Liberty N’ Justice Light It Up
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
As the Christians’ favorite holiday closes in on the world again, Justin Murr’s Liberty N’ Justice project has released its brand new studio effort, Light It Up. As far as Christian music goes, Murr certainly has an ear for talent. Most of the musicians on the roster aren’t someone you’d immediately align with religion — Robert Mason of Big Cock fame anyone? — but just like each Liberty N’ Justice release before, it’s worth hearing, even if you are an unrepentant sinner who loves Hard Rock.
The title track also opens the release, featuring Phil Lewis and guitarist JK Northrup. “Light It Up” features a fairly sleazy riff and those omnipresent semi-sexual vocals that Lewis can’t help but convey when he sings. While some of the songs feature heavy-handed lyrics rich in Biblical imagery and warnings, this is probably the most straightforward rocker. “Young men dream about tomorrow, while old men smoke and cry of sorrow,” sings Lewis in a fairly non-preaching way during the chorus.
Light It Up offers 14 songs, but the first three just don’t make a lot of noise, even if they are noisy. “The Other Thief,” with Dale and Troy Thompson of Bride, is forgettable and slightly jarring vocally. “Blink” sounds just like Vixen, but that’s because Lynn Louise Lowrey is singing. She sounds energetic and Murr did well in bringing in a female vocalist.
The first song that melds the message with the songwriting is “Man vs. Mother Nature,” with Ted Poley and Vic Rivera, who have a history with each other. “When will we listen, when we will see? It’s man vs. Mother Nature, and the winner is God!” shouts Poley, with his enviously melodic vocal style. With the floating keys, Rivera’s uniquely heavy but “poppy” guitar playing, and Poley’s prowess, this is one of the best tracks on Light It Up.
“Uncle Sam” SHOULD be the song everyone votes as “the best” on this release, though. Sheldon Tarsha of Adler’s Appetite mans the mic, and he is a revelation (one not found in Revelations). The track is about the godless direction the U.S. has decided to go, a nation “denying God,” at least in the songwriter’s opinion. The lyrics are specific, touching on stock market crashes, wars, the foreclosure epidemic, and more. Tarsha sings the words like he damn well means it; the conviction in his vocals is almost eerie.
Searing rockers like “Uncle Sam” are one thing, but Liberty N’ Justice tends to feature ballads as well. “Every Reason to Believe” is the first one, with Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge) and Kerri Kelly (Alice Cooper) on guitar. With the two-part vocal harmonies, it sounds like an Eagles’ composition, just acoustic guitar and hauntingly poignant vocals. Keeling has long been one of the most underrated singers in Hard Rock, but the talent is obvious.
Wrestler/musician Chris Jericho brings Liberty N’ Justice into the now with “Best Time You Never Had.” As a singer, Jericho is fairly solid, but more along the lines of Rev. Theory, Theory of a Deadman, Three Days Grace, than L.A. Guns or Danger Danger. He was fortunate to sing on a song that brings the best out of his vocal style, but it’s weird hearing him sing, “I’m not worthy of your crown of thorns. You’re the one, the only one that I adore!” That being said, it’s one of the catchiest songs on Light It Up and you’ll go back to it again and again.
Current Warrant singer Robert Mason, known for his single-entendre innuendo in the band Big Cock, sings on “Greed.” Of course, the only way the song could open is with him snarling, “Here I am and I’ll bring you to your knees!” In this case, it’s double-entendre, because it’s actually about the personification of “greed,” and not some sexual act. It is Christian music, after all. Mason owns the song, probably the perfect voice to sing about this sin, whatever that may mean.
Light It Up’s last track is “For Better or Worse,” with the up-and-comer Shawn Pelata (Line of Fire) on lead vocals. This is a huge ballad, with tasteful keys and a soaring chorus. Pelata is one of those higher range singers like Steve Perry, emotional and confident in his talent, and it bleeds through.
This may be the most polished Liberty N’ Justice so far. Sometimes it’s difficult to hear a new voice each track and keep the cohesion, but with the breadth of talent here, you can’t help but embrace the overall release. You don’t have to be a Christian or even care about the message if you just dig high class Hard Rock. But the message is there for you if you ever decide to start listening …
Online: www.libertynjustice.net
Track listing:
1. Light It Up (Phil Lewis of LA Guns & JK Northrup)
2. The Other Thief (Dale and Troy Thompson of Bride)
3. Blink (Lynn Louise Lowrey of Vixen and Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister)
4. Do What You Believe (CJ Snare & Bill Leverty of Firehouse)
5. Man vs. Mother Nature (Ted Poley of Danger Danger and Vic Rivera of Crunch)
6. Treading On Serpents (Les Carlsen of Bloodgood and Ox Fox of Stryper/ Bloodgood)
7. Uncle Sam (Sheldon Tarsha of Tarsha/Adler’s Appetite and Jeff Pilson of Dokken/ Foreigner)
8. Every Reason To Believe (Kelly Keeling of Baton Rouge/TSO and Kerri Kelli of Alice Cooper)
9. Wrestling With God (Pete Loran, Steve Brown of Trixter & Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal of GN’R / Lita Ford)
10. Best Time You Never Had (Chris Jericho (WWE Wrestler/ Fozzy) & Phil Collen of Def Leppard)
11. Beautiful Decision (Harry Hess and Pete Lesperance of Harem Scarem)
12. Drunk Dead Gorgeous (Marq Torien of BulletBoys and Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P.)
13. Greed (Robert Mason of Warrant/Lynch Mob and Jerry Dixon of Warrant)
14. For Better Or Worse (Shawn Pelata of Line Of Fire & Stephen Chesney of Frontiers)
Some additional musicians: Eric Ragno, Terry Ilous (XYZ), Chris Dickens (Mission Of One), Marc Danzeisen (Bulletboys/ Little Caesar), Doug Odell (Crunch/ TNA) & John Pine
HRH Rating: 7.7/10