| Musical Style: Blues Rock | Produced By: Gary Heitz & Mike Kilpatric |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: Sign Of Jonah |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 56:33 |
Sign Of Jonah has long been an Angelic Warlord favorite within the blues-rock segment and for good reason: its shuffling bass presence, grainy slide guitars, acoustic lacings and heartfelt vocals have always stood out. The Wichita, Kansas based quartet got its start in 2014 with its 75% Angelic Warlord reviewed debut Sacrifice prior to following up eight years later with 85% reviewed sophomore effort Day Of The Lord (both independent). Third Sign Of Jonah album Real Love from August of 2023 (also independent) maintains the blues-rock sentiments while carrying over the group’s propensity for classic rock, Southern rock and blues-rock. Whereas not inviting comparison, if into the form on the lighter side (Glenn Kaiser Band, Stevie & The Saints and Big Chris D’Bare Bones Band) and that heavier (Resurrection Band & F.O.G.), I can see Real Love appealing to your tastes . Sign Of Jonah also maintains its ministry based lyrical focus.
Sign Of Jonah remains the project of founding member, guitarist and lead vocalist Gary Heitz, whom in addition to contributing majority of the Real Love songwriting, handles engineering, mixing and mastering duties. Joining Heitz is guitarist and co-lead vocalist Mike Kilpatric and drummer Jerry Walker. Heitz initially teamed up with guitarist Scott Miller (Pilgrimsprog) and drummer Mike Smith to record Sacrifice, but with the departure of Miller and Smith, he recruited Kilpatric, Walker and bassist Wynne Corbin to round out the Day Of The Lord roster. Newcomer Du Wayne Bohlman replaces Corbin on bass for Real Love. There is no need for concern in that despite such turnover, Sign Of Jonah does not lose its focus as Real Love encompasses some of its finest material to date.
Albums title track stand out in this regard. With drum solo to start followed by bass, “Real Love” moves forward to Southern flavored guitars ahead of layered vocal melodies repeating its title in catchy fashion. The Southern nuances return to cover the songs instrumental moments. Hetiz exhibits his soulful vocal abilities in providing a discourse on ‘real love’:
Real love is all that we need
Jesus is where that love leads
Love is patient, love is kind
Without love
If I gain the whole world, I gain nothing at all
Without love
If I understand all things, I know nothing at all
Without love
If I give away everything I have, I gain nothing at all
“Brother To Brother” upholds similar musical and lyrics themes. Lone difference is how it takes a heavier heading, noting the eighties style hard rock riffs to power its distance, and approaches from a duet standpoint in that joining Heitz is the classic tenor form of Kilpatric. Equally notable is how songs clean production stands out, referencing the crisp guitars, pronounced drums and transparent bass.
“I Am That I Am” mirrors a heavy rocking blues form not unlike Glenn Kaiser Band. The groups layered vocal melodies continue to separate in serving to reinforce the songs forthright melody, as does its gritty guitar penchant revealed in the dual lead guitar work to grace things instrumentally. A regal if not stately essence separates in the process. Lyric snippet:
Lots of grief and suffering, on that long road out of town
There’s a place just up ahead
Where you can lay your troubles down
Miles and miles of dusty road and a mountain to get past
The man climbed up that hill and His name is what he asked
The rules were spelled out and driven into stone
His name was spoken, tell them this is how I know
He said, ‘I am That I Am, I Am That I Am’
“Joy Of The Lord” initially impresses as a cover to the hymn “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” in light of the opening acapella vocal seconds. Moving forward, however, “Joy Of The Lord” is its own song in light of the bluesy slide guitars to prevail as the song exuberantly repeats its title: ‘I’ve got the joy of the Lord livin’ in me, I’ve got the joy of the Lord’. Acapella vocals return to cover the songs final seconds.
