Crash

Decyfer Down has endured their share of upheavals since the success of 2006’s End of Gray. A near-fatal car crash and the departure of lead singer Caleb Oliver put serious stress on the Christian rock combo’s fortitude. How well they’ve endured is documented on Crash. The songs here trudge, surge and seethe in post-hardcore fashion, with acoustic interludes and the occasional string touches to mitigate the heaviness. Newly recruited vocalist T. J. Harris (ex-Fighting Instinct) has an emotive bellow straight out of early ‘90s-era Seattle. Guitarist Brandon Mills likes to unleash blistering riffage, but never gets in the way of his band’s straightforward melodies, whether the track has the feel of ‘80s arena rock (“Wasting Away”) or contemporary pop (“Moving On”). Tunes like “The Life” and “Forever With You” underscore the group’s essentially hopeful vision. Crash is a statement of sustained faith and personal survival rather than a creative leap forward – which, considering what Decyfer Down has been through, is surely more than enough.