Sometimes this type of things happens. A couple years ago we received a copy
of Seventh Day Slumber's BEC debut, Picking Up The Pieces. While we deemed
the ministry value high, our reviewer found nothing noteworthy in the
release. However, a couple years later, another of our writers looks at
their sophomore effort. While she founds much of the same, she highly enjoys
the simple honesty of the music as well as the ministry value. This always
goes to show you that some people look for one thing and some for others.
Just because there is a negative vibe to one of our reviews does not mean it
is terrible; it's just that we did not like it. You are a different person,
so hopefully you can make your own decision.

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ONCE UPON A SHATTERED LIFE - SEVENTH DAY SLUMBER (2005)
by Hollie Stewart

I'm not as much of a hard rock fan as I used to be. After watching countless
bands rise to semi-celebrity status, I've become quite picky with my
selections. As countless bands continued to follow the footsteps of Creed in
sound and production, I threw in the towel.

So what draws me to Seventh Day Slumber, a band who could arguably sound
similar to everything else on the market? I'm drawn to the brutal honesty
reflected in rough, unpoetic lyrics. I'm drawn to the heavy guitars and
baritone vocals. I'm drawn to perhaps the most important aspect of this
band-their hearts. Seventh Day Slumber is not just a musical endeavor
seeking to entertain kids to death. This band has created a sophomore
release geared to the child on the brink of emotional collapse. Once Upon a
Shattered Life takes the pain dissected in Picking Up the Pieces and offers
a solution to the brokenness.

This is a universal pain, where the claws of a dark past overshadow a
promise for the future. "Break Me" discusses this struggle; the speaker
condemns the internal and external forces hindering him from moving on: "I'm
on my way / And I'm not falling / You're all the same / You try to break me
down." Screams erupt, powerful enough to address voices both in the past and
present. Let the listener be aware: the truth will be confronted in this
album through emotions experienced by every seeker of reality. It is a
prologue for change, because "when the smoke is gone / I have to face what
I've become" ("Shattered Life"). In "Shattered Life," heavy guitars and
piano exist alongside pleas to leave a destroyed existence. It becomes an
interesting musical turmoil of wanting to stay and wanting to move. After
chaos comes the tender "Caroline," a peaceful composition sung over a girl
wanting freedom from a present hell. Reminiscent in music to Creed's "With
Arms Wide Open," Joseph sings, "Let me wipe away your tears and give you
life / Make you feel beautiful again." The line "I will always take you
back" brings up images of the prodigal son; the song becomes God singing to
His lost ones. Caroline becomes you and me. She exemplifies the church gone
astray from her most passionate lover. A sense of security rests in this
track, for the past cannot hold Carolines apart from the Savior.

In trying to get the message across, Seventh Day Slumber leaves pretty prose
to the emo kids. Instead, the band hits your speakers with pounding power
chords, stellar solos, and deafening drums. "Break Me," "Make Believe," and
"Chris' Letter" represent classic power rock-chunky with enough watts to
satisfy any mosher. They then calm the pulse through tunes like
"Masquerade," "I Believe," and "Brand New Man." Here the guitars proceed
with care, and the drums remain steady background decoration. Their focus is
to keep the songs straightforward and solid-let the music pound and the
lyrics hit simply and immediately so they may be understood without a
lengthy analysis.

The song that speaks to me as a worshiper is "Oceans From the Rain." A
vintage keyboard opens the song, perhaps a bit more emo than normally seen
by these guys. Yet when the hearts of these men are compared to major emo
bands, all evidence will point to Seventh Day Slumber and say that this
group owns the larger heart. "Oceans From the Rain" contains more worshipful
passion than many albums created for congregational adoration. Joseph sings,
"And I'm amazed by You / Cause You're never far away / And all that I've
been through / Your love has never changed / You make oceans from the rain /
Breathing life into this place / And I will drown inside Your love / Until I
see Your perfect face." It reads like a modern hymn and becomes a paean of
praise whose profoundness lies in the fact that even a child could sing it.

The guys in Seventh Day Slumber may never grace the cover of CCM Magazine.
They may never be eulogized for creating a new musical genre. But that's not
the primary focus of this band. They instead picture the faces of their
listeners and play to provide them hope. They seek to minister through the
medium of music. "Oceans From the Rain" completes the album by citing the
crux of our relationship with Christ: "The blood of Jesus can wash [our]
pain away." As unfancy and unoriginal as that sounds, it shouts boldly,
because it is truth, and Once Upon a Shattered Life is all about shouting
truth.

Read more about Seventh Day Slumber at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/hardrock/seventhdayslumber


MORE NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: A Time To Worship - Chillout
http://cMusicWeb.com/worship/chillout/atimetoworship.shtml

Review: Transparent - LaRue
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/larue/transparent.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

ACTIVATE - BENJAMIN
Since the departure of Josh "Plastic" Niemyjski from Uprok Records, the T&N
empire has had very little to do with hip-hop music. Although some
stragglers still release records there, nothing new of great talent has been
released. And Benjamin is nothing different. This large white guy debuts
with hard-hitting rock-laden hip-hop reminiscent of BEC's earlier release,
Peace of Mind. It's nothing that the label or TobyMac hasn't done before.

BEHIND THE MUSIK - KJ-52
After hearing KJ-52 on dj Maj's Full Plates mixtape, I enjoyed picking up
his Collaborations album. The suburban rapper covered topics relevant to his
teen audience and his album was lots of fun to listen to. However, after
hearing more from this guy, I found it's all the same. His next album, It's
Pronounced "Five-Two", and this album covered the same topics and included
many songs that did the same things as before.

NEVER TAKE FRIENDSHIP PERSONAL - ANBERLIN
Anberlin has taken the world by storm since their debut released a year and
a half ago. Besides opening for Relient K, they played many mainstream tours
including the Nintendo Fusion Tour. While their second disc does not add
much new to the group, those who enjoyed their modern rock the first time
will definitely like this also. If you've never checked out Anberlin, make
it a point to listen to this PICK OF THE WEEK.

ONCE UPON A SHATTERED LIFE - SEVENTH DAY SLUMBER
See above for Hollie Stewart's review.

UNITE - THE O.C. SUPERTONES
A number of months ago The O.C. Supertones announced they were making 2005
their last year together. So to kick off 2005, the label is releasing this
collection of their best songs spanning their whole career. From a new
recording of their classic "Adonai" to the recent rocker "Superfly", this
disc includes 19 favorites and one new song.


Thanks for reading this week's cMusicMail, and we'll be back next week with
even more great content. If you have any comments or questions, please reply
to this e-mail or send them to webmaster@.... We'd love to hear
from you!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
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