Customer Reviews

Healing of Harms

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fireflight's debut album was five years in the making--five years of playing shows and waiting patiently. The Healing of Harms marks the Orlando based band's first foray into the national music scene after independently releasing the EP On the Subject of Moving Forward (which caught the ear of Flicker Records, who eventually signed the band). Lead vocalist Dawn Richardson says, "Finally the doors are opening. It really feels like God has given us these opportunities so that we can help reach those who are wounded, those who need this music."

The Healing of Harms is a positive collection of edgy rock tunes. The opener "Serenity" starts things off fast and furious and moves listeners right into the crunching guitars of "Waiting". In fact, Fireflight's intensity doesn't let up through most of the album. "It's You" (co-written by the band and Ian Eskelin) is the closest thing to a ballad you'll find with its worshipful message, but it's a stretch to use the word "ballad" in the same sentence as "Fireflight". This becomes increasingly obvious when a song like "Liar" grinds from the speakers as probably the edgiest song on the album. Bold guitars kick things off, and David Paul Pelsue (of Kids in the Way) delivers a great performance singing, and screaming, along with Dawn. Lyrically, it speaks against those who try to sell the truth for their own gain: All that I see when you start to cry / is the rock on your finger and the gleam in your eye / your sad story is making me sick / So change the channel cause it's getting thick.

As the album progresses, the songs do start to sound slightly repetitive, but that's a positive for those who can't get enough of Fireflight's grunge flavored music. Stand-out track "You Decide" (featuring Josh Brown of Day of Fire) is the band's first single and video. With words that challenge listeners to make a decision based on seeking God Himself, it's set to become a rock hit. And that's one of the great things about Fireflight. Not only is their music head-banging-good rock `n roll, but they don't sacrifice edifying lyrics for authenticity. Covering topics like self-worth, respect, controlling anger, and loving people for who they are, The Healing of Harms is an album youth pastors can give kids without concern, but modern rock fans won't find themselves listening to a sermon disguised as a song, either. Says Dawn, "Fireflight wants to write music that people can feel, make records that are universal enough to stand the test of time, and stay genuine and honest--or die trying."

With a Flyleaf meets Inhabited sound, The Healing of Harms brings listeners right up to edge of hard-core modern rock without completely falling over it. Catchy, upbeat, and relevant, Fireflight takes off in The Healing of Harms.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk

There's only one thing wrong with this cd, it's too short(around 36 minutes). Other than that it's awesome. These guys and gals rock! Very fresh and heavy beats, with great lyrics. One of the best new acts of the year without question.

I'm an old head-banger, and not easily impressed my most of today's new music. This record rocks in any genre. It's heavy but hook-filled and uplifting. I'm having trouble keeping it out of my CD player...good stuff!

While the one reviewer is correct that 3 songs are "recycled" from the earlier EP, they are also re-recorded, re-written in some cases and sound absolutely awesome. I love the guest vocals but have seen FireFlight perform the new songs and they do an amazing job. Must have album and look for a concert date coming in your neck of the woods!

Many times I feel sorry for bands that get the "christian rock" label, for fear that their music gets left behind with todays mainstream rock. They should have more of a chance to compete with the other mainstream bands. I am beginning to find more and more "Christian rock" bands with better musical skills than the overplayed radio tracks we hear everyday. I give props to those bands who stay true to themselves without getting caught in the marketing aspect of music. I don't care who believes in what,...what I do care about is finding good rock bands with fresh sounds and melodies. This CD could easily have many radio worthy hard rock tracks. A solid pick for any rock fan!

I first saw this band about a month ago at Sonshine Music Festival. They rocked hard, put on an amazing show and were hands down my favorite group of the weekend. I took it upon myself to support this group by purchaseing their album.

The album is deffinately polished. They deffinatly have a whole melting pot of styles that mix together well. While not the heavyest band on the planet, they still are quite heavy. On top of that they manage to write amazing melodys preformed by their lead singer and her awesome voice.

If you like hard rock christian music, check this album out, it will not disapoint.

Right off the bat there are a few GREAT Songs that make this cd worth getting and after listening a few more times all but one or two songs have become delicious as well. At the risk of sounding like everyone else that wrote a review the songs are hook filled with heavy guitars and beautiful vocals. There's also some screaming.

This album is good, it's just not as good as I had expected. Three of the songs were recycled from the EP, and I just felt like it wasn't a full album. I do enjoy the songs though, I just wish there were more! "It's You" is quite a good song.. as is "More Than A Love Song." This band is basically a softer version of Flyleaf or Gretchen. Some of their songs remind me of BarlowGirl. You make your own conclusion. I just don't think that it's a "must have."

I didn't know Christian rock could rock so hard! Fireflight's first CD, The Healing of Harms, is the ultimate worshipful headbanging experience. Every song is awesome, but a few of them stand out. The first track, Serenity, with its anthemic echoing choruses, sticks in your head for long after the CD ends. The seminal track, You Decide, with Josh Brown from Day of Fire, is worth listen after listen after listen after...you get the point. Attitude is full of the very thing it admonishes the moody folks to drop, and that's perfectly okay. The final track, Action, is a call to Christians young and old to take a stand for what they believe. All in all, a superb CD!

Dawn Richardson is a RARE talent in the music world, one that actually has an amazing race. She has have one of the best voices, if not the best voice in CCM, and one of the best in mainstream. She's that good. She can do soft, rock, hard rock, with no sweat. Don't believe me? Listen to "It's You", which is not only vocally flawless, but is a great song period. "Attitude" is a great rock song, and very memorable. And even though I'm not a big fan of hard rock, this album actually had me liking it, to some degree.

Overall, a vocally flawless album. Oh, I forgot to mention the background guy. He's a great voice in his own right, and could front his own band, but combined with Richardson in the above mentioned songs, and it's magic. The songs are great, the rock is great, I would recommend this, even though I'm not a big fan of hard rock. But who knows, maybe their next album will be less hard, and twice as good. Then it would definitely be one of my favorites.