Sonic Flood: "Resonate"

Title: Resonate
Category: Praise and Worship
Artist/Group: Sonic Flood
Rating: 3 / 5
I feel the need to premise this review by informing any readers that this is not only my first time listening to a complete album by Sonic Flood, but that this is also the first time I have ever formally reviewed any music. With that in mind I’d like to jump right into the music.

The first thing I think of when someone mentions the name Sonic Flood, I think of a cool Christian band that revamps old praise songs into new creations of smooth blends of altered harmonies, rhythms, and great bass lines. If you are a new Sonic Flood listener, I highly recommend finding their rendition of "Open the Eyes of my Heart" (from their self titled debute album, Sonic Flood).

Anyways, each of the eleven tracks on Resonate are remakes of different artists’ songs. I love how the verses to each song correspond to the Scriptures, which are conveniently referenced in the CD jacket as well as occasionally verbally between tracks. The songs contain a variety of messages, but the theme they use to tie them all together is summed up in one verse from their title track from Jason Ingram and Rick Hall’s, “Resonate.”

Let all nature sing
Let the earth rejoice
We will resonate, resonate Your glory
Let all living things
Praise you with one voice
We will resonate, resonate Your glory

Musically, I regrettably write that I am disappointed. The vocals throughout the album were there, but did nothing to impress me. In fact, on some of the songs I was reminded of some boy bands I refuse to even mention. Most of the songs lacked feeling, and for me it is important for the words to be communicated through pronunciation, intonation, and emotion.

I’m sorry to say the electric guitar had some moments, like in, “Holy and Anointed One,” but generally had the same grunge sound through a majority of the songs. I’m amazed how they did it, but the sound engineers somehow altered the traditional grunge sound to make it to what I can only describe as a “clean grunge.”

I was, however, very impressed with Tom Michael on bass. The bass rocks on “Lord of the Dance,” “You Are The Holy One,” and “I Life My Eyes Up.” It almost makes up for the driveless guitars.

Overall, I am not very impressed with this CD. However, the title track is awesome, with additions of cool renditions of “I Lift My Eyes Up” and “Lord of the Dance,” that almost make the album worth buying (I am a very stingy CD consumer). I’d have to rate it as 3/5 for lack of strong vocals, plain guitar sounds, and general lack of extra "umph".

I recommend getting a hold of this album if, 1) you’re an avid Sonic Flood lover, you’ll definitely hit repeat for a few songs, or 2) you really love one or more of the songs and want to hear it in a new form. Otherwise, I’d pass on it.

Discography