One of the Best Albums of 2013

One of the worst kept secrets of late 2012/early 2013 was Kevin Max taking the helm of an Audio Adrenaline relaunch. With the same behind-the-scenes team that oversaw the successful transition of Kevin’s former band mate, Michael Tait, taking over for Newsboys, there was a collective “been-there, done-that” sigh from the Christian music fan base. Let’s face it, relaunching a band as iconic as Audio Adrenaline was a big enough mountain to climb. Putting one of Christian music’s most iconic voices on lead mic appeared crazy ambitious.

Then the debut single, “Kings & Queens,” came out, alongside a beautifully shot video that won VIDEO OF THE YEAR in last year’s We Love Christian Music Awards, and shut everyone up. All ears were perked, waiting to see if this was simply a brilliant fluke or overall brilliance in the making.

Thankfully, it was very much the latter.

Kings & Queens is the album that I’ve been waiting for Kevin Max to make since his debut solo effort in 2001 gave hints of his pop dominance in songs like “Existence” and “Angel With No Wings.” Kevin never stopped making music and kudos for him for paving his own way and direction, but he simply lost me in his deep and thick theology and creativity. I can’t fault an artist for making music they love, and not becoming a slave to the popular audience, but with a musical brand like Audio Adrenaline to now steer, the reflective poet and artistic flare would have to take a backseat (at least for the time being) and make way for radio friendly hooks and a more mainstream message that everyone can consume without too much brain power involved.

Many may say Kings & Queens breaks little ground musically and lyrically. I’m not going to disagree with that, and I don’t believe you need massive invention to write a hit song, but there’s unique power in Kevin’s voice that really rises this material to heights that not many others could reach (both literally and figuratively). There’s a reason that after twenty years, this guy can still turn heads. And he proves it by singing the notes off track after track. His vocals have never sounded more energized and current, and I believe it’s because this is Kevin’s sweet spot. His voice is so powerful, so unique, so controlled that it takes the right production and song to make it shine the way it should. And when that happens, game over!

Closing Thoughts:
From the opening track of “He Moves You Move,” to the U2 channeling of the Martin Smith penned “Fire Never Sleeps,” to the incredibly unique sound of “20:17 (Raise The Banner)” to the closing track (and one of my favorites), “The Answer,” Kings & Queens proves that at the end of the day, the music speaks and stands above and beyond a band's roster of musicians and vocalists.

Song to Download:
"The Answer"