Reviewed by Ian Hayter

Long time listeners to Cross Rhythms may remember the early days of the station when CR gave an airing to the song "Is There Anyone There" from a self-titled 2000 debut by an Australian band, Alabaster Box. The group relocated to Nashville in 2006 and as shown on this impressive release are going great guns with the title song from 'We Will Not Be Silent' spending 13 weeks at number one in the Australian radio charts. Produced in Nashville by Vince Emmett, Jon King and The Kurnoll, this is infectious, indie-style pop rock showcasing the soaring vocals of Naarah Seagrott (now there's a name for you!) belting it out like her life depended on it. The opening "Bigger" cries out for radio play while throughout the message behind the songs, all written by the band, is that young people should be ready to stand up for what they believe and make an impact on their world. Most of the tracks here are anthemic challenges with the title song and the closing "Live Life Loud" being particularly powerful. "New York" and "Perfect" bring the music a bit closer to the heart with some gentle and personal lyrics. But on the whole this is a beautifully crafted pop rock set from a band who have matured into a premier league outfit.

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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