Search - Means :: Sending You Strength

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Crap it's Another Good Chr

C. Bakehorn | Bloomington, IN | 05/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Means are a Saskatchewan-based Christian hardcore group who sound a lot like fellow Canadian rockers Alexisonfire (a personal favorite), but with quite a bit more zealous ooomph. The album doesn't break new ground with its lyrics or meaning but it most certainly delivers a lot on a silver platter, like some intense drumming and the lead's raw screaming vocals, which are complimented perfectly with the guitarist's smooth singing voice. Sure, there have been scream/sing tandems a thousand times in hardcore/metal groups, but Means pull it off just as well as the next group.



A very obvious emotional side can be heard in both forms of vocals; an incredible amount of power and heart comes out of almost every line. Some flaws are inevitable, as "Sending You Strength" is Means' first major album (though it isn't their first full-length release). Some songs sound slightly similar (try saying that five times fast) and the guitar work could have been a bit more interesting. There aren't any solos or breakdowns that shake the listener like other bands provide, but Means does a pretty good job on their first album. The songs "Learning to be Brave," "Connected," "Cadences," and "These Are The Words" are all great songs that hardcore and metalcore fans should devote some attention to."