Reviewed by Rob Birtley

This Santa Cruz, California outfit ticks all the boxes of the Orange County punk scene. They combine the influences of surfer/skater sound, liberal amounts of indie and '60s pop to create a mix that's truly their own. "Love Love" is a punk rock song complete with vocals that draw on the angst of Stiff Little Fingers, an aggressive, rough guitar tone that counterpoints the harmonized vocals. Subject matter is squarely aimed at Christians who really don't walk the walk just talk the talk. "By His Blood" and "Sex Trafficking" continue the rapid/raucous, loud punk rock vibe. With "Sex Trafficking" they're addressing another hot topic in the lyric accompanied with a really nice bass line as well. "You Are" and "My God" slow the frantic pace with more of a jangly guitar indie-rock sound. "What Have I Done" and "Why" sound like arena-rock power ballads from the late '80s evoking acoustic Cinderella or Guns N' Roses and conjure up swaying, raised arms hoisting Zippos moments. An album like this isn't rocket science. Just two questions need to be asked. Is it "on message"? It surely is. And would it get a crowd pogoing? Well, most likely.

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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