Blooming out of well-known record label Ardent Records, Jonah33 makes its self-titled debut. Made up of Vince Lichlyter (vocals), Joshua Dougan (drums), and Pete Eekhoff (bass) from Arkansas, this band could really be going somewhere. I know you're thinking that this is just another run of the mill rock band, right? Wrong. With vocals like Sully Erna of Godsmack combined with music tame enough yet raw enough to resemble Linkin Park, this is definitely a trio worth listening to. This album isn't just another record purchased and thrown on the shelf, this album is a record bought and listened to over and over again. Inspired by Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Jonah33 makes it's own unique ways of seizing the audience's attention.

If you're not into the whole scratchy voice/screaming scene, then this might not be for you. Then again, if you're more into the lyrics, then I highly suggest you buy this album. Some of the songs on the album are even written by John L. Cooper of Skillet. But don't let that fool you, Skillet and Jonah33 are completely different. Jonah33 starts off with a rock tune called "Watching You Die." It's one of those songs where the lyrics just pull you in and make you think of everything Jesus Christ did for you, not to mention the hard riffed guitars and the driving beat of the drums. This song is definitely razor-sharp while other songs with a vibe like this include, "Too Much Of Me," and "All For You." One of my favorites would have to be "All For You," simply because of the lyrical content. Spewing out statements such as, "There's no way to repay all the pain He went through for you."

Though the majority of the album is heavy heart-driven rock, there are a few calm sides to it like with the songs "Faith Like That," "Beautiful," and "Working Man Hands." Again, with these songs, we the listeners are offered very intense lyrics mixed with a passion to rock, and a heartache to surrender. But being it's their first album, Jonah33 has some things to work on, such as going deeper on all of their songs -- and not just a few -- so that all of the songs become a listener's favorite.

This album is definitely dynamic. The fifteen dollars spent to escape the secular world and get wrapped up in a worship rock session is well worth it.

- Review date: 7/19/03, written by Jessica (Jaye) for Jesusfreakhideout.com