Atlanta-based Christian party rappers with metal underpinnings,
Family Force 5
took all their somewhat mismatched influences to their absolute limits on their third album, 2011's
III
. The album, while technically still offering its songs up to the glory of God, was as high-energy and bombastic an explosion of indulgent beats, frenetic rhymes, and overblown production as any club-minded album to top the hedonistic pop charts. Fourth album
Time Stands Still
follows in
's footsteps, but comes after several years and multiple changes for the band. Former drummer
Crouton
stepped out from behind the kit to stand as the band's lead vocalist, and longtime vocalist/guitarist and founding member
Soul Glow Activatur
left the band to focus on other pursuits, though he stayed on to help out in a less visible manner. However, it's difficult to tell these changes even took place, judging from hook-laden high-energy dance tracks like the rap-metal groove of "Jet Pack Kicks" and the dubstep-tinged "Bzrk," which sound just as hard-partying and adrenaline-fueled as older
hits like "Cray Button." ~ Fred Thomas