Dizmas has been at it for awhile, since 1998, actually, when bros. Zack and Josh Zegan originally formed the Christian guitar-rock band. Chances are that you have heard them as well, without even knowing it; they’ve had music featured on an episode of the second season of Stealing Home and “Shake It Off,” from their self-titled third and latest full-length release, was aired on ESPN in July 2007. “Play It Safe,” also found on DIZMAS, reached #1 on the Radio & Records Christian Rock airplay chart as well last year.
DIZMAS is a consistent project from beginning to end, a loud and proud rocker that is not raucous, a high volume collection of tunes composed and played with a nod toward dynamics and a solid, basic grounding in the knowledge of how the writing of a basic, three-plus minute rock song is properly done. The lyrics to each of the tunes on DIZMAS are unabashedly, unapologetically inspirational (as if one should need to even remotely feel that they need to be apologetic about being inspirational) but not preachy, and segue nicely with the music. Interestingly enough, it is one of the quieter tunes, “Redemption, Passion Glory” that I keep going back to, perhaps because of the way it slowly yet relentlessly builds from a spare arrangement to a triumphant crescendo. There’s some thing to like on just about every one of the ten tracks on DIZMAS, however, be it the almost-raunchy guitar lick of “Shake It Off” (equally applicable to a sports or religious metaphor) to the in-your-face message of “This Is A Warning.”
The production on DIZMAS is as good as anything you’ll hear on the Top 40 station coming out of your car stereo, and if you’re not hearing something by Dizmas from DIZMAS on commercial radio it’s just plain old discrimination against their message, nothing more, nothing less. And that ain’t right, any way you cut it, especially with music of this quality.
