Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Dustin Kensrue - "Carry the Fire"


To talk about the music of Dustin Kensrue, you almost inevitably need to talk about Christianity. A devout Christian (and, until recently, worship pastor for now defunct mega-church Mars Hill), Kensrue has always woven his beliefs into both his solo music and that which he made with Thrice.

This reached its apex in 2013 with the release of The Water & the Blood, an album of full-blown worship songs that preached to the converted. Now, I don't have a problem with worship music, it just doesn't interest me. For the sake of parity, I don't listen to Norwegians in corpse paint shouting incessantly about how awesome Satan is either. I prefer my religious undertones to be just that: under.

That said, Dustin Kensrue's fourth official solo record is his most appealing record since the last Thrice platter four years ago because it isn't waving crosses and thumping bibles. Instead, Carry the Fire puts the music ahead of the message, from the stark acoustics of There's Something Dark to the full-bodied bombast of Gallows.

It's a sparse but effective record that just so happens to occasionally make references to his faith and, while I'd take a new Thrice album over it any day, Carry the Fire proves Kensrue remains a talented songwriter and formidable lyricist. As a worshiper of good music, I'll give this record an "amen".

April 21, 2015 • Workhorse/Universal
Highlights Gallows • There's Something Dark • Of Crows and Crowns

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2014: And the Winners Are...

It's been a long year, and another great one for rock n' roll. While the pop charts were overrun with barely legals obsessed with their asses, rock soldiered on undeterred even as pundits (hell, in some cases even rockers themselves) mourned the genre. Sure, rock didn't dominate the money game in 2014, but that shouldn't evoke sad nostalgia and eulogies. Even for as little perceived impact rock music made, a hell of a lot happened if people had only paid attention. From grizzled vets adding jewels to their crown (Springsteen, Petty) to new beginnings (Against Me!, Antemasque) to happy returns (Faith No More, The Tea Party) and all points in between, rock continued to thrive, evolve and thrill in 2014. Enough talk. It's winning time. Your Year in Rock winners for 2014 are...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hear Me Out: Why Do A Greatest Hits Album?

So, Silversun Pickups announced a "singles collection" today. Now, I'm no expert on "singles" or "hits" compilations; even so, I've got to say this announcement threw me for a loop for a couple of reasons. For starters, isn't it a bit early for a band like Silversun Pickups to be given the "greatest hits" treatment? I know, I know, it's a "singles collection". But, come on; it looks like a greatest hits album, it smells like a greatest hits album, so on so forth. More importantly, though, are these really necessary entities in 2014? I mean, who is this album for? Casual fans who've already downloaded the singles they like or established fans who are expected to shill out $15 for one new song?
1 comment
Read more