Style: Dance-rock; compare to Hawk Nelson, Family Force 5, The City Harmonic
Top tracks: “Halo,” “Save a Life,” “Mountains”
Producer Rob Wells stretched Manic Drive to deliver the best album of their career so far with Epic. It’s chock full of youth group anthems that ricochet between old school arena rock, fuzzy thumping dance numbers that compel you to get your hands up, and introspective piano pop ballads that give you enough time to catch your breath. Frontman Shawn Cavallo’s vocals sparkle and pop, and Wells wisely allows them to come through loud and clear. Thematically, Manic Drive focuses on messages of hope and encouragement, coupled with an unmistakable call to action on tracks like “Microphone.”
Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.