Reviewed by Graeme Crawford

With replacement guitarist Brittney Mosher now firmly entrenched as the frontwoman for the female rock outfit from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Ilia have gotten around to releasing a second EP. Very much a different band now, there is more focus on the melodic side of the music, but in such a way that they don't lose any of their passion and commitment. The title track is excellent, with its intertwining guitar parts and powerful chorus. Follow up "Reaching" is a heartfelt cry about the struggle to accept God's love and follows a similar structure with the quiet verse and loud chorus. However, the songs are quite different in feel and are equally strong. These two tracks are also included in a live acoustic format, showcasing another facet of the group, although the vocals falter a bit as Brittney fails to remain fully in key for either of the songs. The only other gripe I have is that the drum sound is weak, and there is a lot of hiss from the cymbals; that and the spelling mistake on the spine of the digipak. These are minor quibbles though, and it should be stressed that the strength of the songwriting belies the tender age of these girls, and once they have a settled lineup, they should be able to go from strength to strength.

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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