Listed here are all the wonderful things that our extremely nice and incredibly KNOWLEDGEABLE fans have said or written about us. As you read their comments, you will recognize that they are wise beyond reason.
Review of "Get Ready" & "54 and Change" by Brian McGowan - Hard Roxx Magazine:
Sure Conviction's last album "Get Ready" (1995) was filled with powerful, hard edged melodic rock, and was blessed with a big hearted sprinkling of aurally adhesive hooks. I have to say, that despite the acclaim at the time, I thought that it lacked that vital ingredient, that extra something which lifts an album towards greatness. But what do I know? That second release looked like a breakthrough for the Liffengren brothers, Paul and Matt. In Jeff Gunn they'd found an outstanding vocalist in the traditional melodic rock mould. Glenn Pearce, ex Idle Cure and sought after sessionist, guested and the album was recorded by the renowned JR McNeely at the Elefantes' Pakaderm Studios. On top of that, it was released on Nashville's Giant label, and distributed through Benson.
So, yes, it had a lot going for it. But things don't always work out.
Three long years have passed and the brothers Liffengren are back with a new album, this time on their own label with no big name guest players, no big names at the mixing desk, and a new vocalist. `98 and significant change.
There's obviously a story here, which we'll pursue. Watch this space.
Meantime, what of the new album?
There's clearly a stronger sense of urgency displayed. The music is driving, occasionally strident, and conveys a loose, live-in-the-studio feel. It courageously steps way over the unwritten but well defined boundaries of melodic rock, which encircled the first two albums, and makes an audacious dash into the land of adventurous strong structures, cogent arguments, and bold eclecticism.
On opener 'Are You There' crashing chords and clashing cymbals crest a tidal wave of foaming keyboards before they hit the shore running, in a confident, distance-consuming stride. Vocalist Kurt Heinzman comes over like an unmixed amalgam of Lou Gramm and Cindy Ross, one moment exhibiting raw emotion and in others showing an operatic control.
The momentum continues through 'I Can't Explain', then slows for the dignified grandeur of moving ballad 'I Need You'. Here, the Liffengrens explore neo-classical arrangements, using resounding pianos and swooping synth strings, building to a climactic crescendo, yet thanks to a lack of studio polish, this never sounds grandiose or overblown.
It's used again the great effect on the dramatic, Kansas like 'Journey' and 'Power Of One'. The former is sung with religious fervor by Heinzman and features some inspired lead work by axeman Jeff Rye. The latter is a sprawling, Steinman styled epic, redolent of Kansas in places, but is more commercially inclined, bring Queen to mind, with cleaner cut, lightly metallised guitars, interplaying with nifty piano phrasing.
Elsewhere, 'Where Do You Go' bravely breaks free of the universally accepted verse/bridge/chorus routine of the modern rock song, and basks in the glow of a big and beautiful chord progression. 'Sacrifice' and 'Change' don't have the same strong tunes as the others, but are saved by a gloriously locomotive rhythm section and hard-nosed, roughed up riffing, which push the songs past their melodic limitations and on the greater things.
Given the traumatic changes evident, this is a magnificent, bravura performance from Sure Conviction. Whatever success this third album brings is thoroughly deserved.
Highly recommended.
9/10
Brian McGowan/Hard Roxx
Review of "54 and Change" by Webzine Magazine:
8.5/10
Mixing hard rock, progressive rock ala Kansas and AOR, Sure Conviction have come up with a winning combination on their third album release "54 and Change".
This six man band from California, led by brothers Matt and Paul Liffengren (guitars and keyboards respectively) have created a collection of songs that recall the best of the genre's commercial popularity, filled with great hooks, fine vocals and solid musicianship that is sure to please any fan of the aforementioned styles of music! As far as this band is concerned, as evidenced right from the start of the album with the hard driving rocker "Are you There?" it's as if grunge and alternative rock never existed! Filled with soaring, very melodic vocals by Kurt Heinzman (presented in a moderately high register reminiscent of Mark Slaughter, only slightly raspier) fleet fingered lead guitar complete with dive bombing effects courtesy of Jeff Rye, this album is almost like a step back in time to the mid to late '80's, when so called "hair bands" ruled the charts and the airwaves!
Copious use of keyboards give the album it's AOR feel, especially on the power ballad "I Need You". This song also features great background harmony vocals, as do many songs on "54 and Change". But Sure Conviction also has its' prog rock side also, which comes to the fore particularly on "Thru the Night/More than a Feeling", which sounds like a mixture of Kansas and Styx, and the album's closing track "Power Of One", a wonderful ballad dominated by great piano work by Paul Liffengren.
Also rounding out the hard rocking side are the melodic rockers "Sacrifice" and "The Journey" both well crafted songs which feature great vocals by Kurt Heinzman! Mixed by Robert Berry( of Hush, Alliance and 3 fame), the sound here is very good, with lush keyboard sounds and well recorded guitar, bass and drum tracks.
Summing up, this is a very solid album filled with well crafted songs that should definitely please fans of AOR served up with pomp influences!
Review of "54 and Change" by Mood Swings:
I knew absolutely nothing about Sure Conviction when this dropped through my letterbox. Opening the packaging and glancing at the group photo on the back cover, I thought I'd let myself in for a grunge/alternative-rock ordeal. Well, I guess I learned something that day (you shouldn't judge a book CD by it's cover), because when I put this in the CD player, I was very pleasantly surprised. Sure Conviction is a Melodic Rock band. Of the CDs reviewed this month, this one arrived last and was stuck at the bottom of the pile not getting that much attention. That was a mistake on my part.
I've now done a bit more research and I've discovered that this is actually Sure Conviction's 3rd album. The name is a bit of clue, also the fact that they've got "In God We Trust" written on the CD in big bold writing, but it didn't register until I started listening to the lyrics that Sure Conviction are a Christian act. Their last album was in 1995 and there have been a few personnel changes, including the singer, since then.
The style on this album is punchy AOR, with a few hints at a harder edged sound floating around. In the comparison takes Heart and Pat Benetar spring to mind. The Josette album I reviewed earlier in the year is maybe a closer comparison because it has a rawer edge to it. SC's vocalist is male, so imagine any of those acts with a few testosterone injections. The album has a loose, natural feel to it, which is actually refreshing. I'd like to hear the vocals a bit more up front, but that's only nit picking on my part.
Are You There?, I Can't Explain, Where Do You Go?, Changes & Quiet Place all fit in with the above description. Thru The Night/More Than A Feeling is lightweight rock. I Need You is a power ballad. Sacrifice & The Journey both see the band adopting a more aggressive stance and rocking out. The final piano led ballad, The Power Of One, has hints of Pomp and keeps me listening right to the end. Top tune? Well, it's got to be either Are You There? or The Power Of One.
Sure Conviction prove that Mr Beelzebub doesn't have all the good tunes.
Rating: 8
Review of "Get Ready" by Don Palmer - Frontiers Magazine:
For those of you out there who were wise enough to pick up the excellent album by Brother Brother ("Young Warriors") a couple of years back, you will be interested to hear that another Christian AOR masterpiece has just been released. This is actually Sure Conviction's second album, their first being a self-produced effort in 1991 called "Fightin' The Battle". That was a fine album, kind of a cross between Survivor and Petra, but "Get Ready" is even better. Melodic AOR with all the features any purest will look for - great, guitar-driven songs, soaring vocals, excellent guitar work (from Glenn Pearce) and tight production. In my opinion this is an even better album than the Brother Brother release, which itself was probably THE top Christian AOR release of the last few years.
Don Palmer