| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Stayce Roberts |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: The Brave |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 55:15 |
With commercial hooks aplenty, soaring lead vocals and guitar to complement, Los Angels, California based The Brave embodies the definition of AOR meets melodic hard rock. The group gained renown for its critically acclaimed John and Dino Elefante produced Pakaderm Records initial releases Battle Cries (1991) and Trust (1994), with former resonating a polished, arena rock sound and latter a heavier, blues based form. Founding member’s guitarist Stayce Roberts, guitarist Freddie Tierra and drummer Randy Roberts represent the common denominator between the two, referencing how Battle Cries featured classic tenor vocalist James Salters and Trust the gritty, mid-ranged style of Randy Roberts.
Whereas The Brave disbanded subsequent to releasing Trust, it reunited in 2007 to put on a concert in tribute to the passing of Randy Roberts. With momentum of the show behind it, The Brave recruited front-lady Amanda Z to record third album Rise, which it independently released in 2014. Note that Rise is home to five new songs and re-recorded versions to three off Battle Cries and four from Trust. In my 75% review of Rise, I reinforce that the new songs ‘draw upon the best elements of Battle Cries and Trust’ but also how ‘I would love to hear an entire album of new material in this direction’.
If wishes come true then such is the case with Evie’s Little Garden, the July 2021 fourth album from The Brave (also independent), and first to encompass all original material since Trust. In terms of lineup, album sees Stayce Roberts return on guitar and keyboards in addition to assuming lead vocal duties, while Battle Cries bassist Malcolm Paris anchors the low end with newcomer John Spittle on drums. Musically, Evie’s Little Garden takes a heading not unlike Rise in evoking commercial sensibilities akin to Battle Cries but instilled with some of the heavier, bluesy flavor to Trust. Think Fire & Love era Guardian.
Hence, albums leading title track to commence to guitar feedback and buffeting drums but launching in militant fashion for its permeating verse sections. Big doses of commercial harmony vocals - swear I can hear Rob Rock in the backend - brace the heartfelt refrain. Vocally, Roberts brings a gravelly, middle register form (somewhat akin to Jamie Rowe) up to the stand of his predecessors. Lyric snippet:
He gave authority over everything
To the man and the one He called Eve
They promised to obey everything he would say
And they were promised an eternity
From somewhere in the grass he came
To take their innocence away
Somethings’ goin on down in Evie’s Little Garden
Somebody said they saw a snake
Hells’ breaking loose down in Evie’s Little Garden
And there’s gonna be some hell to pay –
There ain’t no garden anymore – There ain’t no garden any more
On a more assertive side, “I’ve Always Wondered” initiates to hard rocking guitars and keyboards only to evenly smooth as stately bass takes over. Aspiration picks up for the lavish backing vocals to inquire of the listener, ‘I’ve always wondered what my life would be like if He had not die for me’. There is a touch of metal on the lighter side here
“We’re Not In Kansas Anymore” embodies classy melodic rock. It bodes of the ominous over its initial seconds but reflects of the burnished and elegant moving forward, with underlining guitars setting a graceful tone and refrain mirroring the contemplative with its sober acumen. Albums polished production comes to the forefront with a near perfect aligning of instrumentation. Lyric snippet:
Fear is a prison that we don’t understand
Love is the weapon we hold in our hands
This is a season we use on demand
But we forget about love
Prayer is a reason to open our heart
Hate is the demon that tears us apart
Christ is the lesson we all need to know
But what do you do when you’ve got no place to go
“Creep” separates as another showstopper, opening to haunting voices prior to metal imparted guitars taking over to place it among albums heaviest. Prodigious bass hints of the buoyant and Roberts’ vocals a smoother, lower register touch ala Geoff Tate. Instrumentally, the meticulous lead guitar would turn the head of Tony Palacios.
