Review | Van Zant – Always Look Up

Frontiers Music SRL

`Always Look Up’ by Van Zant marks a bold spiritual pivot for the Southern rock veterans, delivering a passionate Christian rock album that stays true to their musical roots. The album represents a deeply personal journey for brothers Johnny and Donnie Van Zant, transforming their lifetime of musical experiences into a heartfelt exploration of faith.

CHRISTIAN GOSPEL

The 11-track album blends Southern rock’s gritty authenticity and Van Zant’s rich melodic compositions with unabashed Christian gospel messaging. More boldly clinging to faith than perhaps even Stryper do, the Van Zant brothers relinquish in the prophetism and glorious positivity. The recording line-up includes seasoned musicians like Mark Matejka and Carl Lindquist on lead guitar and Jimmy Carter on bass, with drumsticks handled by Shawn Fichter, ensuring a professional and polished sound that respects the Van Zant brothers’ musical legacy. Polishing the melodies, the stellar keyboard layers are handled by Jeffrey Roach, Chris Hurst and Dennis Wage, all adding their share.

Dominating are van Zant’s raunchy firing guitars and Southern rock instrumentation pulling forward underneath towering choruses with Johnny and Donnie’s wonderful vocal interaction atop. The ear mingling structures of their music grips deep in the Van Zant self-titled debut, as well as in the lavishing collaboration with Jim Peterik. The Powerful vocal performances are enticed with emotionally charged lyrics and messaging, uplifting and bright. Going over the top occasionally, the feelgood vibe and gospel tendencies might scare off die-hard rockers, though many in these upsetting times fall back on their faith and believe.

REDEMPTION AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Themes of redemption and personal growth are intertwined with the uplifting message of finding God, with Johnny recently admitting “I’ll be honest with you, the devil was my best friend at one time”, before adding “I’m not gonna lie about that and there ain’t too much that I didn’t try over the years, but I always kept hearing our dad speaking the Bible”.

What sets `Always Look Up’ apart is its unflinching authenticity. Johnny and Donnie aren’t just creating music; they’re sharing a deeply personal spiritual journey. As Donnie notes, they’ve “tried our very best to just write about truth” and aim to “touch people emotionally and spiritually“. The album’s raw honesty is perhaps its most compelling feature, with Johnny Van Zant candidly admitting to past struggles and personal transformation.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN ROCK FLAIR

Absolute standout is the album opener ,,Awesome God”, setting an immediate recognizable powerful tone with soaring guitars and Johnny Van Zant’s strong vocals. Blending elements of opening the album, this reverent anthem sets a powerful tone with soaring guitars and Johnny Van Zant’s strong vocals. It blends worship elements with their classic Southern rock flair, establishing a strong foundation for the rest of the album.

Equally great are rocking ,,Stand Up” and the anthemic ,,Warrior”, celebrating strength through faith, combining gritty instrumentation with uplifting lyrics. The track will deeply resonate with fans of both Christian and Southern rock, showcasing the Van Zant’s signature bold songwriting style.

Bringing back the swagger associated with their classic sound while focusing on themes of faith and personal responsibility ,,It’s Up to You’’, cooks up wonderful vocal interaction and close harmonies. Its driving rhythm and meandering energy make it a standout in terms of musicality.

LYRICAL DEPTH

More infectious, the lush ,,Speak His Name” incorporates gospel undertones, enhanced by rich harmonies and acoustic instrumentation blend with keyboard textures. It stands out for its lyrical depth and energetic rock instrumentation, making it a memorable part of the album. ,,There You Are” highlights the brothers’ softer side, this track features reflective lyrics about God’s presence in challenging times. Its emotional weight adds a personal touch to the album.

In the same touching vein, the second chop of the album leans strongly on a softer side of melodic rock with ,,Praying”, ,,Leaning on the Cross” and the reflective ,,Why God brought Me here” showcasing the brother’s ability to maintain their signature rock edge while embracing a more introspective spiritual narrative. 

VAN ZANT – THE CONCLUSION

The climatic closing track ,,Jesus Christ” is a dramatic touching and compelling epic, featuring powerful dynamic drum and bass interaction underneath wonderful melodies, great vocal prowess and inspiring backing vocals. It encapsulates the album’s spiritual depth while maintaining a robust Southern rock sound with sweet notes of melodic rock and AOR percolating, making it a highlight of the album.

The album’s raw honesty is perhaps its most compelling feature, with Johnny Van Zant candidly admitting to past struggles and personal transformation.

For fans of Southern rock seeking a meaningful spiritual narrative, `Always Look Up’ offers a compelling and genuine musical experience that bridges personal testimony with rock’s passionate spirit. The slower pace of the record makes for wonderful romantic evenings and sets the right tone for this coming festive Holidays, bearing a light in darker days.

Van Zant is back!

Release date: 22 November 2024