Back to their roots

The musicians in Third Day revisit their southern rock sounds

Third Day, the southern rock group out of Georgia, has been making music since the early 1990’s.

The group currently consists of frontman and vocalist Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and drummer David Carr. For the band’s newest project from Provident Records, the trio recruited ta favourite producer, Monroe James.

And, sure enough, “Revival” feels like Third Day has definitely returned to its roots.

Along with Jones, Third Day included members of the touring band - keyboardist Scotty Wilbanks, mandolin/banjo/ guitarist Trevor Morgan and bassist Tim Gibson - in the creation of this project.

When they began the album, says Powell, “I would say half of the songs were mostly written and the other half were just ideas I had in my head…. I actually wanted to go in with no ideas. I wanted to start from scratch on everything, but that didn’t happen…. I would say the overwhelming majority of the songs were just ideas in my head and instead of me finishing them I just presented the ideas to the band and just said, ‘Let’s develop these more instead of me finishing the songs and recording. Let’s finish them together.’ “

About the new project, Jones says, “It’s Third Day going back to what they do best which is their roots in Southern rock... That’s their heart . ... I know that’s like breathing for them and I know they have not done one of these Southern rock records in a long time. They were really wanting to do that again. This record is them playing to their roots.”

Of the album’s title and opening track, Powell commented, “For us it was a musical revival in a sense of really getting back to our roots and playing some good ole down home Southern music.

I also love that it’s not a worship record by any means, but it’s a very gospel record. It’s hard to explain because it’s not a Southern gospel record and not a black gospel record and yet lyrically, I think it takes you to church.”

Powell hits the nail on the head with that comment.

“Revival” is a strong album from a powerhouse musical group, and one that definitely returns them to their sweet spot, as it were. Songs like “New Creation”, “Nobody Loves Me Like Jesus” and “Great God Almighty” have a toe-tapping energy that is exciting and infectious. “Devotion” is a wonderful song of praise: “Lord make my life a devotion to You.”

The one ‘unusual’ track on the album is the cover of Paul Simon’s “Loves Me Like a Rock” which is simply a fun tune, especially when coupled with the background singing of the Oak Ridge Boys.

Funnily enough, the Oak Ridge Boys had been originally supposed to sing on the song when Simon recorded it, but that artist went another direction.

Third Day’s “Revival” is a wonderful addition to a veteran band’s discography - well produced, musically performed and thoroughly enjoyable.