The Face of Love Reviewed by Jennifer Lee

“It must be different through your eyes / cuz you look at me like it’s the first time you’ve ever seen my face.”
What better way to describe forgiveness and redemption than by realizing that indeed it is like looking at someone for the first time, unblemished and free from hurt and shame?!
This line from The Face Of Love represents the album’s underlying message. Sanctus Real has not softened their sound, but they have indeed matured their message. This year marked some major turns in the lives of this band such as marriages, babies and heartache, resulting in an honest and deep album.
Face still has its Sanctus Real trademark of rock and the tight sound birthed with the band’s debut album, continuing on with their cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day,” to their Dove-award winning rock album of the year, Fight The Tide.
This compilation explores life’s meaning in such songs as “Don’t Give Up ” and the title track, which points out the reality of a God who is Someone more than just a religious figure painted on a stained-glass window.
This is definitely one Face you’ll want to familiarize yourself with.

Say It Loud Reviewed by Dion Lowe

Rock and roll hopefuls take note: diligence pays off. Five years of touring and four independent albums are sure to come through for you. Talent? I suppose you ought to have some of that too.

All of this is especially evident on Say It Loud, the first major label release for this Ohio four-piece. Signed to Sparrow Records and assigned to work with Grammatrain frontman-come-producer, Pete Stewart (Tait, tobyMac), Sanctus Real have loosed a rock and roll Goliath that doesn’t want to quit. Even the ‘ballads’ keep the album cutting in the right direction.

Explosive guitar and tight drumming combine with loud (yet sung!) vocals, creating a sonic texture both pop-rock upbeat and alterna-punk intense. The band members are obviously music fans as well as musicians, exhibiting styles as recent as Jimmy Eat World and as ancient as The Knack. Heavy guitar and vocal harmonies are always a sure-fire combination.

Lyrically, a passion for Christ clearly shines through. Like P.O.D. and Pax217, you can blast this one for the SK8ER BOI next door with zero complaint.

From the first guitar chords of “Sink Or Swim” to the slow rhythmic fade of “After Today,” this is a must-have record for rock fans.

There’s a hidden bonus track, too. I’ll let you review it.