The Crossroads - Sink Or Swim

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

"Timeless" was once a word mistakenly attached by Word Records to some seriously dodgy, ancient easy listening gospel reissues. But this is the real deal - timeless blues rock delivered by a bunch of rock gospel veterans who know how to wring every bit of emotion out of the genre. The Crossroads hail from Florida and their sound is organic, impassioned and delivered with no little skill. Randall Mercer has a blood curdling rasp of a voice, Steve Robbins plays lead guitar like he was listening to Buddy Guy and Albert King while in his cradle, and the other band members can play fast and rocking ("One Track Line") or slow and mean ("I Cry"). Lyrically, 'Sink Or Swim' is in-your-face too with each song coming with a What's Behind The Songs sleevenote bristling with Scriptures. Recorded at the world renowned Hit Factory in Miami and Blighty's very own Abbey Road Studios, clearly no expense has been spared on this independent project. And there's even Mark 'Muggie Doo' Leach from The Buddy Miles Express offering some tasty Hammond B3 licks on some cuts. Yep, timeless stuff for those who like their rock gospel proud and honest.