“Elevate Me” is this reviewer’s choice track. Bluesy guitars over vinyl static to start but warm and inviting rest of the way, as precise guitars edge to the front of the mix and impassioned rhythms embolden by far albums strongest melody. Put this one on mid-eighties FM radio and it would dominate. Lyric snippet:
Someone said that life is doing what you please
I don’t want to catch anyone’s disease
There’s a higher call
Listen to the sound
I need to feel alive before I’m in the ground
If you could only take me
Higher than I’ve ever been
Elevate me…
“Lonely Bones” is a thing of beauty, with atmospheric keyboards and dreamy, mid-paced disposition to carry ahead as clear-cut rhythm guitars underpin the graceful scene. Polished backing vocals align with the sing-along (and quite memorable) refrain. This is where the Fire & Love era Guardian comparison comes into play.
“And We All Fall Down” begins to several seconds of flowing U2 like guitars ahead of flowing its distance to bluesy, modern laced guitars. Yes, a bit outside the box compared to some but no less effective, as melody rings true and vibe is of the victorious if not inspiring. The smooth overtures perfectly contrast with Roberts’s grainy voice. Lyric snippet:
We have all been there
And we all fall down
But we get right back off the ground
We are one - we are strong
And we know just where we belong
Your pain is your fortress
But He knows your secrets
And He’s right there in your silent years
“Lucid” impresses as AOR as opposed to hard rock. It begins to a preacher voice prior to brimming with keyboards and staunch bass, delicate for its mirthful verse sections (of a calmer mode) only to hearten for the genial refrain (to speak of the affable). A ton of grace and class emanates in the process.
Albums longest at six minutes, “Come To Me” touches upon semi ballad territory. It features albums most prominent keyboards mix - in a flattering sense - to achieve lofty AOR doses and commercial radio friendly tinctures. Of all albums tracks, this one best mirrors the polished Elefante production to Battle Cries.
“Love: Automatic” is another favorite with its Def Leppard-ish vibe. Melodic metal all the way, song revels in the upbeat with its affable mindset and expertly done ‘yea yea yea yeah’ backing vocals leading way to the catchy as all get out refrain. I cannot stop listening to this one. Lyric snippet:
I say a prayer for those in need
Afraid to reach out
For the soldiers prepared to bleed
Who’d rather bleed out
In every city street all across the land
Every soul whose ready to take a stand
It seems were all at war
Nobody knows what for
And all I can say is
You’ve got to be on love, automatic
A step down but still solid is worship rocker “Run To You”, initially impressing as the groups ‘Jesus a minute song’ to garner Christian radio play but revealing great truth on second look: ‘Jesus - I will run to you. Resting in the shadow of your wings’. Likewise, “If I Told You” traverses medium-good territory with its mid-paced melodic rock overtures to see heavy backing vocals and keyboards play lead roles, albeit a bit much for my taste either way.
Lone complaint revolves around packaging. Yes, I like cover art, but lyrics require a magnifying glass to read (a white front over a light background can obscure things), while songs do not play back in order to the track listing on back of the CD.
Evie’s Little Garden rides the strength of its ten best songs to achieve a well-earned 90% grade. However, it is not just songwriting in that excellent production shines, as does musicianship and well placed vocals. Yes, a couple songs could potentially be cut from the album and more thought gone into packaging – I wish more independent bands would work with Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal graphics - but the acumen to its best material cannot be denied. In the end, Evie’s Little Garden ranks among the finest Christian AOR/melodic hard rock albums released the past thirty years.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Evie’s Little Garden track listing: “Evie’s Little Garden” (4:34), “Run To You” (4:37), “I’ve Always Wondered” (4:17), “We’re Not In Kansas Anymore” (5:08), “Elevate Me” (4:41), “Creep” (5:45), “Lonely Bones” (4:08), “If I Told You” (5:11), “And We All Fall Down” (4:46), “Lucid” (5:10), “Come To Me” (5:59), “Love: Automatic” (4:00)
Musicians
Stayce Roberts - Lead Vocals, Guitars & Keyboards
Malcom Paris - Bass
John Spittle - Drums
