Search - Sonicflood :: This Generation (Bonus CD)

Sonicflood - "This Generation"

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 03/09/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The pioneering worship band Sonicflood has returned with their latest disc "This Generation" - a new collection of modern worship songs that will without a doubt be making their way into church services in the near future.

As many already know, the original Sonicflood has not existed since 2000 when the band initially split up and late-comer Rick Heil decided to carry on with its namesake. The band is now currently on its third incarnation with Heil still at the helm.

"This Generation" was actually recorded while the band was still in transistion of band members. Because of this, the album is essentially a Rick Heil solo album with various musicians playing on the tracks. Original Sonicflood drummer Aaron Blanton returns as a guest playing on most of the album (this marks the first time an original member of the band has played on a Sonicflood album in nearly five years).

Musicially, the album displays a harder edge and is more guitar-dominated than previous efforts. This is unfortuantely the only good side to the album. Lyrically, there is nothing on this album that hasn't been said before. This isn't neccesarily a bad thing however, the lyrics to most of these songs are typical fodder for the standard typical praise and worship song. Chances are, if your familiar the lyric content of anything released by Hillsong, you'll know what to expect here.

The other downside to the album is the vocals. While Rick Heil isn't neccesarily a bad singer, his thin vocals tend to be overpowered by the heaviness of the music. It's almost like having an adult contemporary singer do heavy metal. While listening to this album for the first time, the thought that instantly hit this reviewer was "Man, this could be a really great song if someone else were singing it". No offense to Rick, but he simply does not have the 'belting' quality that the music on this album requires. This is a huge weakness here.

Apart from these major flaws, "This Generation" does serve as a solid follow-up to "Cry Holy". It is a stronger album than its predecessor and will probably be appealing to most.

So in the end, what we have here is a Five-Star album, docked one star for the lyrics and another star for the vocals."

Helped turn a struggling believer into a full believer!

Michael Duplechain | Bunkie, LA USA | 04/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love bands like Creed and Alterbridge. They are bands which had or has a message. Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp are also very good in my opinion. I am a person who listened to Metallica and Guns 'N Roses. The music I listened to had a hard rock edge to it, but was filling my head with the wrong message.



I just went and bought SonicFlood's new CD, and I have to say, I am very, very, very impressed. I know everyone is talking about what Sonicflood was back then, but it is today, and today's youth need a voice. This CD is one of the best, that I have ever heard.



My favorite songs on the CD are, well, all of them. The two that really, really move me are Everlasting and Your Love Goes On Forever. All of the songs on the CD are A+++ Rated, so it is not only those 2. The CD is really well done, and if you love the bands of Collective Soul, Creed, and Alterbridge, this si the CD for you. I hope this SonicFlood keep their members together, and produce many more CD's, because this is slowly starting to turn my heart from a negative situation to a very positive situation.



Enjoy the Sonicflood of the past, but we are no in the past anymore, look forward to the new SonicFlood. They are a very special group, and I can't say enough positive things about them.



The Lord's Love does Go On Forever!!!"

SONICFLOOD is back....

A. Calabrese | NJ--United States | 05/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was first introduced to SONICFLOOD while driving in the country a few years back and the song Resonate came on the radio. I've been a fan ever since. I am critical of what is known as the CCM genre because I think that many of the artists have put good Christian music into a kind of self-imposed musical ghetto. But, with bands like SONICFLOOD we have seen the message get out to the worst of us wretches. Their new CD THIS GENERATION is an enjoyable listen. Rick Heil has a unique singing voice that is complemented by a great band. I like the title track This Generation, but for me this CD shines with tunes like More Than Anything and Your Love Goes On Forever. On those two cuts the band really comes together as a unit. If half star ratings could be given this one is a 4 1/2. I would like to see the band move out of their comfort zone, as at times the theme while worthy and noble, gets a bit redundant. This one is a buy."