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Broken Silence: Discerning the Times

Melodic Hard Rock

3.5/5.0

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Retroactive Records
review by Craig Hartranft,  01.16.2012

Quick, name an Eighties melodic hard rock band from Hawaii. Time's up. How about a talented and promising rock band discovered by Daryn Hinton, the manager of Stryper and Holy Soldier? Broken Silence is the band, and their only album, Discerning the Times was produced by notable guitar wizard David Zafiro of Bloodgood. Broken Silence combined aggressive hard rock ala late Eighties hair metal with melody, strong lead vocals, and accented with vigorous guitar solos. In 1989 they were late to the game as grunge was taking hold, and the poodle hair rock and metal, in spandex and eye shadow, was taking a beating. Does that make Broken Silence insignificant? Not hardly, just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Discerning the Times also revealed Broken Silence's manifest Christian faith, but not by slapping a Gospel tract in your face. Unlike the ambition and brashness of Stryper, Broken Silence took a more subtle approach, opting for persuasiveness over sledgehammer proselytizing. Yet, ultimately, the band let the music do the talking, and that makes the message even more palatable.

Discerning the Times is solid Eighties melodic rock. Inventive, irregular, or progressive? Hardly so. But lively and entertaining? Absolutely. Hear the enthusiasm and entertaining rock of Streets of the Empty Soul, Ready to Go, and Break the Silence. There's subtlety in Naked; but the not so good, quite cheesy, melancholy in Not Love At All, disappoints. A bit of imbalance is expected in a debut, Otherwise, this is 'spot on' Eighties hard rock, and worthy of your attention.

Broken Silence's Discerning the Times is a genuine example of the best of Eighties melodic hard rock. It's not extraordinary or groundbreaking. Yet, it's still impressive and enjoyable. Get it, if your a fan of all things Eighties. Recommended.

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Broken Silence's Discerning the Times is a genuine example of the best of Eighties melodic hard rock. It's not extraordinary or groundbreaking. Yet, it's still impressive and enjoyable. Get it, if your a fan of all things Eighties.

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