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What started out as a series of jam sessions between buddies at Rosedale Bible College eventually turned into the hard rock band Staple. The group soon found favor with fans and critics with its 2004 self-titled national debut, loaded with neck-cracking rhythms and thoughtful lyrics. Since then, Staple has toured continuously with the likes of Disciple, Spoken, The Showdown, Demon Hunter, and Kids In the Way. All that touring has made an already talented band even tighter for Of Truth and Reconciliation, which also features even more intriguing songwriting.

Most hardcore acts are nearly incomprehensible in their guttural shrieks, but Staple is different. Darin Keim manages to sing and scream clearly despite the band's force, and that's especially helpful for this rip-roaring material with such depth. On "Do or Die," Keim addresses society's fascination with celebrities, explaining how an obsession with Hollywood culture can lead us away from Christ. "Forging Generals" is a potent wake-up call for the apathetic to move forward with activism.

"Gavels From Gun Barrels" speaks of finding salvation in true faith rather than earning it through a legalistic checklist. Such candor moves into the epic closer "Final Night," which focuses on getting priorities in order before the end times. Not only do these tracks rival the sounds of Living Sacrifice, Project 86 and Stavesacre, but they also come across with enough catchiness to appeal to less extreme audiences. Staple's sophomore effort is close enough to their self-titled debut to appeal to fans, but what's particularly striking is how their sound is more accessible than most while remaining true to the hardcore genre.

© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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