Neal Morse – Jesus Christ The Exorcist – Album Review

When trolling through the plethora of emails you receive from PR’s and record labels you need something you grab your attention, two things here, the one and only Neal Morse and the title, Jesus Christ The Exorcist kinda jumps out at you. Without knowing the back-story to why Mr Morse ended up here you could be mistaken in thinking he has lost the plot.

The latter aside, what we have here is a Rock Musical telling the story of JC, some of you may know the story, for those who don’t, no spoilers here. But for those invested in said story and who also love to Rock, here you have the best of both worlds wrapped up in one beautiful package all delivered by Mr Morse and co. via some sublime musicianship. Prog-tastic it is, beautifully melodic and equally beautifully written you can see how it transfers to the live stage and performance with its unravelling drama and theatrical quality, through some passionate and emotive songwriting.

Jesus Christ The Exorcist had it’s live world premiere in 2018 and was performed by a Prog Rock all-star cast featuring Neal Morse (keys, guitar), Paul Bielatowicz (lead guitar), Bill Hubauer (keys), Randy George (bass), and Eric Gillette (drums). Featured vocalists included Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard, Enchant), Nick D’Virgilio (Big, Big Train, Spock’s Beard), Jake Livgren (Protokaw), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Wil Morse and more. Also, John Schlitt (Petra) and Rick Florian (White Heart) have been added to the performance as well.

If you are a fan of musicals you can definitely appreciate what Neal and co. have accomplished here, for anyone outside of the genre it can be a challenge but a worthy challenge to embrace, if you dig your Prog, Rock and Metal take a deep breath and hit play and if you are already a fan Neal Morse you’re already 50% there. It’s easy on the ear and massively impressive as a recording, well worth checking out.

Jesus Christ The Exorcist is out now via Frontiers Music.

Tracklist:

CD1

1. Introduction
2. Overture
3. Getaway
4. Gather The People
5. Jesus’ Baptism
6. Jesus’ Temptation
7. There’s A Highway
8. The Woman Of Seven Devils
9. Free At Last
10. The Madman Of The Gadarenes
11. Love Has Called My Name
12. Better Weather
13. The Keys To The Kingdom
14. Get Behind Me Satan

CD2

1. He Must Go To The Cross
2. Jerusalem
3. Hearts Full Of Holes
4. The Last Supper
5. Gethsemane
6. Jesus Before The Council And Peter’s Denial
7. Judas’ Death
8. Jesus Before Pilate And The Crucifixion
9. Mary At The Tomb
10. The Greatest Love Of All
11. Love Has Called My Name (Reprise)

Full cast:

Ted Leonard – Jesus

Talon David – Mary Magdalene

Nick D’Virgilio – Judas Iscariot

Rick Florian – The Devil

Matt Smith – John the Baptist

Jake Livgren – Peter and Caiaphas

Neal Morse – Pilate, Demon 1, Disciple 1

Mark Pogue – Israelite 1, the Madman of the Gadarenes, Pharisee 2

Wil Morse – Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1

Gabe Klein – Demon 2, Pharisee 4

Gideon Klein – Demon 4

Julie Harrison – Servant Girl