But I try to stay the course and be objective as I can, and most readers probably don’t realize that I’m actually a devout (?) atheist, so my many Christian reviews aren’t some thinly veiled attempt at pushing my religion off on readers or using Teeth of the Divine as some sort of soap box. I’m actually trying to expose people to good music, and this, the second album from North Dakota’s Hands is indeed just that. Damn good music.

As with their 2009 debut, Creator, Give Me Rest is an artful melding of shimmery metalcore a la Life In Your Way/Misery Signals with a dose of lumbering  and atmospheric post-rock. And while label mates Your Memorial has the same mix on their impressive debut, Hands are able to render a much more elegant mix that’s as adept at lurching post-rock chords as well as typically Christian introspection and ambiance. To be quite honest, Give Me Rest might be one of the more thoughtful, beautiful and dynamic Christian metal albums I’ve heard since Life In Your Way called it quits.

You want rousing Christian anthem? Go to introductory opener “I Will”. Want lurching post-rock with deep throaty roars? Go to “Water”. Want shimmery emotive metalcore? Check out “Cube”. Want uplifting melodies and soaring hymnal vocals? “The Helix” and “Here I Am”  should hit the spot. Hands has it all, and while certainly leaning heavily on the more elegant, introspective and well… Christian side of things, they have the ability to simply shift and morph into something impressively heavy at will. Amid all the shimmery, delicate strumming and skyward looking vocals are moments of impressive heft and girth. Particularly the likes of “Jovian” which melds a very nice, heavy heaving riff and a bellowing vocal interplay. But that being said Hands, are just perfect at delivering prayer like anthems of of praise and joy; the closing trio of the down right gorgeous “Northern Lights” and “Restart” are three soaring metal sermons that will warm the metal head’s soul.

Of course, that is assuming that metal heads can get their collective heads out of their Necronomicons and Dungeons and Dragon guides. Zing.

However, as I delved into the album, I started to unravel a rather enthralling approach that mixes the layered textures of Life on Your Way and Means, but with a slight influence and pace of modern post rock bands. The end result is a shimmering Life in Your Way/Means/Misery Signals styled album of melodic metalcore core played at half speed or on barbiturates. Another band that came to mind is Century, with their lurching, gruff but ethereal moments and vocal delivery of Shane Ochsner which throws a variety of stern growls, shouts and emotive croons into the mix without being to awfully clichéd or overdone.

If there was an album that seemed a perfect fit for a metalized sermon, it’s Creator with its uplifting layered melodies and strands of grace and beauty amid the cascading ebb and flow of the songs. Rather than beat or threaten you with fire and brimstone or whine you into submission with Christian rhetoric, Hands simply ask you to take their hand and let them guide you through the faith’s positive and uplifting elements. Things really start to click on the second track “Rescue” and especially the third track, “Brightest” with some truly magnificent melodies and burly lurch that could accompany the heavens opening up and angels descending upon us. The same can be said for the later stages of “Robed in Majesty”. I have not heard melodies like this since my very favorite Christian band, Life In Your Way called it quits.

There are some expansive moments mixes in as the bands sometimes delves into more dichotomous, post rock tidal flows and thunderous peaks as heard on the seven minute “The Heavens and the Earth” with a glorious chorus. “Resistance” could even have come of a Finnish death doom album with its rending, somber harmony and mood. There are also some heaving, hefty moments such as “Of the Flesh”, “The Least of These” and “Returning” which show the heavier side of Hands, though they will never be confused for label mates Impending Doom.

The only downside to an otherwise truly awesome album is the 13 minutes of silence after the closing title track that segues into hidden track “Revelation”. Both stunning tracks derailed by the lengthy break, with both being just an utterly beautiful Sleeping Giant-ish hymnals. As usual, this album wont be for everyone because of the Christian approach, but those open minded enough to check on Creator will discover one of the more moving and beautiful albums of 2009.