Release Date: 7/27/2010
Twitter:@ivoryline
In 2008, Tooth&Nail Records introduced us to Ivoryline and their album “There Came A Lion”. After waiting for 2 years, Ivoryline has sailed back into our auditory canals with “Vessels”, a 13 song collection that clearly places them at the top of the pack among many of the other bands in christian music. Over the past few years, it has become customary to release a 10 track album. It’s almost industry standard now. With 13 songs, the album reads almost like a book, with its natural progression from introduction, to predicament, to solution.
The first thing that you will notice about this album is that the lyrics are even more open “spiritually” than on “Lion”. While you could easily find the message in the songs on “Lion”, the honesty in who Ivoryline is and what they believe is very apparent. With the help of Aaron Sprinkle, who produced “Lion”, the intensity that is felt in the opening track, “The Healing”, is carried through the album. Also notable are the guest artists that appear on the album, including Jason Vena(The Healing), one of this writers favorite vocalists and lead singer of the new defunct Acceptance. Aaron Sprinkle also makes a guest appearance, lending his vocals on the title track, Vessels.
“Vessels” is both more lyrically mature and instrumentally proficient than their previous album. Jeremy Gray, the lead singer, says that “it’s been four years since some of the songs on There Came A Lion were written. Our tastes in music have changed, and we have changed as people.” This is more evident in the issues that are covered in the songs.
We can’t earn God’s love, no matter what we do. It’s a free gift, if we choose to accept it, whenever we choose to accept it. (The Healing)
Trusting in God’s hand to change us and purify us from the darkness that is still inside when we focus on self, instead of God and others. (Search Me Out)
How we live our lives as followers of Christ in a world where we are called to be salt and light. (Vessels)
And thats barely scratching the surface. For almost any area of life, there is almost certainly a song on this album that addresses it. Overall, we are the Vessels that carry Him into the world, and each song challenges you to grow and strengthen your ship.
The Bottom Line: It’s often hard for a band to top their previous album, especially when its of the calibre that “Lion” was. Ivoryline certainly has done that. Fair warning: put your big boy pants on when you listen to this album, because you will be confronted with some tough, personal questions. Don’t let this album pass you by…. pick it up today.
9.0 Out of 10
Reviewed by Wes Brawner of RockTheCross.net