While The Brave sidesteps this, some have complained about the group not waiting until after the pre-release sale to announce Amanda Z. A couple years ago when King James did not announce until the last minute that its comeback album Maximus was a mostly re-record project it rubbed some people the wrong way (including yours truly). With Amanda Z., however, The Brave makes a seamless transition in that she possesses the versatility to complement both the rawer Trust material (in terms of gutsy and lower register flavorings that remind of Ransom vocalist Lisa Faxon) and more commercial from Battle Cries (lending a fiery and emotional touch not unlike Christian Steel of Arsenal).Ĭredit the group for making its fans aware ahead of time that its new album was going to encompass both covers and new material. More often than not, I am skeptical when a band switches vocalists due to the potential change that can occur to its sound- noting the musical shift The Brave went through between Battle Cries and Trust. Helping lend to The Brave’s interpretation of its past material as well as re-defining its sound for the new is vocalist Amanda Z., who replaces Randy Roberts (soulful front man on Trust) and James Salters (soaring lead vocalist for Battle Cries). Rise features five new songs in addition to re-recorded versions of three from Battle Cries and four off Trust. The reunion might not have come about without the tragic passing of founding member and drummer/vocalist Randy Roberts in 2007, which prompted the remaining The Brave members to put on a concert in his tribute and later record Rise. Twenty years later and The Brave have reformed for its summer of 2014 third album Rise, an independently released twelve-track collection of new songs and re-recorded classic material of the past. Shifting gearing musically for its 1994 sophomore effort Trust (also Pakaderm), The Brave took the heavier rocking and more blues based stance while further expanding upon its fan base in the process. The Brave’s 1991 Pakaderm Records debut Battle Cries won over plenty of fans with its polished melodic hard rock and commercial AOR sensibilities.

The brave album