When Deliverance returned to the music scene in 2007 with AS
ABOVE-SO BELOW (Retroactive Records), it had once again been six years since
their last album. On this their ninth
studio album, Deliverance is: Jimmy P. Brown II (guitar and vocals), Mike
Phillips (lead and rhythm guitar), Tim Kronyak (bass guitar), and Mike Reed
(drums). Live, Corin Jae Scott was
responsible for keyboards and backing vocals.
Of this album Brown comments: “Our fan-base always seems to want WEAPONS
OF OUR WARFARE-PART TWO. I have never
understood that personally. I love Pink
Floyd’s THE WALL. I love Queensryche’s
OPERATION MINDCRIME. But I don’t want
Part Two of those. I am content with
those particular moments in time! I want
to see where the band or artist wants to take me now on their next
journey. I don’t simply want a ride
through the old neighbourhood in a new car, if that makes any sense.”
AS ABOVE-SO BELOW begins with a wonderful, moving
instrumental that incorporates elements of both classical and rock music. It is called ‘Legum Servi Sumus Ut Liberi
Esse Possimus (Intro)’ which my computer translates from Latin to mean ‘We are
slaves of the law so that we can be Free.’
This is followed by ‘Cause and Effect’ which speaks of the End Times
which may not be that far off: “Zero tolerance for Biblical creed/Anti-Christ
laying its seed/Mark the words written on the wall/Truth divides how the mighty
will fall/Have you not seen? Have you not heard?/The day of shadows is at
hand!/Your eyes have seen! Your ears have heard!/Decree this hour unto man!”
‘Return to Form’ reflects on how we as Christians tend to be
overly judgmental: “Character flaws seems to be the latest trend/Like looking
for lost loves by simply clicking send/Zeroes and Heroes returning from their
graves/To spread the hatred cloaked with the words ‘Jesus Saves’/I never
understood the need to criticize/In same likeness so far my words ostracize/The
pointless task to tell what you already know/The course endeavor of sailing
high and staying low.” The great title
track ‘As Above-So Below’ draws from the Lord’s Prayer: “Let the mountains
shake and the rocks declare Your glory/As it is with You, so mote it be with
me/Let the rivers run strong and all nature bow with humility/As it is with
You, so mote it be with me/Quicken the hearts to receive the unfettered
plan/And lose yourself in the eyes of an egoless drowning man/Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done, both light and in the dark/In my body the Holy Name, I bear
the mark.”
Those who struggle with doubts about their salvation will be
able to relate to ‘Screaming’ and these words: “Screaming out, intensity builds/Running
from my fear of Hell/Trapped inside surrounding walls/By this power, will I be
held?/Careful as I tread the night/Laying on this sea of shattered glass/I need
the peace promised, is it waiting there for me? Or will I once again, meet the
black and empty stare?” ‘Should we cross
Paths’ lets the devil know he won’t have the final say in how the story of
humanity plays out: “Justice lies beyond the Wailing Wall/To cleanse the
threshing floor of failings all/A cure for humanity, to eliminate the waste/Should
we cross paths, my victory you’ll taste/We’ve had all we can take! Nothing more
to have!/The World disintegrates, should we cross paths.”
It is clear from the lyrics of the next song ‘Contempt’ that
Brown has had some abusive experiences with those in religious authority: “You
stole from me my life and the endearing part of my youth/You led me thru and
all around in your circus you called ‘truth’/Take a knee and learn to submit,
it’s the only way!/You said it was God, but somehow you were always in the
way…Scatter the sheep and the Shepherd moves in for the kill/Shear the little
ones many times, skin them only once of their will!” ‘Thistles’ starts off as a slow rock
instrumental then builds and quiets again.
It runs over eleven minutes!
‘My Love’ seems to be a love song for Brown’s wife Helen,
who did a good job on this album’s artwork: “Remember when you first came into
my sight/I fell just like a dream, it seems so long ago/Conscience, it did not
take long/To see all that you were to me/My love, all that I am is
yours/Soaring on the wings, they caress you in the dark/Listen to the waters
that calm us in surreal/Believe the faith that’s led us this far/Emptiness
filled by all that we feel.” Many of the
lyrics to the closing track deal with the fact that there are many belief
systems Brown does not agree with. He
concludes: “I hear and see your point of view, and understand the arguments
clear/I don’t want to end our talk with a fist of rage or a sighing tear/So let
it be written, so let it be done/You have your views and I have mine/No sense
to argue anymore/Because at least we agree we’re all part of mankind.”
Fans of the earliest Deliverance speed/thrash metal albums
will find much to like here. Blazing
electric guitar work and breakneck speed drumming and shouted vocals. Fans of later albums like RIVER DISTURBANCE,
which fall more into the progressive metal category with sung vocals, also have
much to cheer about here. This album
seems to have more heart and passion than its predecessor ASSIMILATION. AS ABOVE-SO BELOW is Christian metal that
kicks the devil in the rear end! I’m
rating it 89% and recommending it to fans of Tourniquet, Vengeance Rising, Once
Dead, and Ultimatum. For more info visit
www.deliverancerocks.com.