Artist: Manic Drive
Album: Blue
Year: 2009
Label: Whiplash Records/BEMA
Website: http://www.myspace.com/manicdrive
Buy: iTunes - Amazon

Manic Drive’s return to the music scene is causing a stir. The canadian trio formed by Shawn Cavallo (vocals, guitars, keyboards, string programming), Anthony Moreino (drums) and Michael Cavallo (lead guitar) has just released his new album “Blue”, after the success brought by his two previous projects (“Reason For Motion” and “Reset & Rewind”) which showed the caliber of expertise that only succeed the veteran rockers. “Blue” was produced by Brian Hardin, Lu Rubino and Shawn Caballo and has resulted in a pop/rock sound rooted in electronic, dance, rap and progressive rock. Influences compared to Shiny Toy Guns, Newsboys, Kevin Max and of course dcTalk, gives us depth and musicianship skill in each of his songs.

After a synthesized violin intro, “Music” is transformed into a fun rhythm that challenges us to be radical and active, combining techno/dance rock decorated with funky bass slaps and piano fused with the powerful drums. “Walls” reminds us of Family Force 5, but using a euro-pop sound with a loud and clear message: “Cause the truth that has been said, will unite us once again / cause there’s something going down, and these walls are coming down”. The first single from the album, “Blue” makes its way with its deafening beat, with the talent featuring of Lu Rubino (StorySide: B), with attribution of Red Hot Chili Peppers and a wonderful concept in his lyrics that he does remind us not to be followers of others, but being a leader of the Christian message: “That I can’t do this on my own. / Changed my will to yours. / Since I’ve been proven wrong again. / Rear my gray clouds and let my skis go to blue”. Moreover, “Closer” delivers passionate worship with the help of pianos, guitars and vocals as compelling: “We turn around and we curse His name / They convince us that our God is dead / And it’s our fault that we lost Him / So show us that we need you / Even if it makes us cry”. With aggressive guitars and a wild performance, “NYC Gangsters” speaks of new beginnings and the farewell of the past:  “Follow me, my misfits and leave this world behind / As we ride like New York City gangsters / Lighting it up as we drop the bomb”. The explosive “Dancefloor” contributes to the appearance of rapper M.O.C., starting with an acoustic guitar and burst into a dance/metal party completely unhinged. Included in the previous album, the bleak “Eleven Regrets” reflects a frustrating reality. “When you find that special person in your life, you would like to give everything” says Shawn, “guys tend to try to show their affection with a dozen roses. This is where the metaphor comes and explains the frustrations that go through when you have nothing more to give”. We could say that “Rain” is clearly the weakest song of the album (compared to their peers), however it is a nevertheless ballad that encourages us to reach God, obeying him and calling for his intervention in our lives: “Pouring rain, feel your love flowing right through me, through the tears and pain / The earth shakes as it storms. / Pouring rain, let your grace cover completely, flood this selfishness and make it yours again”. We can also find Jill Parr’s participation in “Hope”, a passionate story of creative desperation chords and contrasted with phrases like: “Believe it or not there’s hope based on the truth. / Ignorance is no excuse, there is hope”. Making its own way with “Better Man” with a catchy musical ensemble asking us who owns our hearts. Since we are in those  days, “December Mourning” gives us a melodious history of grief at Christmas, using interesting arrangements taken from “Carol Of The Bells”. Finally, “Change” quickly closes the disc with a dark atmosphere, almost melancholy: “Cause I still miss you, I can’t grieve without you. / My world needs to change”.

“Blue” offers good music, profound messages and pushes the band to capture the consciousness of their fans by opening doors to their ministry. Manic Drive has the ability to synchronize multiple musical genres with an innate talent of thousand voices proclaiming the gospel.

