My Epic - Broken Voice EP

Artist: My Epic
Album: Broken Voice EP
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Label: Facedown Records

It's been nearly a year since the inception of My Epic's awe inspiring album Yet, and I find it amazing that the album is still in my normal rotation, even after a year. There is just something about the music and art that My Epic creates that is full of rich depth, capturing the ears, mind, and heart of the listener, with captivating messages of God's love. The same should be said about Broken Voice, an acoustic-based EP which shows a different side of the band. An even more intimate feeling surrounds the eight songs of Broken Voice, which are without the searching electric riffs of their usual material, but instead are replaced with soft plucking of an acoustic guitar, subtle string sections, and still large sounding percussion to accompany some choruses.

A more vulnerable and delicate side of Aaron Stone's vocals fit the songs perfectly, such as on the completely acoustic "beloved." Aaron's voice even hits a soulful point on "deathbed," which is one of his best vocal performances. Some bluesy guitar solos also make their way into songs, such as "childbodybride," which also adds in trumpet and strings for a full fledged ending to the track. The mournful sense of "alone" comes in the lyrics specifically, which talk of Jesus' death, and also in Aaron's desperate vocals. More of a calm feeling is found on "lazarus" and "garden," which are both more musically simplistic than the rest of the EP. The closer, "doxology," is exactly that, the doxology ("Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, praise Him, all creatures here below, praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen."), which ends up being a good way to end Broken Voice.

Overall: My Epic have returned with a new project a year after the fantastic Yet, the eight song Broken Voice. The big, feedback filled indie rock songs with searching riffs and grooving bass lines have been traded in for lush, acoustic instrumentation this time around. The album is filled with a soft intimacy, provided by delicate vocals from Aaron Stone, and the deep lyrics about faith, death, and God's love that have come to be expected from My Epic. Broken Voice is another great addition to My Epic's discography, and another great statement on why the band is one of the best making music today.

Rating: 8/10

Tracklisting:

1. centuries
2. beloved
3. alone
4. deathbed
5. lazarus
6. garden
7. childbodybride
8. doxology

(Buy Here)