| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: Joshua's Creed |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 43:25 |
The November of 2023 independent Joshua’s Creed sophomore album The American Dream is an improvement over the groups self-titled debut from 2016 (also independent). Not that Joshua’s Creed is in any way flawed, but The American Dream takes the next step with compact production, constant songwriting, searing lead guitar, authoritative vocals and thought provoking, theme based lyrics. With its moniker drawing upon Joshua 24:15, Joshua’s Creed remains the project of Knoxville, Tennessee based founding member, bassist and guitarist Derek Close, whom gained initial renown for his nineties demo work with My Cat Puddinhead, Judah and About This Big and 2007 collaboration with Sanctyfied on its album Flying High. His solo work traces to 2011 when he released the instrumental Christmas rock album In The Christmas Groove but also includes the combination of blues based hard rock and instrumental rock of his 75% Angelic Warlord graded sophomore solo effort The Beta Sessions.
Joshua’s Creed represents a musical extension of Close’s solo material when factoring how Joshua’s Creed ‘trends similar straightforward hard rock territory (as The Beta Sessions)’ while also ‘drawing upon a classic metal basis’ (quoting the 75% Angelic Warlord review either way). Main difference is manner in which The American Dream finds Joshua’s Creed upping heaviness with a sound rooted in NWOBHM I see appealing to those into Judas Priest, Saint, Barren Cross, Atkins May Project and W.A.S.P. No small measure of the W.A.S.P. comparison attributes to new front man Andrew Gazaway (Darkhorse Hero), who brings a powerful vocal style that bears striking resemblance to that of Blackie Lawless. Joshua’s Creed front man Dillon Reynolds did a fine job, but Gazaway takes things to the next level in this regard. Further improvement reveals in new lead guitarist Joaquin Figueroa from decorating the album with his at times brazen at times bluesy and at times fusion filled soloing. Production also elevates with a cleaner sound to see better separation of bass and lead guitar while allowing thickly woven rhythm guitar to play a defining role.
It is songwriting, however, that sets The American Dream apart as found in ten equally good cuts beginning with three and half minute instrumental “Declaration”. It serves to highlight Figueroa’s abilities, as feedback, catchy rhythms and seething lead guitar carry over a foundation of Close’s decided bass. Opening the song is narration from the Declaration Of Independence.
Albums title track ensues as a hulking stomper. Musically, it stays true to the Joshua’s Creed classic metal foundation with burly rhythm guitar and bruising low end but also pensive in light of Gazaway’s decisive, lower register vocal delivery. Lyrically, “The American Dream” sets the tone for the albums theme revolving around disillusionment with American society and consequences of turning from God but ultimately how real change comes through Christ:
Regardless of standing in the social caste
Release your inner talent, master your craft
Born a pauper, die a king
From rags to riches: The American Dream
Educate the mind with books to devour
Ignorance is weakness while knowledge is power
Treasure for the taking, materialistic greed
Fame, glory, riches: The American Dream
“One Nation Under God” is first of what I consider a ‘three song suite’. It maintains the galvanizing disposition but with added up-tempo allure, noting periodic double kick drum outbursts, while reinforcing the Joshua’s Creed focus on the accessible, refrain draws you in with its ironhanded catchy proclivities. When further factoring the dexterous lead guitar work. I am reminded of Too Late For Living era Saint. Lyric snippet:
Once upon a better time
Our leaders paused to pray
Called upon the Great I Am
To lead the way
Seeking out His wisdom
To change them for the better
To guide daily lives
And bless their endeavors
One Nation, under God
United we stand
One Nation, under God
Guided by the Almighty's hand
Albums shortest track at two and half minutes, “Do What You Will” serves as an interlude to tie the suite together. A bass solo gets things going ahead of the song plodding forward in melody driven fashion, home to brazen rhythm guitar eerily maneuvering in and out of the mix as lead vocals take a calmer and more soothing tone. Halfway in and a disquiet storm takes over as emotion elevates unequivocally. Lyric snippet:
Who says what's wrong?
Who says what's right?
