Ezra - The Key (Asaph) 1991

1. "Key to Heaven" (4:10)
2. "Frontline" (4:23)
3. "Listen to You Hearts" (3:55)
4. "Shadow of the Son" (3:03)
5. "Carry Me Home" (4:15)
6. "The Return" (5:24)
7. "Here For You" (4:11)
8. "That's Right" (2:55)
9. "Take Me" (5:10)

I stumbled across this CD some years ago in a used CD store and snagged it for a few bucks. I am always interesting in Christian metal. "The Key" is not bad, although a bit mellower than I usually care for. "The Key" is a mixture of radio ready rockers and sappy, 1980's ballads, the best of which is the emotional plea to God in "Carry Me Home." I suppose by modern labels, these guys would be labeled "melodic metal", but in the early 90's they would probably have been labeled "pop metal". Ezra have more in common with bands like Bon Jovi and Journey, than true melodic metal bands like Pretty Maids or Harem Scarem. Several of these songs could have been FM radio staples in the 80's if this band had a bigger label and better production. As it stands, the production isn't unlistenable, but isn't top quality either. The music is saturated with those 1980's keyboards which actually takes away from the edge this CD could have had without them. Standout cuts are the melodic "Key to Heaven" and the slightly harder rocking "Frontline" are decent.