“Walk The Walk” begins to funky, groovy guitars prior to morphing into a burnished blues rocker, not albums heaviest but stylish all the same with its resilient bass swagger (noting the work of Bohlman) and mirthful, up-tempo disposition. Added duel lead guitar work carries the instrumental run. Lyric snippet:
Well, when you talk the talk, you better walk the walk
And when you make that speech
Then practice what you preach
And if you build that wall, you better be prepared to fall
Brother, just keep the faith
In the plan the Lord has made
And the righteous will stand, while the doubters all fall
As the world looks on, to make sense of it all
With open-air guitar to start, “Repent And Believe” crunches forward to a hard rock demeanor - rhythm guitar in particular digs and bites - in resonating of the pensive as the group’s cleanly woven backing vocals prevail over the straightforward scene. Three minutes in and the song slows to a crawl as the group ruminates on the salvation message:
When you trust in Christ alone
Eternal life will be your own
A new creation you’ll become
You’ll want to share this love with everyone
I see this one fitting in on any early Resurrection Band album.
“Kingdom Come” impresses of a bluesy ballad, graceful with its delicate Southern guitars but equally poignant as Kilpatric reveals a moving side to his vocal delivery. Songs brilliance, however, manifests in one of albums most immediately catchy refrains. Darrell Mansfield could not do it better.
The five and half minute “Here I Am” rates with this reviewer’s choice tracks. It initially comes across in the form of a ballad as acoustic guitar and feedback lead the way but turns into a laid-back rocker a minute in, as rhythm guitar joins with that acoustic to enhance momentum exponentially to build upon the preeminent melody. Final minute returns to a relaxed acoustic format. Lyric snippet:
His blood was shed, He suffered for me
The well was torn to set us free
The Son stepped forward and He raised His hand
The nails were driven in by sinful man
To fulfill the Father’s plan
Oh, here I am
Here I am, it was written in stone about me in the scroll
Here I am, I have come to make my people whole
Here I am, sin will never take its toll again
Oh, here I am
“All That Remains” also reveals a lighter side to Sign Of Jonah, plodding its span to reserved (and quite catchy) guitars and compact (and quite enticing) bass but not forsaking the pronounced melody to draw in despite the relaxed climate. The reflective nature to the saw carries over instrumentally.
Album closes to six minute epic “The Only Way”. I appreciate manner in which the group extends its songwriting, noting how I take to equally lengthy Day Of The Lord tracks “The Last Trumpet” / “Day Of The Lord” and “Jesus”, but not to the point of losing the listeners attention. Key is the purposeful melody Sign Of Jonah imbues its material, and such is the case with “The Only Way”. The song proves a rousing, up-tempo rocker with guitars in full force (more dual soloing) and type of sing along chorus to have you returning time and again. I see this as being a concert staple. Lyrically, it proves aptly entitled:
Jesus is the only way, the only way to Heaven
Jesus is the only way, there is no other way
Jesus gave His life so we could go to Heaven
Jesus gave His life so we can be free
Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many
Jesus gave His life for all who’d believe
Rounding out Real Love is a pair of well-done acoustic cuts in “In My Heart” and “Songs Of The Living God”. I identify with the two as companion tracks from upholding a worshipful demeanor, with former touching upon a classical feel and latter finding Jerry Walker joining Heitz and Kilpatric on vocals. I sense a bit of Phil Keaggy in the two.
Fans of blues-rock in its varying forms not to mention classic rock, Southern rock and hard rock will find a lot to like in third Sign Of Jonah album Real Love. Likewise I see those into the artists mentioned in the review from the lighter (Glenn Kaiser Band, Darrell Mansfield) to heavier (Rez Band) taking to Sign Of Jonah. I appreciate equally how the group varies its songwriting with choice up-tempo rockers to lighter melody driven pieces to acoustic worship numbers. Two equally laudable lead vocalists and plenty of dual guitar leads top off an album I find more than equal to processor Day Of The Lord. My advice would be to make each a priority purchase!
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Real Love” (4:34),”Brother To Brother” (4:42), “In My Heart” (4:03), “I Am That I Am” (4:00), “Joy Of The Lord” (4:07), “Walk The Walk” (4:15), “Sons Of The Living God” (4:59), “Repent And Believe” (4:38), “Kingdom Come” (4:37), “Here I Am” (5:40), “All That Shall Remain” (4:23), “The Only Way” (6:32)
Musicians
Gary Heitz - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Mike Kilpatric - Guitars
Du Wayne Bohlman - Bass
Jerry Walker - Drums
