One Man In The Middle brings you regular, unbiased and honest reviews of music EPs and albums from Christian artists and musicians, of all styles and abilities, from all over the world. Here we have “Red For War” by Zahna with an overall review score of 9.3 out of 10.
Album Information:
After separation with former band “ILIA” in late 2016, Suzy Martinez returns with a vengeance. The 25-year-old singer moves head-strong into a solo career, debuting as “Zahna”, a name deriving from the English abbreviation for the Hispanic singer’s full name “Susana” (sue-SAH-nah). By fusing gritty and industrial guitar riffs with technical drum elements, the new music features Martinez’s aggressive vocal style that gives birth to what will now be known as “Zahna.” Sources say that “the new songs will not only demand your attention, but command an emotional response that will leave the listener feeling whatever the songs want them to feel.” After Martinez’ success as the primary songwriter of past band ILIA’s EP, “Reborn” (2014), her personal fans undoubtedly believe that Zahna’s newest full-length record, will not disappoint.
Three years later to the present moment, without having released any material since “Reborn,” (2014), Martinez is prepared to stand on her own two feet and take the independent road with her past fans and new fans alike towards a promising, long-term career. The up-and-coming singer highly anticipates exploding with the powerful, untamed, and mature sound only known as “Zahna” that’s cooking behind the scenes. Prepare yourselves. This is Zahna.
REVIEW:
It seems that the rock sound has largely withdrawn to the edges of mainstream culture at the moment, but artists like The Protest, RAID, To Speak Of Wolves and now, Zahna are keen to keep this musical style in the Christian arena. Yes it seems that there are a few Christian rock artists out there still determined to speak to, or scream at, the hardest of metal-heads! “Red For War” is her debut solo album and it’s being released by Rockfest Records and the album is about the fight back against pain and despair that this life can so easily bring.
Like a few of the Rock artists that we have reviewed recently there is movement within the genre on the album. From screaming metalcore, which forms part of the opening track, “Unshaken” also blends in a more indie style vocal, something which reappears through many of the tracks on this album. With a thumping drum the opener is a challenge to all those things that come against us in life, that we stand unshaken, there is a defiance that in her earlier days she wasn’t sure of, but now she is. “When everything has tried to kill you, you become unafraid, If my life is your playground, then I’m obliged to play your game”, seems to be a line directed towards the devil (as the ruler of this world) or maybe it’s to life itself. There is a blink and you’ll miss it reference to Jesus in the grave as part of the plan, and later a reference to the fact that we remain unshaken because of the blood of Christ. There’s a lot packed into this one song and it’s got a little more to give, especially if you are a fan of poetry, listen out for the line from John Donne which is part of the vocal screams towards the end of the song.
“Misery” is an interesting song about someone dwelling on what someone has done to them, bringing themselves down in their own misery. This song reassures that time will heal and the feeling that you need to make them pay, even if they do eventually pay, won’t actually heal the issue. Here there are more little different stabs at things with a theramin bringing it’s interesting sound and a rap over the opening screams which make sure we get the story being told here. The next track “Underneath” is the break-out song that has already proved popular with Christian radio audiences and has also gained some recognition away from the faith audience. Here the track is talking to God and wondering what He see’s in her, she paints a very real picture of a wasted existence, but is aware that God loves this person and what is hidden underneath that surface layer. Without the screams and actually with a great strong, but harmonious vocal it’s no wonder that this track is one that is getting attention.
There’s a wonderfully subversive feel to “Divided Nation” which is aimed squarely at the good ol’ US of A as it references the land of the free and the home of the brave. A country that promotes free speech, but when that speech is too free we take offence. Before we sit here feeling too smug in Blighty these same thoughts and feelings can be turned towards us too. Stirring up memories of Paramore brings a ballad, still with a thundering beat, that makes up the track “With You”. This vibrant track is a love song for the Saviour, knowing that this is not our home, instead seeing the freedom and the unexplainable which deals with secret fears and hurts.
“Drown” and “Your Gun vs My Knife” are two thematically linked songs which seem to be about the breakdown of a relationship. “Drown” is quite deflective emotionally as the relationship is picked apart. “You’re Gun vs My Knife” is very much the visceral side of this relationship with the pain expressed with the harder sound of this album. It’s possible that “Dreamer” makes this a triplet, but it also works out at as a standalone quite well. Sitting in a similar theme to “Misery” this is for someone trapped in their own thoughts, life isn’t where or what you thought it was going to be, so instead you hide and dwell! There is still a hope though, still a glimmer of the life that was expected, but that needs to be found and worked out from the inside. “Was I Bad” is about someone reaching out to someone lost and broken. The one reaching out wants to heal, and remains unshaken, but in this song she is slowly convinced that perhaps He can do what is needed to break through and give her the freedom she desires and fears. The album rounds out with something that is incredibly atmospheric as she considers the “Edge of the Earth” which is where Jesus takes her sins. There is a tender release in this track after the fight of the previous song, this track is just breathtakingly beautiful, and not what I ever would have expected from this Rock album.
This album has it’s share of metalcore screaming, but there is so much more to this album, so many layers of different styles and vocals. For those who have been through hard times in life and things haven’t turned out the way that you expected, then Zahna’s message is for you. There is a realness to what she writes, especially for those trapped in their own heads, worrying over things they have done, or things that have been done to them. The last couple of tracks show that hope that no matter who you are, or what you have done, no matter how broken, none of this can scare God as He reaches out through the brokenness to heal the hurt and the heart underneath.
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