After their strongest studio release to date, Hearts of the Innocent, Kutless released their Live in Portland CD/DVD combo. I had the opportunity to attend the concert which was recorded. It was a great event, and probably the best Kutless show I’ve ever seen. They’re back with their fifth studio release To Know That You’re Alive.
When I heard Kutless was working on a new project, I gave them the benefit of doubt, hoping they would bring something out that was fresh. The band’s been known for their signature rock sound they’ve become known for. Although, To Know That You’re Alive does show a subtle change—perhaps the intermediate link to a new musical direction—it still lacks the change I’ve been waiting for.
Over the years, Kutless has become known for their signature sound, which tends to have a love/hate effect. With this record Kutless did experiment more than they have in the past, something that excited me, not for the present, but the future. The album has it’s strong spots, as well as it’s weak spots. The recordings didn’t seem quite as well produced as they have been in the past, which caught me off guard because Kutless has been very good at well-produced records. Perhaps with the experimenting they lost some of the perfection that’s been heard in prior records.
Nonetheless, there are notable bright spots in the album. The band has experimented more than ever! They also have a couple strong lyrical songs. “The Feeling” starts the album off with a bang! It’s one of the hardest songs musically/vocally that the band has attempted. Jon Micah Sumrall’s lyrics reminisce those of a 80’s or 90’s metal band. Quickly following is “Sleeping City” it’s an interesting transition from the fast-paced rocker to mid-tempo musical interlude, but it worked out. Title track “To know That You’re Alive” is next and brings us a new version of the old Kutless sound. It’s one of the finer tracks on the record, and is worth a listen! In the chorus Sumrall sings, “Right now you’re bruised and bleeding, I see the hurt within your eyes, I know your pain is for a reason, you need to feel, just so you can know you’re alive.” Sumrall also releases a subtle scream, something different than anything previously attempted by Kutless. Following is “The Disease and The Cure,” another up-beat track, however it’s very similar to “Shut Me Out” or “Beyond the Surface” from Hearts of the Innocent. Sumrall throws another whistling scream, much like you’d hear from Disciple or Spoken. “Complete” comes next, it’s pretty much your typical Kutless pop song, but still pretty good. “The Rescue” and “Promise You” lead into the lyrically strong “Guiding Me Home.” “Overcoming Me” is a pretty ordinary Kutless rock composition, with the exception of a heavily chorused guitar in the background. Following is the subtle “I Do Not Belong” and the intense “Loud.” “Dying to become” and “You” close out the album.
After listening to the album a couple times through, it began to grow on me. I think it’s safe to say, this isn’t the best we’ve heard from Kutless. However, the experiments paid off enough for me to be satisfied—I do wish they would’ve gone a little bit farther in their experimenting, it would’ve won them some more points.
In the end, I would say if you’ve followed Kutless, and you’ve liked them, you’ll no doubt love this album. If you’re similar to me, looking for new, fresh and original material—this album is probably one consider, but if you only can buy one album, I’d say it’s one to pass on. To Know That You're Alive is a solid rock effort, but for me displays a lack of original music content.
Article by Jeremy Koering
