Sydney based singer/songwriter Pete Wood is a man of many talents and apparently not much leftover time. Aside from being a husband, a father of three children, and an Anglican Minister, he has found time to pull together a full length studio album.
Due for release on October 4, Realization is Pete Wood's debut album and sees him handling lead vocals, guitars as well as bass duties. To complete the project, Wood has pulled together a complement of talented musicians to craft an album of high quality.
Lyrically, Realization is unashamedly Christian. Covering a broad range of topics either straight from the scriptures (A Thief in Paradise) or probing aspects of the Christian life (Bear that Cross, Was it you/or was it me?), the gospel is never far from the heart of what Wood seeks to communicate on the album's ten tracks (plus "hidden" track at the end).
What is most striking, however, is the album's musical diversity.
Realization defies simple categorisation, with at least half-a-dozen genre's represented across the album's eleven tracks. Tellingly, a quick read of Wood's website reveals the broad spectrum of his influences ranging from classical (J.S. Bach) to jazz (Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis) to blues (Stevie Ray Vaughan) to metal (Metallica, Rage Against the Machine).
For the most part, the mixing of genre's works and adds interest. Perhaps wisely, Wood's expression of his metal influences are mainly confined to the hidden track, which is an overdriven dirge, complete with detuned guitars, screamo vocals and harmonized solos. What can be said without doubt is that, musically, Wood and his band execute each song brilliantly. The lead guitar and bass work are particularly outstanding and are a real pleasure to listen to.
If there is a criticism, it would have be that the diversity of musical styles really stretch the vocal performance in parts. Wood's vocals are at their strongest in the jazzy/bluesy tracks and he uses falsetto nicely in several places. Less satisfactory are the rock tracks where the vocals tend to lack the power and cut through required by the music.
As an album, Realization is a very professional and polished debut from Pete Wood. He is a welcome addition to the local Christian music scene and with continued focus will no doubt do well.
