Strong Tower (CD - 2005)

Following two strong rock showings, Kutless returned with an album dedicated to the praise & worship genre. Strong Tower mixes together original cuts, classic hymns, and modern praise & worship songs to form a solid production. Several fresh slants include the old classic "Take Me In" and the more modern "Draw Me Close." Throughout the disc several renditions take on a fresh slant as the band excels musically with guitar-driven instrumentation. Of the disc's few originals, the title track is notable and has the makings of a praise & worship classic itself. Strong Tower is a passionate and deeply personal project for Kutless. It's a disc that praises their Creator with a rock slant that the band speaks eloquently. ~ Steven Douglas Losey

Like pop/rock performers who record albums of standards to reconnect to their music's roots, some Christian rock acts release albums of praise & worship music to assure core audiences of their firm faith. STRONG TOWER is just such a record from heavy alternative CCM chart-toppers Kutless. Though the sound here differs little from the band's usual mix of raging guitars, melodic vocals, and pounding drums, the lyrics are much more explicitly directed towards giving glory to Jesus.

Of course, since similar-sounding secular groups Live and Incubus often paint in wide lyrical strokes about matters of faith and existentialism, some of these tunes could probably pass muster even on mainstream rock radio. "We Fall Down" is full of throbbing, de-tuned guitar riffs of the Soundgarden sort, while "Word of God Speak" employs loops and emotive guitar leads to create a dramatic evocation of the Lord's majesty. "Arms of Love" is a lighter-waving power ballad complete with sweeping cellos and female backing vocals. A grand album created for a higher purpose, STRONG TOWER reveals the depths of Kutless's passions. minimize