Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

As the title of this 2015 release by Pittsburgh-based group ApologetiX suggests, there is a 1980s feel to proceedings with the so-called Christian parody band taking songs from the decade that taste forgot as inspiration. As usual, the sizeable ApologetiX team take mainstream songs, replicate the instrumentation to an uncanny degree and replace the original lyrics with Scripture-centred ones. Whilst it's impossible not to admire the authenticity contained within the music side of each number, the transplanting of lyrics quite often feels awkward and forced with remakes of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" - cringingly retitled "I Love Apostle Paul" - being a case in point. Elsewhere, an otherwise convincing cover of Toni Basil's "Mickey" somewhat clumsily tells the story of Bible character Nicodemus ("Nicky" to his friends) whilst "Christ's Wedding" - aka "White Wedding" by Billy Idol - may be a tenuous step too far. Throughout this release, all involved play things straight and the admirable choice to adapt less obvious '80s fare by the likes of Modern English, Adam Ant and A Flock Of Seagulls rather than megahits by your Bon Jovis, Madonnas and Princes of this world proves that they at least have some artistic integrity.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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