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Point 3 – Semper Sursum (CD Review)
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Semper Sursum
2008
Formed in 2001, San Jose’s Point 3 are no strangers to the South Bay music scene. With two albums, a demo EP, and countless shows worth of experience, Point 3 – comprised of Mark Heaps (vocals and guitar), Adam Guzman (drums), Jeff Croall (bass guitar), and Jef Tyler (guitar) – has never locked themselves down to one specific style. Traveling the entire gamut of rock, from progressive to heavy, Point 3 revel in not standing in one space for too long. Their music and lyrics carry more power than many other South Bay musical upstarts because they are unafraid to open up the raw nerves of their lives to mine for inspiration.
Semper Sursum is perhaps the best example of this approach. Released in 2008, Semper Sursum is not what one would call a typical rock offering. It is introspective, and yet open, progressive in its scope and reach while also being unafraid to dig down and pull up that grinding, head-banging rock sound.
“Intro” welcomes the listener with a twisted carnivalesque theme, the words setting the pace for the album, before transitioning into “2 Seconds”, its funky opening guitar work helping the song to build upon itself. “Circus” generates a gentle power from the first chords, flowing between a flowing pace and a chorus section seemingly wracked in pain. “Despise” and “Fall Down” are prime examples of the versatility of this band of musicians, completely at ease experimenting with their instruments and song writing, each song carving its own way and not necessarily following any singular rock n’ roll rule of thumb. It is at this point in the CD that I go back and reread Mark’s perspective of creating this album, noted on the inside liner:
Through the course of making this album and experiencing the changing world, we saw our drummer return safe from Iraq alive and well, and I was allowed to write with my best friends. We wrote songs about love, hate, anger, and sorrow, realizing the core and fragile state we can exist in. We have all suffered and lost, and equally we have lived and loved. I saw people dear to me pass into peace, and some were at peace the moment we met. As the experience and directions seemed so varied, I remembered a single phrase from a town I once lived in, "Semper Sursum." The spirit to endure and persist no matter what is thrown your way. To continue on and have heart of great magnitude. It means "Always Rising." This wasn't about writing popular songs or even caring if it got finished, it was only about..."Semper Sursum."
The “meat” of the album is best exemplified in “Devoted”, “Garden”, and “Let It Go”, the lyrics of each truly painting pictures in the mind’s eye and yet remaining open to the listener’s own interpretation. “Devoted” and “Garden”, in particular, are great rockers, well-paced and driving pieces both.
“Penelope” rises from the depths of perhaps what can only be described as the most heart-wrenching of tragedies, and yet performed with such delicacy and poignant emotion that it not only forces a tear but also a smile as it serves as a cathartic release of pain, loss, and finally reconciliation of self.
The album wraps things up nicely with “Walk Alone”, another rocker that pulls the listener in effortlessly and one might just find themselves banging their head through to the end despite themselves.
Semper Sursum is an obviously intensely personal journey that we, as listeners, are being welcomed to join in on. Point 3 has lived, through better and worse, and they want to share that with us. With Semper Sursum, it is a journey well-taken.
Mark Heaps – Lead Vocals/Guitar, Adam Guzman – Drums, Jeff Croall – Bass Guitar), and Jef Tyler – Guitar
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