Tacoma Weekly
August 2003

Second Coming - 13

Second Coming is definitely one of the best bands to come out of Seattle in recent years. Like many Seattle groups, it has flirted with big-time success, only to fall by the wayside due to management issues at the major labels. Had it not been for internal problems at Capitol Records, which released the band's major label debut in 1998, 13 would be a major label release getting maximum exposure. Instead it was released a few months ago on a smaller label Timestyle, and the band is playing local gigs rather than high profile national tours. If there is justice in the rock world Second Coming will hit it big soon. In the meantime area fans can enjoy having a next big thing in our backyard.

In the great Seattle rock tradition Second Coming is able to combine headbanging rock with mellower aspects to create a captivating sound. The lead off track, "Heaven (Is A Loaded Gun)" is a good example of what follows.

Second Coming bears some resemblance to Alice in Chains. I'm unsure of the connection between the bands, but I believe late AIC singer Layne Staley was a friend and collaborated with them on some songs during the 1990's. I don't know if H-Bomb was inspired by Staley's heroin problems, which resulted in his overdose death last year. The following lyrics seem as though they were written in tribute to Staley: "Black filled the secrets of an empty heart/kept you locked away in a world that you knew so well/God know I wanted to help you."

"Drop Dead Fred" is a humorous putdown of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. If anyone deserves some good-humored putdowns, it is Durst. "Look at your punk ass now/cuz you'll see the end of a fading trend/that's right, when you drop dead Fred."

"Liberty Man" is one of the better songs written about the events of 9/11. "Time to carry on/time to mend the broken/remember who we are/remember those who laid it down/all the souls that made us free," sings frontman Travis Bracht.

All four members are talented, but it is Bracht that really puts their music at a higher level with his powerful vocals.