Sanctus Real's 'The Dream' Uplifts & Encourages Believers Losing Their Faith; Mixes 80s Synth Rock with Modern Worship [ALBUM REVIEW]

Sanctus Real

Sanctus Real's newest album The Dream was released on October 14, and BC had the opportunity to review the band's newest hit record.

The album's title sake, kicks off the album with a great anthem song that floats somewhere between a soft rock ballad and arena worship. It is the perfect album for an opener.

The next track, "I Need You," comes in like an '80s dance track and has a feel good vibe and is overall very catchy between the lyrics and synthy tones.

"Head in the Fight" is a pretty solid track that serves as encouragement for people who are ready to give up. This song as a lot of great background harmonies going on.

"Lay It Down" is the big single from the album. It kind of builds off the previous song and tells people to place their burdens and trouble in front of Jesus. Musically the song is kind of soothing and fits well with the theme.

Another '80s sounding yet modern track follows with "Easier On My Heart." This song is such a throwback to '80s synth pop, but the way they arrange the song is brilliant and makes it so relevant.

"Ride It Out" is a piano driven ballad that focuses on being steadfast with faith in a "sea of doubt." Lyrically, it is one of the more powerful songs on the album.

"Bend Not Break" has a bit of a different sound to it. It has a bit of a southern worship folky vibe to it. There is a little more twang on the guitar, strings, and group vocals.

What follows is the uptempo "Same God" which has a very corporate worship sound to it. The song has a big feel to it, and could easily become a big song in churches.

Sanctus Real
(Photo : Breathecast (Jeannie Law)

"One Word At A Time" is a straight up CCM pop song. It almost feels like something Steven Curtis Chapman or Michael W. Smith would write. The song works along with the theme of the album.

"33" is a look back into the lives of the members of the band. At the age off 33 they can look back at the life they have led and the legacy God has helped them go through. "I've made mistakes and my share of heartache" are also telling lines that reveal the imperfectness of all of us.

The final full song, "On Fire," serves as a suiting close to the album. It is another ballad, but also has a worshipful ending that is sure to really touch the audience during a live show. The song has an unescapable power to it.

The last track is an outro called "The Beginning." Maybe it is the start of what is to come for the band or maybe it is just a little fun they were having.

Overall the album is filled with power worship, a few indie rock cuts, and some light pop rock synth laced tunes mixed throughout. The album is perfect for CCM and worship audiences and continues on the pattern of Sanctus Real making intimate and personal music.

The Dream has a consistent message of not giving up, waiting out faith, and pushing on to trust in God one step at a time.

The Dream is the band's seventh studio album and the followup to 2013's Run ("Pray").

"The process of recording this album was a total hands-on approach from all of the band members and felt as exciting as making our first record over ten years ago," said guitarist Rohman in a press release, "There are tracks we made on our laptops while writing for the record that actually ended up on the finished product. From synth sounds to guitar parts to crazy background vocals - we all pitched in and Kipley was able to include a lot of this creativity into the heart of The Dream."

The band will be part of Francesca Battisteli's "If We're Honest" Tour this Fall, which will precede their headlining tour before hitting the road with Josh Wilson and Jon Bauer in November for "Sanctus Real Live."