Reviewed by Tony Cummings

"Hold On" has all the bombastic drive and snarling attitude you'd expect from a band confident enough to grab the opportunity that a record label debut offers while resisting the temptation to clone the Coldplay sound which makes much CCM rock so stereotypical. There's enough edge in the guitar work and screamed bits in the vocals to draw in some hard music headbangers and enough catchy hooks to ensure that pop fans will come back for more. Lead singer Ryan Edberg is most effective when the rhythms are heaviest like on "Vicious" and the first single "Lights Out" but even on a power ballad like "Be Still" he manages to pour heart and passion into his performance while the production is sonically rich throughout. Some of the cuts on 'Lights Out' remind me of Kutless before they wimped out and settled for safe worship-by-numbers. I suspect the live performances of these Minneapolis-based rockers are every bit as electrifying as this album in which case they could make quite an impact as long as the Coldplay-obsessed Christian radio gatekeepers give them the airplay.

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.

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