Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Seventh Day Slumber
Finally Awake



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 42 minutes, 27 seconds
Street Date: March 20, 2007


Perhaps no band pens lyrics that are more in-your-face about the hope Christ can provide to anyone broken by sin than Seventh Day Slumber. This was evident on their surprise hit album Once Upon a Shattered Life in 2005, and is just as apparent on their second release with BEC Recordings, Finally Awake. In fact, in its 12 years as a band, the message of their lyrics is one thing that has never changed. The same can't be said for their sound. Known before 2005 for their post-grunge sound, with A Shattered Life, the band started playing more straight rock interspersed with slower songs, and it proved to be a working formula.

Thus, they evidently found no need to make further changes, and Finally Awake is a near replica of the band's previous release. It starts out rocking with the first two tracks, then slows down for "Missing Pages" just like previously done with "Caroline." "My Only Hope" brings back the grinding guitars before the softer "Always" - exactly like the layout of Once Upon a Shattered Life. Clearly, the band could have been more creative. But other slower songs like "On My Way Home" and "Undone" do change things up a bit, the latter having some strong harmony, as well as good use of acoustic guitar and keyboard. And overall, the music, though too much of the same, is easy to listen to and catchy throughout.

The lyrics of the album are really what carry it from the beginning. "The message of this album is clear," lead singer and songwriter Joseph Rojas says on the album's website areyoufinallyawake.com. "We want to empower kids to stop looking to the media, to what the world tells them they have to be, to find identity. You don't have to be what everyone else tells you to be what you were created to be." They certainly are doing everything they can do achieve this. "Breaking Away" boldly talks about "Breaking away / from everything that's hopeless / the road ahead looks wonderful today." Most of the other songs touch on similar subjects, all pointing toward finding hope in God in the midst of a dark world. It's rare these days that a band outside of the worship arena so consistently makes reference to its Redeemer, and it's refreshing to hear.

The sound is nothing new, and even those who have never before heard the band's music may find the songs too repetitive. Seventh Day Slumber would do well to continue evolving musically, and look to add more variety to a sound that, despite its broad appeal, is often too much of the same. Still, there are many redeeming elements that make Finally Awake worthy of a listen, especially if you're in search of a stronger, unapologetic faith.

- PReview date: 2/17/07, Review date: 3/17/07, written by Spencer Priest




(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 42 minutes, 27 seconds
. Street Date: March 20, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Awake
  2. Last Regret
  3. Missing Pages
  4. My Only Hope
  5. Always
  6. Breaking Away
  7. Burning Bridges
  8. Undone
  9. On My Way Home
  10. Broken Buildings
  11. Every Saturday
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images