From time to time there is something that just stops you in your tracks and makes you go “Wow”. Extol has done just that for me. Their album Burial was released on December 22, 1998, but I have just crossed this group for the first time. I happened across this group while I was looking up more Christian rock bands. Now, I like Metal music from time to time, not for lyrics but for the intensity.
Extol is definitely intense! From the first track through the last track they are aggressive, loud, and powerful. I would never have imaged a Metal band of this caliber to be in Christian Rock, however, I am not in any way disappointed.
Extol was formed in 1993 but did not put out their first full album Burial until 1998. Burial, which is heavy laden with metal tracks, proved to be a great beginning to this band. Their music and lyrics, which very much resembled Rammstein, become a notable difference between them and most Christian rock bands.
Now, depending on your musical preference, you will either enjoy this album or you will not. There is not much middle ground when it comes to metal, however I did not say there was not any. Metal music is like certain foods, you have to acquire to taste. This being said, I did not find a single track on this album boring at all, but rather full of intensity.
*** The Songs I Like ***
Every single one of them. Now that I have that juvenile statement out of the way, let me explain. Amazingly, I don’t believe a single track sounds too much like another, and most of them have an exceptional separation from the next.
Into Another Dimension starts off with intensity; guitars blaring, bass lines pounding, and the drum kicks are ferocious. There are no vocals for the first track, but this is just the lead in into the next track Celestial Completion which immediately starts with a man growling and yet the same intensity as the track before.
Burial which is one of my favorites, actually starts off a little slower than the two preceding tracks, but it has a much darker, deep tone to it. The part that I like about it is the fact that the lyrics are so rich and true.
”Blessed is he who has got,
His transgressions forgiven,
And his sins hidden,
Blessed is the man whom the Lord
Do not ascribe misdeeds,
And is without deceit in his spirit ….
…. I confessed my sins to You,
And did not hide my guilt,
I said "I want to confess my misdeeds to You",
And He took away my sin and guilt”.
While these are not worship lyrics, they are pointedly true. I like the fact that this group can use words like “Blessed”, “Sin”, and “Lord” in their lyrics, unlike some groups who would rather use sub-meanings to hide their Christian lyrics for a more marketable audience.
Renhetens Elv, Innbydelse, and Jesus Kom Til Jorden For L Dr are basically Rammstein reincarnations. The lyrics are in Norwegian, and I cannot understand them, but the groups brooding voices, and dark music lines push these songs well. When I listened to Rammstein, I did not listen to them for their words anyways, I only listened to them for their drums and bass lines. The intensity that they put forth was awesome; as is so true with this band as well.
I could rant and rave more about every single song, but at some point you would find that it would be identical to the aforementioned songs. Extol definitely has created a new hope for me when it comes to Christian Rock and the happy medium between worldly rock and the Christian rock worlds.
*** A Quick Overview ***
Extol has transformed my opinions of the bland Christian Rock scene. Before hearing this group I really did not believe that Christian Rock would ever hold a candle to the more aggressive rock bands of today. This is a definite must have for any Christian Rock listener that also has roots in the more worldly groups like Rammstein.
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