Reviewed by Paul Poulton

Eleventh Hour are what used to be known as a 'melodic rock' band, a four-piece who have been on the road as a semi-pro outfit for five years playing a wide spectrum of venues which includes some universities. So what about the tape? Well, they play as a band with a distinctive sound, and I've met some of their die-hard fans who rate the band highly. The bass player is solid which is no mean feat since he also sings lead vocals. All the songs were written by Richard Whitehurst, the keyboard player, who maybe hasn't reached his full potential as a songwriter yet, though sparks of life do shoot out. Patrick Brough on drums plays with energy and enthusiasm, albeit with a tendency towards 70's sounding rolls. There's some tasty guitar playing both lead and textural. The weak point of the album is the production. The band need a good producer who will care about vocal dynamics, drum sounds, layering and a clean high signal for each sound on to tape. More than one song uses catharsis to tackle issues such as desertion within marriage, abortion and loneliness, and to balance the mood there's a healthy helping of praise to the King of Kings. Try to catch them live if you can.

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.