When I reviewed Third Day's 2005 studio project, Wherever You Are, I wrote, "I'm among those who prefer an edgier Third Day...I'm convinced that Third Day could have made a great album if they would have taken more risks lyrically and gone with more of a Southern rock sound."
It took almost three years, but they finally listened to me. Revelation has to rank as one of their top projects ever as Mac's distinctive voice gets layered over some great Southern rock mixed in with the quality prayerful rock ballads we've come to expect from Third Day. Producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, P.O.D., Motorhead, Hoobastank) brought a new perspective gained from his experience with a harder rock sound than their prior producer, Brown Bannister, is known for. Chris Daughtry connected Benson with the band, and joined them in the studio with backing vocals on "Slow Down." Another welcome newcomer is Flyleaf's Lacey Mosley. She adds a powerful vibe to "Born Again" and "Run to You," one of my favorite songs on the CD. I hope that's not the last we hear of Mac and Lacey together.
The album gets off to a rollicking start with "This Is Who I Am," followed by the Southern-fried rock of "Slow Down." Next up is "Call My Name," this project's "Tunnel" or "Cry Out To Jesus," offering comfort to those who call out to Jesus in their despair. "I Will Always Be True" follows in a similar vein later on the recording. The aforementioned "Run To You" and "Revelation" set up one of the best rockers the band has recorded in recent memory in "Otherside." Its scorching guitar solo almost makes you feel the humid heat of a Southern night. There's no way to keep up that kind of intensity, so they back off a little with the gentle encouragement of "Let Me Love You." I very much enjoyed "Born Again," with a great balance between the two vocalists.
"Give Love" moves to a country-flavored ballad sound and Third Day pulls it off superbly. "Caught Up In Yourself" is a straight-ahead rocking exhortation:
Caught up in yourself / Call it like it is / When you're so good / But you'll never be good enough / Thank God for mercy / Thank God for His grace / Thank God for everything you've got / before it's too late
"Ready" is the "Come Together" of this project, encouraging the world "to turn because of love" as Mac proclaims:
I want the world to know that You're the one / that fills me up and gives me hope / and brings about this change that's in me
"Take It All" concludes Revelation with the acoustic start that grows into a rock ballad of surrender to God:
Take the first / take the last / take the good / and take the rest / take it all / cuz I can't take it any longer / all I have / I can't make it on my own
It's hard to imagine any long-time Third Day fans not enjoying this project that takes us back to more of that early Southern rock vibe we always knew was there. I have to rank it up with Conspiracy #5 as one of the best overall projects Third Day has ever released.
Visit Third Day.