Reviewed by Paul Kerslake

Ryan has an interesting background; pastoring a church at 17, becoming fully ordained at 18 and then taking up a career as a travelling speaker. While touring as a speaker he noticed that a lot of churches wanted a speaker and a band. After struggling to find available bands, Ryan prayed that he would be blessed with a voice and the ability to play guitar. This second release, 'Beautiful Scars' is testament to the fact that his prayers have been answered. "Dance For You" opens with a melody played from a music box, which morphs into some big guitars and great vocals. The title track brings the tempo down a notch, with a rock ballad feel. This continues throughout the album, primarily a guitar led affair. The band is essentially a three piece; guitar, bass and drums, and this dynamic works very well with the songs. For a second release this is an accomplished album, with some intelligent and well played guitar with some catchy melodies. This diversity lifts the album, avoiding the potential repetitiveness that can happen with a limited set of instruments. There are points when the arrangements are a tad dated, harking back to '80s rock. But generally the production avoids too many of these clichés. 'Beautiful Scars' is well worth checking out and it will be interesting to see how Ryan's sound and writing continue to develop.

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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