Through the Forest is the fifth studio album by Christian rock

Christian rock

Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...

 band Mad at the World

Mad at the World

Mad at the World was a Christian rock band active from 1987 to 1998 in Southern California. It originally consisted of brothers Roger and Randy Rose with Mike Pendleton, later joined by Brent Gordon. Pendleton and Gordon left the band in 1992 and were replaced by Mike Link and Ben Jacobs...

. Released in 1992, it was their last album to feature a hard rock

Hard rock

Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...

 sound. The CD sleeve has the following text on the band's inspiration for the album's title: "Life is like the forest: It's full of beauty, mystery, danger and so many paths to choose. We all need a guide to lead us through the forest. - Psalm 119:105."

History

Through the Forest was released in 1992, the band's fifth studio album and the last to feature founding member Mike Pendleton and guitarist Brent Gordon. The two would leave the band following this disc. Why Pendleton and Gordon left is unclear, Gordon makes little reference to the band on his blog and no mention of why he joined or left. In an interview, Roger said, "they didn't really quit the band--they kinda quit and got fired all at the same time." Roger thanked them in the liner notes for the next disc.

Although Roger has stated that Mad at the World was the band's first and last disc not recorded entirely at Roger's home studio, the drum tracks for Through the Forest were recorded at Randy's studio, Rose Studios.

Track listing

All songs written by Roger Rose, except "Trapped" and "Alone" written by Randy Rose, and "If I Can Dream" written by W. Earl Brown.

1. "That Lonesome Road" – 4:27
2. "Trapped" – 3:44
3. "Lost in the Forest" – 3:35
4. "If I Lose My Way" – 3:31
5. "Always Be My Love" – 4:08
6. "M.A.T.W. (Reprise)" – 4:22
7. "Alone" – 5:45
8. "I've Got a Heaven" – 4:25
9. "I'll Never Go Back There" – 3:54
10. "If I Can Dream" – 2:53

"M.A.T.W. (Reprise)" is a re-recording of "Mad at the World" which appeared on the band's debut album, Mad at the World. Both versions are true to their respective albums, the first one being more techno, the reprise having a more hard rock sound.

Personnel

• Roger Rose – vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, tambourine
• Mike Pendleton – bass
• Brent Gordon – lead & rhythm guitars
• Randy Rose – vocals, drums
• Ray Rose – bass guitar on "Trapped", "Alone" and "If I Can Dream"

Ray Rose, Roger and Randy's older brother, was not a member of the band but did play bass on some of the songs.