Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It has to be admitted that dance-tinged pop rock has produced much which is trivial and lightweight. But Chicago's We Are Leo aren't pitching at the Christian youth group market with shallow slogans and snappy dance routines. WAL offer cleverly thought through word pictures which on a song like "61/Twenty Three" point the way to how to make sense of the mess of modern life while the title cut speaks of how God's voice beckons us back to him. A track surely destined for Cross Rhythms airplay is the opener "Dimensions" where a prayer, delivered in engaging staccato vocal by frontman David Duffield portrays how the protagonist was confronted by the lord on a back road of life. There are one or two production surprises, like the delicious acappella-styled harmonies on "Shine Forever" while one of the few songs not about God, "Salt Life", is about taking one's sweetheart for a romantic seaside getaway. But musically the songs here make clear spiritual assertions without a cliché in earshot and though one could claim that the slick drum programming pumping through most of the tracks is a tad tiresome over the length of an album, there is no doubt that 'The Rush & The Roar' is an infectious project of guitar and synth driven music.

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.