Review Summary: A safe, but mostly satisfying release by a band that needs to differentiate itself in a genre dominated by a select few bands.
In a time where many mainstream rock/nu metal acts have faded out (Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, etc.), Nine Lashes continues to bring a strong sound to the table.
From Water to War is the band's second release under Tooth & Nail Records and is a showcase of what exactly Nine Lashes brings to the table. With a sound that brings other bands such as RED, Skillet, and label mate Thousand Foot Krutch to mind, Nine Lashes is slowly creeping towards the higher echelon of the Christian rock genre. This album delivers a solid experience, yet not much of an improvement over
World We View.
From Water to War opens with "Never Back Down" and "Break The World" which are two tracks that could fit right in on their first release
World We View. The songs have the feel of "Anthem of the Lonely" and "Get Back" in a 2.0 form, but are ultimately less satisfying than their predecessors. A bit later on in the album, the influences of some of the other Christian rock powerhouses is evident in the brilliant "Lights We Burn" and "Surrender". The former channels the band's RED side with a string arrangement and electric sound throughout, while the latter matches the finesse of some of Thousand Foot Krutch's finer ballads.
The second half of the album strays further from the comfort zone that the band has created for itself and experiments with some new sounds, mostly beneficial to the album. "You Are The Light" has a strong ambiance and is in great juxtaposition to "Surrender", but ultimately has flaws. Strong verses from singer Jeremy Dunn have a slight resemblence to Linkin Park's New Divide, but ultimately his vocal performance brings the song down in the chorus and bridge sections. "In The Dark" is the heaviest track on the album and is the can't miss song. The track contains some of the heaviest screams the band has included in their discography since those featured in "Our Darkest Day" on
World We View. Not to be left out is "Light It Up", which also features screams, reminiscent of works from Love & Death, yet still could pass as a RED song.
The album concludes with a pair of tracks that stand out from the rest in terms of sound. "Love Me Now" contains some of the strongest Christianity-based lyrics on the album and has a pop element that is not present anywhere else on the album. The band slows it down "Cover Your Own" and showcases the vocal range of Jeremy Dunn. Dunn is spot on in this track and is spot on in the various pitches utilized in the track, providing a satisfying ending to the album.
Nine Lashes ultimately does not stray too far beyond what they have done in the past, and it is somewhat disappointing.
From Water to War provides a satisfying listen for fans of the genre, but the band will need to push the envelope further to create their own identity. The experimentation of songs such as "Love Me Now" and "Cover Your Own" show that there may be room for growth, but until they take more risks, they will continue to sit in the shadows of RED and Thousand Foot Krutch.
Listen to:
"Break The World"
"Lights We Burn"
"In The Dark"
