I Need Some Soul Surgery
Posted April 07, 2022
By JakeFrederick_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need To Know
Nate Parrish was a member of the contemporary worship band Worth Dying For (now Fearless BND) in the early 2010s and became the lead guitarist for popular rock band Kutless a few years later. Just like the other members in Kutless are involved with local ministries, Parrish is on staff at his local church in Bakersfield, California. In 2020, during the height of lockdowns and while touring had stopped, Parrish recorded and released his debut solo album, I’m a Wreck, from his home studio. Building on the sleeper success of that album, Parrish releases his anticipated sophomore album, Soul Surgery.
What It Sounds Like
Simply put, Parrish’s sound is unrefined punk rock. This album sounds like everything fun about going to a punk rock show at a small club. The guitars are loud, the drums are moving, the energy is high, and the vocals carry all the angst we love about punk.
Unrefined does not mean low quality, however. Soul Surgery is well-produced, and you can hear the level of craftsmanship put into writing and recording this album. The guitars have a great balance of raw energy and melody. Drums, bass, and sax (yes, there are sax parts) are all on point while keeping the in-the-moment punk vibe.
While the vocals are 100 percent angsty, unrefined, sing-your-lungs-out style vocals, the melodies are solid and the harmonies are rich. There are also spoken narration verses that add dimension to the songs.
Spiritual Highlights
In true punk rock fashion, there’s not much fluff around how Parrish addresses what he wants to talk about. Parrish is very direct about the social issues he sees. In "Religion of Relevance," Parrish addresses the idols we make of ourselves and the people we put on pedestals. In "Addiction Junkies," he talks about how we are addicted to attention and acceptance from people rather than God.
The album also digs inside Parrish’s faith journey. "God Knows" speaks to refining his faith outside of toxic organizations. "Purpose in Pain" speaks to looking beyond the circumstances to what God is doing. The title track "Soul Surgery" talks about needing surgery on our souls to repair wounds.
The album ends with "This Is Who We Are," a conversation about how this life is temporary. We are here for a moment and sometimes life isn’t great, but we are just passing through this world.
Best Song
With 14 songs, there are quite a few to choose from. I love "Religion of Relevance" because of the in-your-face lyrics and conversation about social issues. I love "Bullets and Blades" just because of how the sax parts create contrasting sounds. "Life In Dissonance" is my choice for rolling the windows down and singing along.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’m pretty indecisive in picking a fave.
For Fans Of
MxPx, The Ramones
Bottom Line
I’m here for a good punk rock album and Nate Parrish delivers. Everything from the in-your-face lyrics to the musicianship makes for an awesome album. Listening to this record is everything fun about a punk rock show at a small club. The lyrics pull no punches and I love it.
This album could easily be my favorite rock album this year--and it’s only April. I jokingly told Nate the most punk rock thing I could think of: “Man, you really polished this turd." I can't say it seriously, though, because nothing stinks about this album and it's a go-to album for me. View All Music And Book Reviews By JakeFrederick_NRT | View JakeFrederick_NRT's Profile
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