Tracklisting:
Dear X, You Don't Own Me (3:34)
Watch It Burn (2:58)
Invisible (4:31)
The Ballad of St. Augustine (4:17)
Shot Heard 'Round The World (3:23)
Collision (3:00)
Battle Lines (2:54)
Remedy (3:33)
Eternity (3:49)
Revolution: Now (3:36)
Deafening (3:11)
Worth The Pain (4:03)

Step into the world of Christian music for a second, a place where the music is not much different from the secular scene but the message try’s to be more encouraging. If you’re a first timer on the scene you know bands like Reliant K, Skillet and MercyMe all great bands who have crossed between the Secular and Christian markets their whole careers. But with the recent releases of these bands recent albums you find Christian music seems to be worship, so much so it’s a genre, bands still trying to cross over and bands that leave you feeling like they could have given you so much more than what they have. Every Christian Station you hear is playing contemporary fluff, that, while encouraging, leaves you looking for something deeper. Sadly this is the Christian Music Scene today. Now step into the Christian Rock scene, Again Skillet comes up, as does Reliant K but there’s another band, a band that wallowed in obscurity for 10 years, releasing album after album before they finally made it to the big show with their release “By, God”. This band was Disciple, and they’re back.

After a seemingly lackluster album “Southern Hospitality” released in 08 that was great lyrically but musically left us missing the Disciple we loved. Well now here in 2010 we have a new outing from Disciple, Horseshoes and Handgrenades and it makes up for what “Southern Hospitality” left out, musically while continuing to give us strong Disciple Lyrics that God has blessed Kevin Young with the ability to write.

Musically the album brings back some of what we heard on “Southern Hospitality” in fact the opening track “Dear X You Don’t Own Me” is reminiscent of the southern rock style but from there the album gets heavier. Bringing back the signature Raw hard rock sound that helped launch Disciple in 01 and captured many fans of the band Kutless. Altogether this album is very well put together, it flows well and fits the musical themes of power chords, metal and southern rock perfectly, the only drawback is that it seems there is no slow song on the album. Though you may consider “Worth the Pain” The albums strongest song lyrically, as a slower ballad the bands hard rock and southern roots are evident. Even in this song that starts with quick, catchy piano line and then breaks into a heavy guitar line. All in all though the song raps the album up very nicely despite the albums lack of a true ballad or slow song such as “After the World” on their 2006 release “Scars Remain”

Lyrically this album is most likely, if not IS the bands strongest, something one would expect from a band who has had 18 years to cure and is one of the biggest names on the Christian Rock Scene. Songs dealing with spiritual warfare are the most noticeable, starting with the Albums Opener “Dear X You don’t Own Me” where Young Declare’s he won’t be defeated by his former enemies. “Go ahead you’re never gonna take me, you can bend but you’re never gonna break me, I was yours, I’m not yours anymore, oh you don’t own me” Not only does the song have a great message it also is one of the better album openings in Christian music this year, showing the bands musical and vocal talent. The Theme of Spiritual Warfare continues in the songs “Burn it Down”, “Battle Lines”, “Revelation now” and many other songs on the album. Also present is the song “Invisible” which lyrically takes the listener back to “After the World” The song deals with hating who you are and God sees you and can reach you wherever you are. “Invisible” is probably one of the best songs on the entire CD. But the best lyrically has to be the albums only Ballad “Worth the Pain” though musically it doesn’t do a good job of slowing the album down the lyrics tie everything together. “it’s worth the pain, God’s in the rain, it’s not too late to start again, it’s worth the pain, so hold on tonight” The song reminds us that God is always with us, that we need to hold on and there is grace when we fall down. Altogether a great album lyrically sticking to the themes and continuing to point to God as the source of hope for our lives.

My final conclusion, if you are looking for a CD to buy for the Christian Rock lover, or looking for something to add to your own personal collection Disciple’s “Horseshoes and Handgrenades” will not disappoint and will be an album you will want to put in your car and drive too or listen to while you are working, basically you will not be able to put it away. This Album will defiantly continue to challenge and inspire you for many years to come, I suggest you get your copy soon.

Jonathan Faulkner
Altrocklive.com