| Musical Style: Hard Rock/Instrumental | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: Visual Cliff |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 53:39 |
2013 was supposed to be the end of the line for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Visual Cliff when it released what it purported to be its final two albums, Out Of The Archives, made up of re-recorded demo tracks from its first four albums, and Between Two Kingdoms, encompassing new material. With the exception of putting out a couple singles each year, the group’s days as a full time recording act were over, but the best-laid plans, nevertheless, sometimes go awry. Enter vocalist Shane Lankford, whom along with his wife Wendy started Loving The Lost Boys, a ministry that houses kids that have timed out of the foster care system in Baltimore, MD. As noted in the Visual Cliff press material: “(The two) provide loving Godly support in a family environment that these young people have never known before. They also provide assistance to others who are willing to open up their homes to these at risk kids.”
Hence, Refuge, the February of 2018 eighth full-length album from Visual Cliff, which was recorded for the solo purpose of financially assisting the Loving The Lost Boys ministry. Again, the groups press material provides further detail: “All proceeds from the sale of Refuge in all its various forms (including CD & vinyl) will directly benefit those young people that will be touched and forever changed by the love and kindness this ministry provides.” Visual Cliff recorded 16 songs for Refuge, with the CD version to feature 12 and vinyl eight, but vinyl is exclusive to four not appearing on the CD version (in breaking down to one side featuring vocal material and other that which is instrumental).
As with past releases, Visual Cliff takes an ‘artist creating art’ approach on Refuge with a combining of jazz-fusion-shred instrumental numbers and heavier rocking melodic vocal cuts intrinsic to a progressive edge. Treat to the vocal material, of course, is the warm and richly textured mid-ranged style of Lankford, whom I find one of the more unheralded performers within hard music circles. Those familiar with his work on both Orphan Project albums and Fall Of Echoes, a progressive rock side project in which he recorded an album, Red Tree, with Visual Cliff guitarist Rob Perez, know of what I speak. Interestingly, Visual Cliff got its start as an exclusive instrumental act on its first two albums, Lyrics For The Living (2003) and Key To Eternity (2004), only to later add Lankford to its line up with the goal of ‘adding another dimension to their music’. I cannot help but feel the group succeeded in spades!
True to form, Refuge begins to a trademark Visual Cliff instrumental in “All Things New”. The song gives prominence to its share of variety its three minutes, opening to some riffs that hint of Rush before lighter guitars of an atmospheric nature take over the rest of the way as Rick Mals’ staunch bass sets the fortifying low end tone. The occasional moment even touches upon a hard rocking form.
First vocal cut, “Casualty Of Words”, proves mid-tempo in giving prominence to a melodic hard rock basis but with some darker tinctures, which attributes to Lankford’s lower register vocal penchant. Lending an airy effect are swirling keyboards, credited to John Neiswinger, while the generous instrumental moments allow Perez to bestow his stylish soloing. My favorite part is the meaningful ‘it’s about love, we must speak in love’ harmonizing to close out the songs final seconds.
A return to instrumental territory, “Internal Exile” traverses a deliberate but fluid path its five minutes as some of the album hardest rocking guitars and marked keyboards combine with rumbling bass to produce an eerie effect. Impetus further tempers at the halfway point for a felicitous run of lead guitar.
“Altered Piece”, albums second vocal piece, stays true to the heavier rocking leanings in placing emphasis on crisp rhythm guitars - refrain hits particularly hard - within a framework of the moving and up-tempo. The multifarious Mals, whom also handles drums, pulls-out-all-the-stops with his manifold timekeeping, noting his use of cool seventies style cowbell throughout.
Visual Cliff reveals its progressive side on “My Refuge”, this reviewer’s choice track. The song opens its first two minutes instrumentally to celestial keyboards and a drum solo before softly ambling ahead to fusion based lead guitar. At just the point you think it is entirely instrumental, however, Lankford steps in with his soothing mid-paced form in lending to the relaxed and welcoming sentiments at hand. Several instrumental interludes borne by keyboards, piano and acoustic guitar help take “My Refuge” out to six satisfying minutes.
Two minute “Footprints For The Lost” plays an acoustic guitar and keyboard interlude role in leading the way to “#Hero”.
