| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: Daniel Band |
| Record Label: Refuge / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: Canada |
| Year Released: 1984 / 2018 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 38:08 |
Third Daniel Band album from 1984, the Refuge Records release Run From The Darkness, was really when the Toronto, Canada based act hit its stride. Yes, its first two albums were good, including Lamb & Lion Records 1982 debut On Rock and sophomore effort Straight Ahead from the following year, and deserve their share of accolades, but you cannot beat the choice combination of songwriting, production and performance attributing to Run From The Darkness. On Rock also features good production in addition to several of my favorite Daniel Band songs in “I’m Sorry” and “Never Again”, but a lack of consistency held it back from including a few too many skip buttons for my taste. Straight Ahead stressed rawer production in line with its great guitar based inclining and upheld the groups penchant for writing material both heavy and memorable, referencing “Power Of Love” and “Reality”, and willingness to step outside the musical box, as found in the reggae influenced “T’ank You”, but also highlighted its share of repetition.
Perhaps it is the maturity that comes with time and experience, but Daniel Band, as is often the case with hard music acts that stay-together long enough to reach their third album, sidesteps on Run From The Darkness any potential misgivings to its first two releases. In terms of songwriting, no skip buttons or filler manifest in that Run From The Darkness gives prominence to higher levels of continuity in that its material by and far is on the same high level in comparison. Production wise, the album captures the polish to On Rock with the heaviness of Straight Ahead to create a swarthier vibe inherent to the near perfect joining of weighty guitars, powerhouse drums and accenting keyboards. Daniel Band further maintains its penchant for 70’s influenced heavy metal and early 80’s hard rock that invites comparison to fellow Canadians April Wine and Triumph, as found in its duel lead vocal approach of classic tenor front man and bassist Dan McCabe and grittier middle register style of lead guitarist Toni Rossi.
Re-issue history to Run From The Darkness mirrors that of Straight Ahead. First re-issued in 2003 on Retroactive Records as a ‘2-for-1’ with both albums on one CD, but re-mastered (by Rob Colwell) and re-issued a second time in 2006 (also Retroactive) on a standalone basis. Third re-issue to Run From The Darkness from early 2018 and again Retroactive also benefits from Colwell re-mastering and is packaged in a jewel case with a 12 page insert encompassing vintage band photos, lyrics and write up from Retroactive owner Matthew Hunt. Also included is a bonus track remix to “Walk On The Water”, which originally appeared on the cassette version to follow up album Rise Up from 1986.
Opening cut “Don’t Give Up” ranks alongside “I’m Sorry” and “Never Again” as personal Daniel Band favorites. The song begins to open air guitar and pounding drums before taking off in animated fashion, preserving a guitar impelled demeanor (elevating the excitement levels in the process) but lightened by perfectly placed keyboards (lending to the inviting sense of melody). Subsequent to a broiling run of lead guitar from Rossi, it descends into a calmer passage divulging an encouraging message in line with its namesake: ‘The Word of God will give you strength. Prayer can take you any length’
Albums title track takes a more commercial stance in placing greater emphasis on keyboards in comparison while still allowing for a marked guitar statement. “Run From The Darkness” otherwise proceeds its distance at a classy mid-paced groove in delicately balancing attentive bass with McCabe’s pristine and crystal clear vocal propensities. My favorite part is the minute and a half long instrumental break with a cool progressive jazz fusion feel to it.
“Walk On The Water” is widely regarded as one of Daniel Band’s signature tracks, which boils down to musical quality but also pertains to the cheesy (in a positive sense) video that the band recorded. The first Run From The Darkness cut to feature Rossi’s gritty vocals, “Walk On The Water” begins calmly its first seconds before slamming guitars take over and hold sway of the ensuing incisive verses and all time great metal anthem refrain: ‘Just walk on the water, just walk on the water!’ Of note are the commanding drum rolls from timekeeper Matt Del Duca, of which whom the album finds really coming into his own.
“Never Gonna Die” is albums only cut not to completely capture my imagination. Not that there is anything wrong with the song in that I find it an above average to good melodic hard rocker with a pleasing melody and balanced keyboard and guitar mix, but I also rate it a notch below the remaining Run From The Darkness material. Perhaps it is due to its lighter pop-based vibe, but “Never Gonna Die” seems to struggle to gel with an album defined by a heavier and darker form when placed alongside. Another metal anthem would be better off in its place.
Back to a snarling disposition with “Sixteen”, a high-strung heavier rocking cut (also Rossi fronted) with a befitting accompanying audience track and keyed up as it gets rhythm section (noting the predominant use of cowbell). An arena rock mentality is the aftermath, as refrain stomps with the best of them and full on energy and youthful vivacity exudes throughout.
Daniel Band has never done speed metal but the incisive “Live Connection”, opening the albums near perfect second side, is the closest. Introduced by a succinct drum solo, “Live Connection” charges ahead at breakneck speed as agile guitar riffs and every bit expeditious rhythm section shoulder the remaining torrid three minutes. All the while Rossi takes opportunity to cut loose with his reciprocal lead guitar abilities.
