Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review




Dogwood
More Than Conquerors



Artist Info: Discography
Album length:13 tracks: 30 minutes, 34 seconds
Street Date: May 18, 1999


After releasing two albums on Rescue Records and one independent record, Dogwood got the attention of Tooth & Nail Records and released More Then Conquerors with Tooth & Nail. Dogwood is on top of their game with this record and they were finally able to get the production value that they deserved. For those who have never listened to Dogwood before, Josh Kemble's voice might be jarring at first, but you should be able to get over it after listening to a few songs. Josh's vocals work well with this genre, though they do limit the audience for the band.

The album opens with the rocker "Suffer," a song about a person who no one wants to be around because of all of their lying. It's a very good way for Dogwood to open this album. The extremely short upbeat punk rocker "Rest Assured" follows and is another very good track. "Feel the Burn" follows and has a killer opening and some unnerving lyrics by Kemble about a friend who died knowing the truth, but not accepting it. Another rocker follows with "Never Die," a song about someone just accepting God into his life declaring, "My faith in you will never die." It offers a great God-centered message, which is something you don't see too often in the punk scene. "Out of the Picture" has one of my favorite openings ever with all the guys singing acappella before Josh's dominating vocals take over. The song holds the energy of the opening and turns out to be a gem on this record.

The punk rock energy continues with "My Best Year," a song that is about growing up and realizing that you've outgrown one of your friends. With the next song, Sean O'Donnell writes another gem about that moment when you have to give control back over to God, which is something that every Christian has been through at one time or another. "Control" doesn't let down with the rock energy either and proves to be another great rocker that has something to say. A song about keeping alive a friendship follows in "Everything Dies In Time." While this song is another good track with plenty of energy, it blends in with the tracks before it.

A call to arms against sin follows with "We Cry Victory," which has some great drum work by longtime band member Russell Castillo. Everyone is at the top of their game with "The Pain is Gone," and the song proves to be another memorable one. Another openly Christian song follows with "Confusion Zero." On this song, Kemble proclaims "You'll find yourself when you truly believe." These are surprisingly deep lyrics for a genre that is primarily known for all of its songs about girls -- which is why it is truly wonderful to see a punk band break this trend and talk about things that are truly worth being talked about. "Left Out Cold" is another moving song with deep Christian roots. The song talks about leaving all of the backstabbing and deceit of the world for God. The album closes with the title track which is fittingly a Christian punk rocker about not standing on the sidelines and choosing which side you are fighting for.

Dogwood has crafted another great punk rock album that is not only offers a solid sound, but it is a record that has something to say. This album does have one glaring weakness and that is the lack of diversity between the songs. That is a real shame since these songs all have something to say and it gets lost in the repetitiveness of the songs' sound. Still, More Then Conquerors is an album that is a must-have for any punk fan or anyone who enjoys lyrics with a meaning behind them.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 3/8/09, written by James Chase Lamberth for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 13 tracks: 30 minutes, 34 seconds
. Street Date: May 18, 1999
. Buy It: Amazon.com
  1. Suffer
  2. Rest Assured
  3. Feel the Burn
  4. Never Die
  5. Out of the Picture
  6. My Best Year
  7. Control
  8. Everything Dies in Time
  9. We Cry Victory
  10. Pain Is Gone
  11. Confusion Zero
  12. Left Out Cold
  13. More Than Conquerors

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images