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King James was formed in 1993 by Rex Carroll and Jimi Bennet, shortly after Rex left Whitecross. On their first album they recruited Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet from the newly split-up Stryper. The band name came from Rex (Carrol), meaning King and Jimi (Bennett), short for James.
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Line-up: Rex Carroll - Guitars Jimi Bennett - Vocals Robert Sweet - Drums Tim Gaines - Bass Additional musicians: Rick Wells - Keyboards Chris Cameron - Keyboards Russ Daughtry, Leia Thomas, Kristy Smith - Additional Vocals Arnie Roth - Violin Kim Scholes - Cello |
King James was what you might call a supergroup. The original band members included Rex Carroll (Whitecross, guitars), Tim Gaines Stryper, bass), Robert Sweet (Stryper, drums) and Jimi Bennett (vocals). And with a little help from friends the band released their self titled debut album through Star Song in 1994.
Musically they are not that far from most members main bands. At least the more polished sounds of said bands latter albums. King James can easily be described as melodic hard rock, with a slight bluesy edge. They remind me of several Ken Tamplin related bands, like Shout, Magdallan and Angelica. The album is filled with songs with awesome hooks, and you just want to hit replay when the CD is done. You know the instruments are handled well, and it's cool to hear Rex Carroll shred a little differently than the guitar-hero stuff he does with Whitecross. But the real star here is Jimi Bennett! He has a very good voice, both strong and emotional at the same time. He is a perfect fit for this kind of music.
Many of the songs have a worship-like feel. The lyrics are very evangelical, offering hope through Jesus Christ. There is no turn-or-burn rhetoric, but rather a message of love. The more I listen to this album, the more I fall in love with it. The only negative aspect here are the instrumental track, the acoustic remix of "Miracles" and the "Face To Face / Reprise" ending. These tracks are quite unnecessary, and the album would have been stronger without them. Still, this is definitely one of the strongest melodic hard rock albums I own.
Killer tracks: Hard Road To Go, Prisoner, Miracles, Face To Face
THE
FALL (1997) VIVA RECORDS
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Line-up: Rex Carroll - Guitars and Vocals Jimi Bennett - Lead Vocals Scott Banks - Bass and Vocals Dave Greer - Drums on 1, 2, 4, 8 Michael Feighan - Drums on 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 |
Second, and last, album from King James. This time without the 2 ex-Stryper members. The album is actually heavier than the previous, and it has more groove. It's not the most cherished item in the collection. The songs just doesn't stick to my mind, and get very anonymous. And after a spin, I'm not eager to put it on again.
Killer tracks: Frenzy, Heaven Is For Everyone
Rex Carroll guest appearances:
Eden - 'Fan The Flame'
Related artists:
Stryper, Whitecross, Robert Sweet, Rex Carroll, Titanic
KING
JAMES (1994) STAR SONG