Review: Third Day's 'Revelation'

Third Day is (L-R) drummer David Carr, singer and guitarist Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and bassist Tai Anderson. Photo by Kristin Barlowe. Below: Revelation cover art by Tim Parker.

Third Day | Revelation

The latest album from Third Day opens with the relevant track, This is Who I Am.

In one respect, it's a good ol' barn-burning Southern rocker. But it's not a great album opener just because it's a catchy tune that pulls you in with the first phrase. It also states an essential truth about this album, which comes out July 29, the band's ninth offering of new studio material. At 15 years in the business, Third Day is past any attempt to follow formulas or say the right things to please people -- not that they've done much of that in the past.

As much as any of their studio albums, Revelation really is a portrait of who Third Day is, as we have gotten to know the Georgia-based band over the years. First and foremost, they're devout evangelical Christians as songs such as the initial single Call My Name demonstrate. There's also a strong introspective side to that devotion we hear in the title track, which is not an apocalyptic vision, but a plea for answers in a confusing world. It's a very mature statement that we don't have all the answers, and sometimes we "haven't got a clue."

Then we go back to the opening track and others like it such as the distortion drenched Otherside, showing the most enjoyable aspect of Third Day: Southern rockers, at heart.

That the album is a complete picture of Third Day, is not surprising.  Recent studio recording such as Come Together in 2001 and Wherever You Are in 2005 were showing us these well-rounded representations. But here, we also see growth, largely driven by producer Howard Benson, who's known for his work with Daughtry and P.O.D., to name a few. He helps 3D rough up its edges while seamlessly rounding out its sound. He also brings in some great guests, particularly Flyleaf's Lacey Mosley who practically takes over Run to You with a climactic wail at the end of the song.

Revelation marks a few signposts in Third Day's career, including its final effort with guitarist Brad Avery, who left the group after the disc was completed, and the first album after the band's thorough Chronology discs of last year that seemed to close a chapter in the 3D's career. Chapter is the key word there, because the book is still very much a work in progress. Revelation is a quintessential Third Day album that shows these men still growing in their faith and their art.

Comments

[ultradust]

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Leave a comment so I can link to you.

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Anna.

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[Brandon]

Great review. Only one critique: This is Third Day's 10th studio album.

Rich replies: By my count from their website, this would be nine, unless you include "Christmas Offerings." Actually you could debate all of the "Offerings" albums as part of the "studio" catalog, because they did contain healthy doses of live material. But either way -- 10th, 9th or 7th -- "Revelation" is a terrific album from one of Christian rock's greatest bands. Thanks for the props.