Sanctus Real - Fight The Tide

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

We Brits have been a bit slow to catch onto the rock 'n' roll delights of this bunch from Ohio (hence 'Fight The Tide' selling here for a Breaking Artist bargain price of £7.50 even though Real's previous album 'Say It Loud" was a major Christian music breakthrough in the States). This is in every way better, with strong, catchy hooks, lyrics that don't hide their powerful message and a singer, Matt Hammitt, who's well on his way of being up there with Mac Powell as a top rate rock singer. Cleverly produced by the always reliable Tedd T, this takes on more European rock influences than its rather blue collar predecessor and whether they're coming on with a slice of reggae rock ("The Show"), showing Busted how exciting pop punk can be ("Message") or making with some ferocious guitar riffs on the first single from the set, "Everything About You", the effect is always impressive. Grab Hammett's power-rasp delivery on "Alone" which would give Aerosmith's Steven Tyler a run for his money, catch the muscular riffs and scaling tonal walls of guitarist Chris Rohmann, or enjoy the way bass and drums are locked in tight perfection. Modern rock of exceptional quality.