ropelled by the title track “Unbreakable,” Fireflight’s latest rock inspiration exploded after being featured on NBC’s “Bionic Woman.” The chorus asserts, “God I want to dream again/Take me where I’ve never been/I wanna go there/This time I’m not scared/Now I am unbreakable/It’s unmistakable/No one can touch me/Nothing can stop me.” While national audiences identified with the powerful theme of invincibility, Christians took hope in the protection and strength of trusting in God.  

I first heard this album at the end of last year. As I was making my list of top albums of 2007, I actually started to include “Unbreakable.” After a few minutes, I reminded myself that the album wouldn’t even be released for a few more months. I was so impressed with the songs; I found it difficult to wait for the national release.  

With each power chord of the driving, uplifting songs, Satan’s lies are drowned out. On another note, the ballads of the album are actually my favorite. The track “Brand New Day” encourages and empowers those who are struggling in faith and persistence in their walk with Christ. “Brand New Day” reminds that God’s mercies are new every morning and that we should persevere with the promise of better days ahead.

“Unbreakable” hones in on the concept of home. The songs focus on being at rest in God’s protection, as the song “Wrapped In Your Arms” emphasizes.

I’m ecstatic to report that the album gives complete credit to God for being the source of an unbreakable life.

Not to be an afterthought, The Afters released “Never Going Back To Ok” on February 26. Most known for their song “Beautiful Love (Theme From 8th And Ocean),” this band is emphatically back with a record full of new favorites for fans.     

Encouraging listeners to never go back to the complacency and boredom of yesterday, “Never Going Back To Ok” features a catchy hook and an addictive rhythm, though the song is so fast paced it’s hard to catch all the quality lyrics the first few times around.   

The soon-to-be (at least I hope so) movie hit, “MySpace Girl,” is not only hilarious, but totally biographical of the youth in today’s American society. That song would be a great, lighthearted gateway to introduce people not yet fans of The Afters to their great music.

A definite favorite of the album is the song “Tonight,” just for the pleasure of listening to the guitar riff during the chorus. One thing I really appreciate about The Afters is their guitar instrumentation. Especially for a rock band, the guitar plays a pivotal role in the presentation of a song.

“Ocean Wide” serves as a striking metaphor to Jesus’ and Peter’s walking on water, whether or not this was intentional with the songwriting. As the song says, love is an ocean wide, but God’s faithfulness in reaching out to us when the seas of life begin to rage secures us.

As lead singer, Josh Havens fluidly weaves his voice through the songs in a way that is memorable and melodic. Each song leaves an audio affection for The Afters.