Ivoryline:There Came A Lion
“We should scream ‘thank you’
With every waking breath
And cry ‘mercy, mercy!’ at every day’s end
Yet we remain quiet and comfortable
In our A to B lives.
We’re so quiet and comfortable in our A to B lives”
It is with this blunt and unashamed attitude that Tyler,Texas’ Ivoryline brings us their debut album on Tooth and Nail records. Each song builds on what “Days End”, the first track on the album brings to the table. They confront a number of deep and important issues on “There Comes a Lion”.
How we confront our “Lions” is what makes us who we are, and Ivoryline hammers this point home with 100% consistency. Whether it be through speaking about the hypocrisy that plagues the church today, and the search for meaning through sex, enduring abuse, and apathy in “All You Ever Hear”, to the misconceptions that many people have about God and faith in “Be Still and Breathe”. “Remind Me I’m Alive” is a cry for meaning and purpose in what can often feel like a cold and lifeless world. What the mind cant comprehend, but the heart cannot live without, this is the message of “Hearts and Minds”. The album ends on a much slower note than it began with “The Last Words”, a touching tribute to Jeremy’s father, who passed away during the recording of this album.
The evidence of the faith that the members of Ivoryline have in God is prevalent throughout this album. They take on the issues that most people are afraid to even speak about, and they do it with poise and maturity. With soaring vocals, incredible guitars, and a beat that will have you tapping your foot and bobbing your head with every track, Ivoryline is definitely a band to watch in ’08 and beyond.
4.5/5
