Reviewed by Jonathan Langley

This is the best work the Swedish hard rockers have done for years. While their previous albums have veered between harsh hardcore and Linkin Park styled pop, this album defies easy pigeon holing. On highlight track, "This Is A Heart-Attack", there is screaming, but there is also a funky riff that is more Queens Of The Stone Age than "King Of The Closet" (the big hit from their second album, 'A Thought Crushed My Mind'). "We're All Gonna Die" is a similarly rock 'n' roll anthem against dangerous excess, while the similarly styled but slower tempoed "Bleeding Under Your Eyelids" must have some of the most beautiful closing moments of any rock song ever recorded. There's heaviness aplenty, but mixed with complexity of rhythm, lyrics and style. The slower tracks are just as good, permeated with a wisdom, honesty and intimacy one can only call deeply spiritual. Overtly Christian but not simplistic, unafraid to be heavy and break the mould, 'The Great Depression' makes many other Christian albums seem shallow and simplistic.

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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