El retorno de Manic Drive a la escena musical está causando conmoción. El trío canadiense conformado por Shawn Cavallo (vocalista, guitarras, teclados, string programming), Anthony Moreino (batería) y Michael Cavallo (primera guitarra) ha lanzado recientemente su nuevo álbum titulado “Blue”, luego del éxito acarreado por sus dos anteriores proyectos (“Reason For Motion” y “Reset & Rewind”) los cuales mostraron el calibre de la maestría que solo logran los veteranos rockeros. “Blue” fue producido por Brian Hardin, Lu Rubino y Shawn Caballo y han dado como resultado un sonido pop/rock arraigado por electrónica, dance, rap y rock progresivo. Influencias comparadas a las de Shiny Toy Guns, Newsboys, Kevin Max y por supuesto dcTalk, nos ofrece profundidad y destreza musical en cada una de sus canciones.

Después de una instrucción de violines sintetizados, “Music” se transforma en una divertida propuesta rítmica que nos desafía a ser radicales y activos, combinando el techno/dance con el rock decorado de funky slaps en el bajo y pianos fusionados con la potente batería. “Walls” nos hace recordar a Family Force 5, pero utilizando un estrepitoso sonido euro-pop y con un mensaje claro: “Cause the truth that has been said, will unite us once again / cause there’s something going down, ya these walls are coming down”. El primer sencillo del álbum, “Blue” se abre paso con su ensordecedor ritmo; cuenta con la participación y el talento de Lu Rubino (StorySide:B), con atribuciones de Red Hot Chili Peppers y un concepto maravilloso en su letra que no recuerda no ser seguidores de los demás, sino ser un líder del mensaje de Cristo: “That I can’t do this on my own. / Changed my will to yours. / Since I’ve been proven wrong again. / Rear my grey clouds and let my skies go to blue”. Por otro lado, “Closer” nos brinda adoración apasionada con la ayuda de pianos, guitarras y convincentes coros como: “We turn around and we curse His name/ They convince us that our God is dead/ And it’s our fault that we lost Him/ So show us that we need You/ Even if it makes us cry”. Con agresivas guitarras y una salvaje performance, “NYC Gangsters” nos habla de nuevos comienzos y la despedida del pasado: “Follow me, my misfits and leave this world behind /As we ride like New York City gangsters/ Lighting it up as we drop the bomb”. La explosiva “Dancefloor” contribuye con la aparición de la rapera M.O.C., al empezar con una guitarra acústica y estallando en una fiesta dance/metal totalmente desquiciada. Incluida en el anterior álbum, la sombría “Eleven Regrets” refleja una realidad frustante. “Cuando encuentras a esa personas especial en tu vida, te gustaría entregarle todo”, afirma Shawn; “los muchachos tienden a intentar mostrar su afecto con una docena de rosas. Aquí es donde la metáfora surge y explica las frustraciones que atraviesas cuando no tienes nada más que dar”. Podríamos decir que “Rain” es claramente la canción más débil del álbum (comparada a sus compañeras), sin embargo es una balada que nos anima a alcanzar a Dios, obedecerle y pidiendo su intervención en nuestras vidas: ”Pouring rain, feel your love flowing right through me, through the tears and pain / The earth shakes as it storms. / Pouring rain, let your grace cover completely, flood this selfishness and make it yours again”. También podemos encontrar la participación de Jill Parr en “Hope”, una apasionada historia de desesperación contrastada con creativos acordes y frases como: ”Believe it or not there’s hope based on the truth. / Ignorance is no excuse, there is hope”. Abriéndose camino nos encontramos con “Better Man” y un pegajoso ensamble musical que nos pregunta a quién pertenece nuestro corazón. Ya que estamos en esos días, “December Mourning” nos entrega una melodiosa historia de duelo en navidad, empleando arreglos interesantes sacados de “Carol Of The Bells”. Finalmente, “Change” rápidamente cierra el disco con una atmósfera oscura, casi melancólica: “Cause I still miss you, I can’t grieve without you. / My world needs to change”.

“Blue” nos ofrece buena música, profundos mensajes y empuja a la banda a captar la conciencia de sus fanáticos abriendo puertas a su ministerio. Manic Drive tiene la capacidad de sincronizar diferentes géneros musicales, talento innato que proclama a mil voces el evangelio.

Israel Risco
Rating-Calificación: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