Audio Adrenaline - Until My Heart Caves In

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Your reviewer is already feeling mild embarrassment at having failed to put the David Crowder Band's classic 'A Collision' album in the 20 Best Albums Of The Year Cross Rhythms feature and now his embarrassment is exacerbated as he realises that 'Until My Heart Caves In' should probably be in that list as well. Since there emergence in 1992 Audio Adrenaline have proven to be probably the most consistently excellent rock band on the national scene. With an eclectic sound that takes in everything from edgy neo hard rock through to acoustic pop balladry, the band have always stayed up there largely due to the excellence of their songwriting. On this new set Mark Stewart sings expressively and with as much passion as he's ever mustered while guitarist Tyler Burkum has a new zest and energy to his playing which at times resembles The Edge at his best. The theme of 'Until My Heart Caves In' is about living for God until our body collapses and with such a radical Christocentric message the album still manages to sound full of potential radio hits. The opener, "Clap Your Hands", with its boiling over surge of energy, is a full throttle rocker which demands a bop around the front room while the worshipful "Light Of The Sun" is as poignant as anything the band has recorded. Being an old school soul man, I could have done without the cover version of "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" (stupidly credited to Otis Redding in the publicity blurb - Jackie Wilson would turn in his grave!) but even here the band bring some rugged rock energy to the song's original joyful lilt. All in all, pop rock of the finest quality.