| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Mark Fekete |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Prodigal |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 70% |
| Running Time: 65:04 |
What’s in a name? A relevant question as it pertains to the Prodigal moniker, which has birthed at minimum three Christian bands going under the designation, at least that this reviewer is aware. First and most well known is the CCM act from Cincinnati, Ohio that on the three albums it released on Heartland Records, Prodigal (1982), Electric Eye (1984) and Just Like Real Life (1985), traversed musical territory diverse as AOR, pop, funk, hard rock, progressive rock and even techno rock. Second but on the obscure side is the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania based Prodigal to serve up a blend of the seventies and eighties - hard rock to melodic rock to AOR - on its independent first and only album Stand from 2006.
Phoenix, Arizona is home to a third Prodigal that takes a much heavier musical stance than its similarly named counterparts. Prodigal Version 3.0 as they will be referred moving forward, combines strong doses of traditional heavy metal (think Ozzy Osbourne to Saint and all things in between) and straightforward hard rock (sort of like Rez Band) on its independently released summer of 2020 debut full length Are You Ready! Other bands that combine metal and hard rock such as Messenger, Chosen and We Are Resolute are good points of reference in describing the Prodigal Version 3.0 sound.
One cannot question the group’s pedigree. Lead vocalist Mark Fekete, with a style hinting of Ozzy but with a touch of Ace Frehley, previously was part of Spokane, Washington based Christian metal band Amethyst to include Alter Bridge and Slash touring guitarist Myles Kennedy. Lead guitarist Jim Maropoulos spent the eighties as a member of White Foxx with Cinderella guitarist Jeff LeBar. Rounding out the Prodigal lineup is rhythm guitarist Rigoberto Reyes, bassist Scott Spangle and drummer Les Townsend. Packaging lists a female co-lead vocalist in Brandy Spangle, but far as I can tell, no female vocals are present on the album. Perhaps she joined the group after it was recorded?
Nor its faith in that the group delivers (per its press material) ‘a message of hope, love, and salvation to a world that needs to hear something refreshing and uplifting!’ Repeat listen to Are You Ready! reveals Prodigal Version 3.0 to be lyrically forthright and straightforward as it gets in terms of expressing its faith.
As occasionally happens with independent releases, production could us a bit of polish. Outside of some overall muddiness, vocals comes across muffled and/or processed to the point they can be difficult to distinguish in the mix, while too much space exists between individual tracks. Packaging also deserves an upgrade in light of a simple cardboard insert that folds out to include band photos and credits but no lyrics.
That said, Prodigal Version 3.0 reveals deft ability to compose a solid song, as revealed in albums first eight cuts.
Albums opening title track find the group exhibiting its traditional metal ways. “Are You Ready” dominates with its powerful mid-paced inflection, ill boding from the combative feel to its verse sections but smoothing out for a soaring chorus to ask several key questions:
Are you ready for the King?
Are you ready for the call?
Worship Christ as Lord of all
Maropoulos’ lead guitar is killer throughout.
“The Prodigal” also trends the mid-tempo but instead mirrors straightforward hard rock akin to Rez Band or even F.O.G. Grainy guitars and harmonica lead the bluesy way, with periodic outbursts of all out aggression trading off with underlining seventies classic rock edges as the group gets its message across unequivocally:
There is just one way
Call on Jesus name
Trust me, your life will never be the same
Instrumentally, Prodigal 3.0 puts its musicianship on display as flaying lead guitar and harmonica trade off. This one would sound right at home on any early Rez Band album.
“He Loves You” ups tempo with its Ozzy influenced metal allure. With Townsend’s double kick drum setting the impactful tone, the song evenly flows in capturing a catchy underlining groove to hint of a light commercial essence. I particularly enjoy the effortless guitar harmonies throughout. Prodigal 3.0 maintains its evangelistic lyrical bent:
But Jesus paid the price
He died at Cavalry
God sent His only Son so you and I could be set free
Southern influenced ballad “Find My Way (To Heaven)” carries out to seven moving minutes. It impresses as exquisite, lush and moving, manifesting added deep harmonies and all the melodic bass you could ask in taking the commercial vestiges to the next level. If into lengthy, well-done ballads (as is this reviewer) then this is certain to be a choice track. Song details a lost soul in search of a home:
As every tear I cry, I’m still searching for my saving grace
And breath I take, I’m closer to the truth I pray
And every move I make, I hope I will find my way
“The Darkness” represents tight as it gets traditional metal. As its title implies it is a swarthy cut to play up a dire element in the form of chilling keyboards and haunting rhythms, but the song is not all inauspicious as catchy hooks and lightning-like guitar leads play every bit prevalent roles. There is almost a Gothic touch here.
On “Revelation Stew (Hail, The Messiah)”, Prodigal pays tribute to the musical heroes of the past:
Stairway to heaven, or highway to hell
Are you knockin’ on heavens door, or ringing hells bells…
It’s the final countdown, so come sail away
It ain’t no bad place to be, so just live for today…
Musically, it projects as a commanding metal piece with shouted backing vocals and enlivened tempo as Fekete vocally reaches down for some grit and gravel but can extend for an occasional falsetto.
“The Road Once Travelled” represents another stylish ballad, easy going and relaxed to delicately woven guitars (breathing life into the expansive verse sections), but also profound to the rebounding presence of rhythm guitars (augmenting the gripping refrain). I appreciate how Spangle’s bass forms a breathing backdrop for more lively leads. Song laments a soul having lost its way:
Why did I walk away from You
Go out on my own
Lord, please take me by the hand
And lead me back home
Back to metal territory with “Cold World”, a fiery onslaught of blistering guitars, galloping rhythms and double kick drum combining to make a near mesmerizing mid-tempo statement. Added catchy hooks prevail, as does a ton of riveting groove to approach the foreboding. This one would not sound out of place on Rob Rock’s 2005 Holy Hell solo album.
Lyrics discus creation and our fallen world:
The earth was created by the touch of His hand
Straight from the earth, he created man
He created woman, and we all worshiped Him
And the serpent deceived us, seduced us to sin
Perhaps due to being not quite as memorable or limitations to albums production, but final four cuts do not measure up as well. “The Devil’s Fate”, for instance, has a good message and nice forward groove, but the notable hooks are missing for repeat play, while, same holds true with “The Answer”, a lighter arena rock based track with a preacher message voice over. Worship rocker “Of The World” and energetic “Falling Down” are not bad but on the basic side in also lacking an enamoring hook basis.
Prodigal Version 3.0 brings a great deal of potential to Are You Ready! Quality vocals and musicianship are present in spades; when further factoring first eight songs, group is more than capable of penning memorable at times heavy metal and others hard rock material to easily hold up under repeat play. Also of note is the upfront lyrical direction. Moving forward, added songwriting consistency and production upgrade are necessary for Prodigal 3.0 to take the next step musically. A name change would not hurt either- last time I checked, Prodigal of Fire and Prodigal Rising have not been taken…
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Are You Ready” (5:35), “The Prodigal” (5:57), “He Loves You” (5:44), “Find My Way (To Heaven)” (7:01), “The Darkness” (5:32), “Revelation Stew (Hail, The Messiah)” (4:57), “The Road Once Travelled” (5:01), “Cold World” (6:10), “The Devil’s Fate” (4:15), “The Answer” (5:07), “Of The World” (4:20), “Falling Down” (5:25)
Musicians
Mark Fekete - Lead Vocals, Guitar & Keyboards
Jim Maropoulos - Lead Guitar
Rigoberto Reyes - Rhythm Guitar
Scott Spangle - Bass
Les Townsend - Drums.
