Civil Rites

Description

Civil Rites is the tenth studio album by the American hard rock outfit Resurrection Band (though at this point the band had shortened their name to REZ), independently released on the band’s own label Grrr Records in 1991, in co-operation with Ocean Records, distributed by Word. The album was produced by Tom Cameron and the band.

Over the years, and I mean more years than I would care to admit, REZ has been band you could count on. You could count on its evangelical vision and hard rockin’ approach, its concern for those Jesus called “the least of these” (victims of racism, violence, oppression and discrimination), and you could count on well crafted hard rock songs with often poetic lyrics. You could also count on a lifestyle that backed up the songs, on the fact that the words were supported by real actions in the real world. All this can be heard on the band’s latest effort, Civil Rites.

Artistically speaking, REZ is at its best (for my two cents worth) when it leans to the bluesy end of the hard rock equation; when Glenn Kaiser’s distinctive, wailing voice has room to breathe in the mix, and Stu Heiss’ guitars wrap around a searing, heart-rending melody, as on «Footprints in the Snow» and «In My Room». But, there’s plenty of that all too-familiar power-riff crunch rock, a la AC/DC, to please the band’s headbangin’ metal music fans on this third album for its own Grrr label (the band’s 12th over all).

«Lovespeak» kicks things off, and I mean it kicks. Here, as in some of REZ’ most direct lyrics, the title says it all. «Mission Bells», another one of those Roy Montroy takes on essential rock riffing, provides a poignant commentary on the spiritual vacuum in Western culture. «Comatose» and «Death Machine» offer up a strong dose of Wendi Kaiser’s gritty vocal sing/shout. Personally, I’ve found her vocals less than consistently compelling – although I recognize that many swear by her style. These two cuts do little to move me, but I can’t think of a better female singer to cover Jefferson Airplane’s «Somebody to Love», another one of those covers that REZ completely revitalizes in its own context, on the album’s closing track. Glenn and Wendi Kaiser’s vocal styles converge on «Hotfootin’», a tribute to the prophet Jeremiah and tireless street preachers everywhere, for a fun duet.

Over the course of the last three albums, REZ sounds like a better, more consistent all-around band then ever before. Drummer John Herrin and bassist Montroy give the songs a resonant, rock solid bottom end, and Heiss’ soloing has improved in its focus on blues/rock essentials and the power of volume and tone in creating emotion. Glenn Kaiser throws down nearly enough harmonica, and they toss in an occasional acoustic guitar to keep things fresh and rooted, but the sound is clearly tied to the musical tastes of the youthful rock audience who’s quest and pain REZ seeks to answer. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, September 1991]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/civil-rites/262535810)

CD tracklist:

01. Lovespeak – 3:29
02. Mission Bells – 3:36
03. Comatose – 3:14
04. Death Machine – 2:57
05. Players – 4:17
06. Lincoln’s Train – 4:42
07. Hotfootin’ – 2:55
08. Little Jeanie – 2:44
09. Footprints – 4:29
10. Pauper’s Grave – 2:37
11. In My Room – 4:30
12. Somebody To Love – 3:01

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Grrr Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://resurrectionband.bandcamp.com/album/civil-rights