If you were a Christian music fan in the '90s or early 2000s, it was hard to miss the Orange County Supertones. When secular musicians had a monopoly on the ska market, the Supertones were one of the cornerstone bands paving the way for Christian ska. The ministry-minded band took the market by storm with their 1997 sophomore release Supertones Strike Back, supported by the then-brand new label Tooth and Nail Records.

 

After a solid run impacting audiences nationwide for Christ, the band members went their separate ways in 2005. With similar splits occurring in the other major Christian ska bands of the era, it seemed like ska was more or less dead. But 2010 saw a reunion of the O.C. Supertones to play just a few more shows. A few became 10, which became a few more in 2011. The year 2012 saw the Supertones joining several other ska colleagues in announcing a plunge back into the studio to revisit their music and their mission.

 

For the Glory is an effort supported by the fans, which seems only fitting. The resurrection of ska could provide the temptation to just recycle old grooves, but the Supertones didn't cut corners on their return album. 

 

From the energetic opener, "All the Way Alive," it's clear that the band is drawing out the best of their old influences while updating it with a sleeker production quality for contemporary audiences. The title track sets the mission statement of the album, solidifying the mission of the band from the beginning: every element of the Supertones' songs and ministry is focused on giving the glory back to God.

 

"Hey Hey Hey" is a classic ska track, leaning on a steady, repetitive rhythm and the trombone and trumpet offerings of Nathan Spencer and Darren Mettler. "Far More Beautiful" is more chill in its instrumentation, though the vocal stylings of lead singer Mojo Morginsky ground it solidly in the ska sound. The song is addressed to girls, seeking to establish their worth in the right place as the chorus declares, "you're beautiful, far more beautiful than anything the world will ever know / Keep your eyes on the King, cherish all of your tomorrows."

 

"All Glory" is performed like a hymn, lifting an unashamed declaration of praise to God backed by the celebratory tones of the horn section. "It's A Good Day to Be From California" is distinctly autobiographical, lending a playful West Coast vibe to the band's nostalgia. This song provides an opportunity for the Supertones' Orange County roots to shine.

 

"Warmth of the Sun" has a slightly different tone, fitting for its theme of waking to sunshine after a long winter of the soul. Here the acoustic work of guitarists Jesse Craig and Josh Auer is drawn to the surface, creating a more mellow ballad sound. "On the Downbeat" immediately counters it with a darker groove sustained by bassist Toneman Terusa and drummer Jason Carson. This sound has a classic-sounding ska rhythm with a bit of a bite to it, providing a different take on the feel-good vibe of most of the album.

 

The battle anthem "Fight On" uses the analogy of being captives in Babylon to stress the necessity to fight for truth during the dark nights of our world. "Pretty Little Lie," a track talking about the dangerous allure of sin, draws on some of the Supertones' skill with a more clean-cut rock and roll sound, laying down some blistering guitar riffs in the intro and chorus. "The Wise and the Fool" wraps up the album on a note as upbeat as the album's beginning, showcasing the band's solid theological background born of years of ministry.

 

Although a more contemporary production style is definitely evident throughout the project, this is still the Supertones as you remember them: loud, infectiously joyful, and completely in love with Christ. This is an album that could brighten just about any day with its upbeat, worship-focused heart and celebratory horn-supported sound. Old fans of the O.C. Supertones should be more than satisfied, and this is a release that could easily draw in a new generation of fans as well.