They Still Got It!| Posted March 25, 2024 What You Need to Know Seventh Day Slumber is a Christian rock and metal band from Nashville, Tennessee. The lead singer is Joe Rojas, the drummer is Blaise Rojas, Ken Reed plays bass guitar, and Weston Evans plays electric guitar. They remain among the elite bands that have dominated and shaped the Christian rock scene for over two decades.
The band remains a consistent force in rock radio. They've sold over 500,000 units, charted two Billboard #1 albums, five #1 singles, 14 Top 10 hits, and garnered a Dove Award. Some of their more well-known hits are "Death by Admiration," "From The Inside Out," "Man Down," "Oceans From The Rain," "Inside Out," "Caroline," "Finally Awake," "We Are The Broken," "Wasted Life," "Halos," and "What I've Become."
What It Sounds Like
Seventh Day Slumber's latest release, Fractured Paradise, proves that the band still has it. While this is their 14th studio release, the band's ability to reinvent themselves and produce new bomb tracks continues and is exemplified by this one. Featuring founder and frontman Joe Rojas, this album has all of the meat and potatoes we have come to expect from Seventh Day Slumber while featuring some new ear candy like Magdelene Rose, the drummer's fiancé, and Kellin Quinn, a member of hard rock band Sleeping With Sirens.
The instrumentals are clean and crisp, just as we have come to expect from the band. The album has a heavier metal sound with grunge elements, and the drums take center stage, providing a solid and addictive beat. The overall production quality is exceptional.
Spiritual Thoughts
Overall, the album does a great job of highlighting the world's current issues, such as brokenness, depression, drug and alcohol use, propaganda, false paradigms, and the culture of victimhood.
This album has many biblical undertones that will make your brain perk up and notice. Joe and the company address current events and problems and frame them through biblical principles. One example of this is in the song "Blistering Memories: "These lyrics remind us of the story of the Prodigal Son and what he could have felt like on his journey away from the Father: "So many questions/So many thoughts are going through your mind/Reaching out for answers/Crying out for help you just can't find/The places you've run to/Have left you with tears Inside your eyes/You're in the wrong direction/But not too far to turn and/Come back home."
The song's chorus is: "So leave behind your broken roads and burn the bridges as you go/Through the fire embers glow/Illuminating the impossible/Falling into His arms/That hold you close/Lose control of yourself and let it go/Unfailing love will overflow."
In "Lizards of Malice," the chorus says, "Reptiles preying on the nation/Soon they'll be running out of faces/Tearing the veil/ Exposing the darkness/That's underneath." This sounds very similar to what's written in 2 Thessalonians 2.
Best Song
The variety of styles in this release is impressive. The collaborations s are a nice feature (it's excellent to hear SDS pair up with some female artists). There are many tracks on this album that I could choose for its "Best Song," and it is difficult to pick just one. If I had to pick just one, it would be "My Novocain." As a big fan of SDS for 20 years, it sounds like a classic SDS track that fans have come to know and love. The vocals are tight, meaningful, and catchy, yet not overdone. In under three minutes, the song has me hitting repeat (often).
The song's message is powerful yet subtle. The lyrics address almost every Christian's struggle with their faith. Some highlights are "Is anybody listening?/Can You help me find the pieces/That I'm missing?/I've been crawling in the dark/Tunnel vision/I need stitches/To mend my broken heart/So tell me are You listening?/If You're up there talking/I can't hear it/You don't need to part the sea/I'll take a whisper/Just need to feel it/'Cause I'm trying to believe." Another lyrical highlight is "if I can find my way back to You/then I think I'd be okay/Be okay."
Bottom Line
The honesty and seriousness of the lyrics in Fractured Paradise make this album extraordinarily relevant and timely for today's world! Joe Rojas's honesty, integrity, and undeniable street cred are why I believe this one will rise to the top and fast. I love Fractured Paradise, and you will, too.
to add lyrics if not listed.
