We Are the Broken

Both musically and lyrically, We Are the Broken takes Seventh Day Slumber back to their core essentials. The album’s recurring theme of spiritual awakening goes to the heart of the band’s mission, while the album’s grunge-cum-metal sound brings SDS’s early releases to mind. Though the worship music focus of the quartet’s recent work isn't entirely abandoned, We Are the Broken uses more diverse songwriting approaches to convey its redemptive message. Joseph Rojas again proves his ability to deliver heartfelt confessions and crowd-rousing anthems with a rough yet pleasing edge. “In Too Deep,” “Comatose State,” and the title track offer potent hooks with plenty of muscle without sacrificing melodic content. “All She Wants” (a portrait of a troubled young woman searching for the Light), “Holding On” (a testimony of desperation that blends clean and harsh singing), and “Trust in Me” (a semi-acoustic alter call with a slight country feel) are among the standout ballads. The soul-bearing “Skyscraper”—first recorded by Demi Lovato—complements the band’s original tunes.