King’s Kaleidoscope’s latest album, Beyond Control, is a heartfelt, cleanly-produced departure from their previous lyrical content. The album’s epic yet intensely personal tone shines through in the ten-person band’s rock/ska/experimental sound, an improvisational trombone solo, and the use of the “F” word in the controversial track “A Prayer.” (**** ½ , JesusFreakHideout.com)

The King’s sophomore album differs from their previous work because of personal, not corporate, songwriting and the lack of sing-able songs. All lyrics were written by the group’s frontman, Chad Gardner, with Zack Bolen of Citizens & Saints co-writing the majority of the songs. Beyond Control was released on July 1, 2016, in partnership with BEC Recordings, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records, a well-established Christian rock label that has signed artists such as Jeremy Camp and KJ-52. After release, the album peaked at 19 on US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard). The record’s thirteen tracks, two of which are instrumental, come in just shy of forty-five minutes.

Beginning with a pastoral instrumental, “A Resting Place,” the album continues to “Enchanted,” with lead singer Gardner expressing the desire to be free from digital false realities and to live “beyond control.” If any song were to make it onto the radio, it would be “Most of It,” a jaunty, light-hearted call to make the most of life in the midst of bright upsides and dark lows. “Dust,” arguably the album’s most ambitious track, changes tempos and styles several times, ranging from wall-of-sound, big-band vibes to more intimate vocals. The song leads right into a minute-long outro, “Ride on Reprise.”

At the heart of the album sits “In This Ocean Pt. I & II,” a guitar-driven, metaphor-laden journey through the ideas of living in the open sea of the unknown and the realization that “It’s OK to be afraid / It’s alright in this ocean.” The album’s second half starts with a fun trombone and vocal improv solo titled “Friendship.” Gardner’s acoustic/orchestral ballad “Lost?” provides a nice contrast to the noisier, fuller songs on the album. “Sabotage/Home” cranks the energy and feelings up for the album’s powerful ending. “Gone” is an emotional, vulnerable plea for guidance in the midst of madness, which closes with the goose-bump-inducing reading of Psalm 16 by Gardner’s wife.

The honesty gets turned up to maximum value on “A Prayer,” the song that gained Beyond Control notoriety in Christian circles for its conspicuous use of the “F” word in the twice-sung line, “Where the fear is f—ing violent.” (Note: A clean version is available.) The lyrics from this song come straight from Gardner’s journal pages and reflect a deep-seated insecurity in his faith, which is then answered by his interpretation of Jesus’ response.

The album closes with the mellow-then-confident “Trackless Sea,” which begins with lines like “Fearless I walk the trackless sea / Since all my life is life with thee” set to diminished chords, revealing the dissonance between professed faith and inner insecurity. After a false ending, the band has one last jam, sending the listener off with the powerfully-sung phrase, “I’m not alone.”

After hearing and digesting Beyond Control, the listener is able to relate to Gardner’s brutally honest struggles and insightful lyrics. The album’s musical and thematic complexities reflect the mind-boggling scope of life, but there are several clear strands that run throughout the songs, like the analogies of sailing on the open seas and faith becoming one’s reality. King’s Kaleidoscope has produced a beautiful, creative, and personal piece of work that encourages their listeners to live Beyond Control.