These guys dispel pain and despair with hope and optimism, relying on ambiguous pronouns that could easily be referring to God as their rescuer and source of strength. For example, “Home,” “Eric’s Song” and “In My Head” find the prodigal singer tired of running from love and feeding on misery, eager for direction in life. “Crash” says, “I try to be more like you/And I deny myself to prove my heart is true/I hear your voice calling.” It’s easy to see such lines as vertically directed in light of other lyrics such as, “In the midst of darkness/Lord my spirit calls for you” (“The Way I Feel”) and “I question why you chose to die . . . Daily in my sin I take your life” (“Broken”). On “Soulfire,” a man relies on morning prayer and divine guidance to reach a higher level. There’s no room for hatred in people’s lives on “Running Out of Pain” and “Back Up.”
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Despite roaring angrily in places, 12 Stones is rock solid. Songs emphasize jumping off the merry-go-round of anguish while nurturing healthy relationships—including one with the Creator. It’s intentionally vague, but there’s a definite undercurrent of faith here. The band admits taking its name from the memorial described in Joshua 4:20-24, yet resists being labeled “Christian.” Call ’em what you want, they produce edgy, passionate rock that’s also uplifting.
