Reviewed by Aleem Hossain

This is refreshing stuff (no pun on “Quench” intended). At last, I’m given a CD to review that a) doesn’t stink of a stale familiarity, and b) doesn’t just hand out (metaphorical) slices of cold pizza and “Jesus loves you” verses. Rather, Quench deliver a stunning full-length debut album that will go down well with Jimmy Eat World and Foo Fighters fans and reflects the ups and downs of life without becoming depressing just because post-modern society dictates that it’s somehow cool. The result is an album that tells the story of four ordinary guys who have experienced the joys and the trials but know that they have a God who will see them through the hard times. The title ‘Afterglow’ reflects lives radically changed by God, and that’s what is at the heart of Quench’s message. There are songs you will want to sing along to at top volume in your car (“Alright”, “Bring The Summer In”), songs to challenge (“Gollum” - idolatry, “Siren” - temptation, “Think About It” - holiness), songs that might move you to tears (“Afterglow”, “Underwhelmed”) and just about everything in between! Standouts for me include the exhilarating “I Can’t Hear You” with its powerful chorus that you can’t help but sing along to, the uplifting “Alright” and the stunning opener “Beautiful”. Trevor Michael and Dave Lynch’s production is (predictably) brilliant and Jamie Hill’s vocals are awesome. With driving rhythms, harmony-laden hook lines, strong melodies and a fiery passion, this is the CD your supersonic sound system has been thirsting for (sorry, couldn’t resist!) PS: I advise reaching for the “repeat” button.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.