Main Review
Josh Brown, Joe Pangallo, Chris Pangallo, and Zach Simms of Day of Fire release their third album,
“Losing All” on January 26, 2010. Josh Brown, former lead singer of Full Devil Jacket, shares some of his
story through the lyrics of the album.
Compared to their first two albums, there is very little to be said for the spiritual side of Losing All, at least
for the first half. The first several songs are catchy and interesting listening, but not much is said about
God. Track two, “Hello Heartache” is something many people can relate to. Everyone goes through
heartache and pain, and questions the reasons for why things have to happen the way they do. However,
the over-all theme of what the singer could be talking about is vague. “Singing loud above the crowd, /
songs of love gone wrong / So Hello to you Heartache, Hello to you...”
“Cold Addiction” is a highlight of the album – honest words and powerful feelings expressed here are
directly relating to the lead singer’s own personal experience with drug addiction. This is a good song
about getting out from under a very real and very bad situation, but feeling trapped. However, the song
offers little hope and no practical advice, other than, “I wanna get out of here / Premonition I see it all
unwind, God get me out of here / Line by line I run from it all.” It’s more like an anthem, but it is a cry for
help. Many people will be able to relate to the outlook expressed in this song.
“Landslide” may be interpreted as we’re all living on dangerous ground, borrowed time. Life is short and
unpredictable. When the landslide comes are you prepared? “Run Run Run where will you go? When
your ground gives way. / Run, Run, Run just letting go, the landslide drains away.”
“Hey You” is a really awesome crowd-pumping, fist-in-the-air kind of refrain. This song is about a broken
heart looking everywhere for a Savior, searching high and low, giving up everything to find the love that will
make the lost man found, and the beggar rich, and the blind man see. “Search lights shining everywhere.
/ (The ghost on the water he comes, to save us from all of our own) / Hey You, tell me what you want from
me (Hey You) / I'll give you everything you need, I don't want to be lost. I just want to be loved by you.”
The last song is a great one. “The Dark Hills” is a real honest cry from the heart for Jesus, who walked
with sinners and knows the dark side, to come and save. “If anybody knew this ugliness inside me would
they throw a stone would the crucify me? /How heavy was the crown of thorns? I wonder if I'm to far
gone?... / They say Jesus walks the dark hills He breaks bread with beggars and thieves / When I cry out
in this darkness, When I fall down on my knees / When He walks the dark hills, I know He'll come for me.
I know He'll come save me.”
Closing Thoughts
Although the first half of the album didn’t seem to have much meaning (message-wise), the last several
songs really showed that no matter what happens in the past or future, these guys have a heart to honor
the Lord, and that’s what matters. As a Christian, it is so important to glorify God in every area of our life.
He is so good, how can we help but to sing songs to Him? How can we help but to write about Him and
share Him in every way possible? To all the men and women out there spreading with word of God
through the gift of music: good job and thank you. This was a good album. It raised some interesting
questions, shared personal experience, and was obviously designed to really hit home with the fans.
Review Written By: Liz Haveman [liz.haveman@christianmusicreview.org] on 1/25/2010
::::: ADDITIONAL REVIEW :::::
I was anxiously awaiting the third release from Day Of Fire and I have to say after over a three year wait, I
am somewhat disappointed. Musically, it's what I have come to expect from the group, comparing
favorably with their first record, the self-titled debut. But from a message stand-point, once again I feel
the band has taken a step back. Their debut was awesome, great message. 2006's follow up, Cut &
Move was decent, but the message there was slowly fading.
After hearing Josh's testimony and having the opportunity to interview with him back in 2005, the biggest
disappointment with Losing All was, as mentioned above, it's lack of message. It's all but missing on
this one. On the exception of a few tracks, there's not much there and at best I would call it... I hate to say
this, but mediocre.
But, as mentioned previously by Liz, I think long time fans will appreciate it musically. This is a talented
group of guys and I guess my expectations were a little too high.
- Jay Heilman
7.0 out of 10 (C-)
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