ain‘t bad at all. As piano-ballad closer ‘Knowledge‘ channels Billy Joel‘s finest moments to end this affair, Forever Changed - who covered Canadian-rock classic ‘Working For The Weekend‘ at last summer‘s Cornerstone Festival - have set themselves up shop in a nice little corner of the scene, and I wouldn‘t be at all shocked to hear of their signing to a major label this time next year.
[Forever Changed on the web] [Floodgate Records]
- Mike Postma
Copyright ©2005