Released 19 years ago this coming Friday, this is the second album by Tennessee-based metal band The Showdown and their only album I listen to regularly. Unlike most of their albums before or since, this album doesn't have a lot of screaming and plays a lot like a classic metal album in sound, in my opinion. The guitars, drums and bass are big and loud, and the vocals are intense and growling but not screaming except for the last song. Many may know their cover of Kansas tune "Carry On Wayward Son" from this album, and it is an excellent version, but I like their original songs that fit well right along side that cover. I saw them play a bunch of these songs before the album release and the band were all whipping their long, blond curly hair in time to the music while playing, so they had lots of showmanship performing this music as well. Lyrically, there's a few religious references, but this album is mostly just about the everyday struggles in life. I never really got into their other music, but I really, really love rockin' out to this album.

Release Year: 2007
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