The Wounded
 Band/Artist - Stillfire Release Date - Dec 1, 2007 Label - None Related Links |
What can I say about female fronted Christian rock bands? Most of them sound too identical, to say the least. Sometimes I think somebody is sitting in the Christian music headquarters stamping these bands out with a cookie cutter. I like cookies, but too much is too much. That’s why I’m relieved to present a little band from the Portland, Salem, Eugene, Oregon area called Stillfire. Led by Megan Steele on vocals, this five piece has been stirring things up all over the place. One of these places was none other than Creation ‘08.
I have to say, I was a bit surprised by Megan’s voice. It’s nothing like the industry standard, and she uses it well. It’s very distinct. To open up the album is “I’m Yours”, which is a personal favorite of mine. It is full of some nice guitar work (as well as the rest of the disc). Other highlights are “Mystery” and “Further Still”. It’s easy to tell these folks have been playing for a while. The need for God in the midst of brokenness is an obvious theme throughout most of the ep. What I really like about this band is their passion. I can tell they are a hard working band who isn’t ashamed to sing about our Lord. That’s something you’ll see less and less of, even in the Christian industry. Even though I like this album, I do have a few complaints. There are points throughout when the vocals drown out the music, and likewise, the music at times drown out the vocals. There is a point in “Sleeping” when the Megan and her backup start talking quietly. It’s very difficult to understand what’s being said, mainly because of the music level. You’ll also notice some screams sprinkled around. Sometimes this works, and other times it just feels awkward. An example is the song “Awaken”. It starts off with some metal styled screams, which is put to an end with Megan’s smooth voice. It’s a strange transition. But then later in the same song, these screams fit in very well. So it’s not all bad in any way. So what’s the verdict? Overall, this is an enjoyable album. It feels like a raw album, which I think is good for certain bands. It’s not over polished, which is also a good thing. The album is not perfect, but I found myself wanting to keep listening. While there are some negative points, as with all albums, this band is nothing to put off. It is definitely worth the purchase for anyone looking for a new female led band. It will be nice to see where Stillfire goes from here. Jeff Schlottmann |
Leave a Reply