Kutless – Sea of Faces
Label: BEC Recordings
Style: Hard Rock
Released: 2004
My Grade: 4.5 stars
AMG: 4
Sounds like: POD, Pillar

Kutless’ sophomore release Sea Of Faces was one of the most highly anticipated releases in the Christian music market of 2004, and it did not disappoint. This album is a very slick, professional sounding hard rock album that keeps the listener engaged throughout almost all of its 11 tracks.

It kicks off with “Not What You See”, a strong guitar driven, heavy-all-the-way rocker that hit # 1 on the Christian rock charts. From there Kutless switches moods to a different vibe with “All Alone”. On this song we are introduced to a concept used heavily throughout the album: a combination of melodic acoustic and electric guitars up front on the verse with much heavier bass and guitars on the choruses. It works surprisingly well on this song, and also on tracks like “Passion”, “Perspectives” and “It’s Like Me”. This sound owes a big debt to the very artistic producer Aaron Sprinkle, known for his creativity and high standards of production. This album has plenty of tracks like “Not What You See”, including some that outdo the chart topper. Cuts like “Let You In”, “Troubled Heart” and the pure raw energy rocker “Treason” are sure to please big fans of Kutless’ first album.

The two ballads (including the masterpiece title track) are perfectly placed in the track order, and make this disc almost flawlessly balanced. Jon Micah Sumrall is an excellent, expressive vocalist who sings the bands undeniably Christian lyrics with complete clarity and passion. Kutless has taken large steps forward musically from their freshman disc in 2002. Sea Of Faces does not have as raw a sound as their debut self-titled CD, but this one is so finely toned it’s hard not to really get into it. This is an extremely good album, and it’s a shame that the secular market isn’t as accepting of Christian bands as it could be, because Kutless could hang with the best of them.

Reviewed by: Christian