If it pleases the eye
Then take a bite
Free to choose
And do what you will
Challenge authority
Challenge morality
Challenge society
Do what you will
“One Nation Minus God” continues to pave the upbeat way, double kick drum returns in full force, and uneasy as it gets mentality, the restless low end builds upon the suspenseful scene. Further setting things apart is the chanted refrain, which yields a fitting curtly done and too the point feel. This one does a choice job capturing the bulldozing spirit of W.A.S.P. Lyric snippet:
Society gets chipped away
Low standards, moral decay
Separate the church and state
Don't you pray in school
Gossip and politics
What's new, what's hip
Fascinate, barely educate
Maintain and amuse the fool
Mob rule regulation
Honor degradation
Moral disintegration
One nation, minus God
Figueroa turns “Freak Show” into a personal shred fest, decorating the songs opening and closing seconds and instrumental moments with his dazzling soloing abilities. “Freak Show” otherwise proves a bludgeoner, trampling through its boundless verse sections on the way to a brusque refrain backed by intrusive double bass. This is another piece with Saint written all over it. Lyric snippet:
Hurry, hurry, step right up
We've got the stuff
What does the curtain hide?
You won't believe your eyes
Absurd antics, PR stunt
Another witch hunt
Watch the news, take a peek
Come and see the freaks!
Play on words cut “Social Me-Dia” is another assailer. It takes a boogie flavored metal form ala Van Halen or Guardian, resonating the mirthful tempo to match as non-stop hooks and sarcastic demeanor in line with the songs title play exuberant roles. I particularly take to the shouted gang style backing vocals adorning throughout. Lyric snippet:
I've left real life behind
All my livin' is done online
Anywhere I go I'm never alone
All my people are on my phone
Hey there, long time no see
Enough about you let's talk about me
Here's where I am took a selfie with my food
I'm doing so great, must suck to be you
“The Misinformation Age” tempers to a mid-paced romp and ups heaviness in the process. With guitar shredding and pulsating bass playing lead roles, song proves compelling with its dark and pensive feel but equally persuasive in terms of the barbed melody to command. Close in particular stands out with his unwavering work on rhythm guitar. Lyric snippet:
In knowledge lies the power
So dumb them down and devour
Distract and entertain
Mainstream Media muddles the brain
Ignorance spreads like wildfire
Is this real or satire?
True story or is it staged
Welcome to The Misinformation Age
“The Divided State Of America” is lone song to come into question. Not that it in any way is flawed - musically it is up there with rest of albums material in upholding a hard rock guitar basis and intruding guitars subtle as a punch in the jaw. That said production misgivings present in the form of vocals a bit too high in the mix, resulting in a somewhat heavy-handed feel. Regardless, not a skip button all the same. Lyric snippet:
Can you feel it?
There is static in the air
Can you feel it?
Mistrust everywhere
Can you see it?
An idea facing death
The American Dream gasping for breath
The words are written by God's hand
A house divided will not stand
How can we live on and integrate
When disagreement is defined as hate?
The Divided State of America
Album closes to one of its finest in the ethereal “Nothing Changes”. What we have is The American Dream lightest piece, with distant guitars and a decelerated tempo carrying its span as razor sharp rhythm guitar dances in the backdrop. All the while, an impervious melody to prevail touches upon the commercial. Lyric snippet:
There remains a constant
A promise without end
God sent us, Jesus
To free us from our sin
He heals the broken hearted
Death's wage no longer due
It's out with the old
In with the new
Then everything changes
Can you feel longing inside your soul?
We were created for so much more
The American Dream finds Joshua’s Creed coming into its own musically. Ten solid songs present with choice musicianship - noting the respective work on bass and lead guitar from Close and Figueroa, respectively - and solid vocals fitting to the classic metal sounds at hand. The lyrical themes that tie everything together help make the package that much more compelling. If into classic metal or any of the artists referenced therein, then make The American Dream a priority purchase. I look forward to hearing more from Joshua’s Creed.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Declaration” (3:31), “The American Dream” (5:10), “One Nation Under God” (4:10), “Do What You Will” (2:40), “One Nation Minus God” (3:43), “Freak Show” (4:23), “Social Me-Dia” (5:15), “The Misinformation Age” (5:13), (The Divided State Of America” (4:13), “Nothing Changes” (5:07)
Musicians
Andrew Gazaway - Lead Vocals
Joaquin Figueroa - Lead Guitar
Derek Close - Rhythm Guitar, Bass & Drum Arrangements