“Let’s Get Ready” is a straightforward hard rocker that brings to mind other Daniel Band cuts “Two Roads” (off On Rock) and the Straight Ahead title track with its no-nonsense sensibilities. No frills but also highly effective, the song is in your face its distance as guitars adorn the front of the mix - making it one of the albums heaviest in the process - and Del Duca again decorates the low end with his persuasive drum rolls. Gist is a highly focused cut standing out with its subtle catchiness.
“Walls” incorporates a light progressiveness, revealed in its abundant instrumental aptitude: opening its first minute instrumentally to bombastic guitar harmonies, while a second instrumental passage at the mid-point extends another minute. In between, the song trends darkly tinctured, mid-paced territory, with thickly woven rhythm guitars and distance keyboards helping set the emotional tone. Impression is Daniel Band going after a somber sound similar to On Rock cut “Spiritual Game” but pulling it off in the much more compelling (and listenable) manner.
“It’s Over”, albums lone ballad, is a good one. Of import, it proves a hard rock ballad that aligns with the heavier Run From The Darkness inclining, as found in how its periodic use of edgy rhythm guitars lend to it a felicitous darker vestige. Piano gently carries its first minute until impetus abruptly picks up to a more upbeat direction, with the elevated focus preserved its remaining distance until piano returns to carry the final sublime seconds.
The “Walk On The Water” remix breaks from the original with a rawer sound better in line with the Rise Up production. In terms of specifics, Rossi’s vocals have been touched with hints of reverb, while rhythm guitar might still be notable but not to quite the same extent. That said the Rise Up version features the more distinct keyboard mix. All things added up, I prefer the Run From The Darkness rendering but also welcome the re-mixed version for the variances it brings.
I decided the best way to approach re-mastering would be to compare the 2018 re-issue tracks with their equivalents appearing on the Best Of Daniel Band compilation from 1993, which far as I can tell were not re-mastered. The 2018 version wins in a landslide with the crisper and cleaner sound realized in better defined guitars and fuller bass but also enhanced background details in the form of brighter keyboards (such as on “Don’t Give Up”), crisper symbols (“Run From The Darkness”) and more clear-cut cowbell (“Sixteen”). The Best Of Daniel Band tracks sound flat and lifeless in comparison.
Daniel Band lyrics are unequivocally faith based. “Don’t Give Up” encourages the believer in this capacity:
Hang on tight now
Lean upon the Savior
And don't give up now
He's gonna make it better
The Word of God will give you strength
Prayer can take you any length
The people of God can help you win
The Holy Spirit to us is given
“Run From The Darkness” exhorts us to do exactly that:
I've got to run from the darkness
That I once knew
I've got to run to the rightness
Of Loving You
The wages of sin is death
We are told
For the ages throughout the earth
It's done its toll
But the fruit of the Spirit
Is a higher goal
And who of us will live it
With all our soul, with all our soul
As its title implies, “Walk On The Water” draws its prose from 14:25-33:
The disciples were rowin'
On Lake Galilee
But a strong wind was blowin'
This Jesus could see
So He walked out on the water
Peter did the same
But he trusted no longer
And sank in his shame
So if you're sinkin'
Have faith in His name
Walk on the water...
“Let’s Get Ready delivers a straightforward salvation message:
Are you grabbin'
For all you can
You'll end up havin'
No man's land
So give your life to
The Son of Man
And we will find you
In the promised Land
So let's get ready
To get away
We're movin' steady
Are you comin' His way
Hard music history pinpoints many acts hitting their stride on album number three - Resurrection Band (Colours), Stryper (To Hell With The Devil) and Joshua (Intense Defense) to name a few - and Daniel Band proves no exception on Run From The Darkness. Never previous or afterwards was Daniel Band as focused as on Run From The Darkness in giving prominence to a near perfect joining of choice songwriting, production and performance, with everything coming together at once to create one of the finer works to come out of the eighties Christian hard music scene. It might also be hard to argue with perfection, but any potential constructive commentary revolves around how the album could use an extra song or two from being a bit short in featuring just 9 (in its initial incarnation). Retroactive re-issue from 2018, however, rectifies this with the addition of the “Walk On The Water” remix bonus track; when further factoring upgraded packaging and re-mastering, it makes for by far the most consummate version to Run From The Darkness.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Don’t Give Up” (3:51), “Run From The Darkness” (4:43), “Walk On The Water” (3:39), “Never Gonna Die” (3:43), “Sixteen” (3:08), “Live Connection” (2:50), “Let’s Get Ready” (4:21), “Walls” (3:57), “It’s Over” (4:16), "Walk On The Water" (remix bonus track) (3:38)
Musicians
Dan McCabe - Lead Vocals, Bass & Keyboards
Tony Rossi - Guitars, Lead Vocals & Synthesizers
Bill Findlay - Rhythm Guitar, Synthesizers & Bass
Matt Del Duca - Drums & Percussion