The song carries over the acoustic sentiments, smoothly flowing through the cordial feel to its verses only to exponentially gain energy as heavier rocking guitars kick in to bolster the elevated refrain. Am I out of line to suggest a worshipful flair comes to the forefront in the process?
Third instrumental “Touch Of The Spirit” represents albums darkest and most foreboding. The song literally flails its length with its portent guitar focus, as hints of piano decorate the backend and Perez unleashes well timed runs of blues drenched soloing. This one might not be doom, but it is of similar spirit.
Lankford returns to front “New Eyes”, a reservedly laid-back piece of a straightforward nature that rates with the albums mellowest (by no means a critique in light of the quality at hand). The song initiates to several seconds of ethereal guitars that hint of U2 only to slowly drift acoustically in trading off between moments both divine - ‘give me brand new eyes to behold your greatness’ - and moody. Luster to vocal melodies bolster the poignancy at hand.
Album closes to three consecutive instrumentals, with the first “Anathema”, an outside the box and experimental track- in the most positive sense. Setting it apart is how it’s entirely keyboard driven (I believe a first as far as Visual Cliff are concerned) in revisiting wistful mid-paced territory. I embrace the song as adding an extra layer of depth to Refuge not to mention allowing Neiswinger to showcase his manifold abilities.
Guitars, nevertheless, return for “The Ever Longing”. What we have is a fusion driven rocker with an uplifting allure, inherent to catchy grooves and rhythms that contrast with the inauspicious feel built-in to “Anathema”. I like to identify with it as albums most lighthearted and mirthful.
CD version ends to the laid-back “Never Ahead, Never Behind”, a cut to manifest a strong traditional blues twist. Bass presence, for instance, is shuffling and guitars breathe of full on emotion to lend to the wistful surroundings. Lucid keyboards, all the while, provide an aspect of variation.
Each of the four exclusive vinyl cuts is also instrumental. First, “Get Up And Walk”, takes the traditional blues aspects to the next level with its gritty guitar focus (sort of like Stevie Ray Vaughan) and use of flattering Hammond B3. “Gathering Of Souls” follows as a two minute keyboard and acoustic interlude that transitions to “My Word, My Bond”, an elevated hard rocker in which bountiful guitars and organ combine to make a seventies classic rock statement. Closer “Cupboard Of The Few” smoothly flows its six and a half minutes (albums longest) in maneuvering between moments both composed and collected and those in which outbursts of the steadfast assert themselves.
Production succeeds with its prodigious low end - I love how the thick and weighty bass rises above the mix - but it also allows enough clarity for accenting keyboards and guitars to tastes, albeit not to a fault either way. Lone complaint is the black and white cover art is a bit plain; that said I also understand how the group would want to keep its overhead low as possible in light of how all album sales are going to ministry.
Visual Cliff traditionally brings a high level of musicianship to each of its albums and Refuge proves no exception when factoring the unbeatable trio of Rick Mals, Rob Perez and John Neiswinger. I always have been a fan of the group’s instrumental, material, which similar to Fourth Estate is much more than eighties shred hard rock in also touching upon jam, fusion, jazz, and blues, but its vocal cuts shine equally when factoring Shane Lankford’s persuasive presence. All things added up and Refuge proves perhaps the groups finest or at the very least most prolific when factoring the sixteen quality cuts that break down over the CD and vinyl releases. My advice would be to acquire Refuge and not just because it is a great album but also a great investment from how its proceeds go to the Loving The Lost Boys ministry.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “All Things New” (3:19), “Casualty Of Words” (5:29), “Internal Exile” (5:20), “Altered Peace” (4:06), “My Refuge” (6:00), “Footprints For The Lost” (1:56), “#Hero” (4:18), “Touch Of The Spirit” (3:16), “New Eyes” (5:31), “Anathema” (4:05), “The Ever Longing” (3:40), “Never Ahead, Never Behind” (6:01)
Track Listing (exclusive vinyl tracks): “Get Up And Walk” (4:45), “Gathering Of Souls” (1:55), “My Word My Bond” (3:55), “Cupboard Of The Few” (6:38)
Musicians
Shane Lankford - Lead Vocals
Rob Perez - Guitars
John Neiswinger - Keyboards, Synthesizers & Piano
Rick Mals - Bass & Drums
