‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’ by Valley of Salt is an awe-inspiring 10-track rock album. Its tracks create a dynamic ambience, with its almost operatic soundscape, that fits with its themes of faith, as it recounts the life of John the Baptist track-by-track.
Each track leaves an intense impression on the listener, reflecting the narrator’s connection to his faith and his dedication to telling this story.
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‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’: Track-by-Track
‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’: ‘The Love of God Is All Around Us’- ‘What Did You See’
‘The Love of God Is All Around Us’ sets the scene, with its guitars spiralling to this vibrant descending melody as the song progresses. The track behaves as an overture of sorts, wading us through the swelling highs and crawling lows that find themselves in this awe-inspiring, expansive tale.
These dynamic, oscillating melodies are followed by ‘Don’t Be Afraid’, the track that tells the story John the Baptist’s birth. It keeps up the energy from the last track, building on it with deep, cascading guitar rhythms while the lyrics declare that prayers have been answered.
“…His name is John…
…Bless him…
…He will prepare the way,…
….He will serve them without fail…
…All will rejoice at his birth…”.
Both these tracks capture this quiet sense of intensity that feels familiar, yet tremulous. Sharp yet cascading, encouraging a blind sort of faith.
‘Wilderness Interlude’ on the other hand is a quiet, piano-led interlude with a quiet build. A subtle bass and cascading cymbals along with pulsating rhythms lead us through this narrative. This creates this sense of movement that feels uplifting, yet dangerous.
This calm is broken by a spiralling guitar solo and percussion, that leads into a a somewhat moody, cascading expansion that fades out before the next track.
‘What Did You See’ is led by a moody acoustic guitar, deep and ominous. This builds into a soundscape of quick-paced rhythms and heavy melodies while our narrator seemingly describes our main protagonist in awe.
‘…What did you go out to see?…
….A man, wild and free…
…Strong and wild was he…
….His faith was strong as can be…”.
Poignant strings bridge the climax of the track before a bright, fiddle-led instrumental takes over as the song fades out. This seemingly signifying a renewed sense of hope in faith.
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‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’: ‘I Wait For You’- ‘His Glory’
‘I Wait For You’ is a quiet expression of faith that feels almost washed in this sense of vulnerability and moving joy. The track’s quiet vulnerability makes it a definite stand-out, while piano melodies, cymbals and guitars cascade over the track. The song feels like a strong indication of a collective sense of faith, as it features the first instance of a choir in unison.
The song’s quiet mood builds into this epic, dramatic and glorious build that moves and moves before fading out. A quiet strength that is now present and alive in the soundscape.
‘He Walks’ begins with this sort of marching rhythm that creates an intense sense of movement on the track. The song has this dark edge to it that feels unrelenting, with its climax lulling us towards something that feels dark and inevitable. Strings and piano add even more to this intense mood and shift in tone.
‘His Glory’ takes on that dark mood and turns it into something quiet yet darker and more intense. We move through this intense, pulsating ascending spiral, with elements of folk to create this clear sense that a story is being told. We end on vocals that ominously promise, “…glory, glory, change is coming…”.
‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’: ‘Machaerus’- ‘I Receive You’
‘Machaerus’ is a track that seems to personify the fortress where John the Baptist was imprisoned towards the end of his life. The track is off-beat, evoking the mood of a desert wind that seems to spiral. This almost as though the land itself mourns its role with a finality that is captured with a sharpness that seems to mimic a knife.
All of this driving towards an epic build-up.
“…What do I feel inside?
Why do I cry?…
…John is gone because of me…”.
‘Holy Holy Is the Lord’ is a bright track led by building percussion, a familiar melody and a choir. The track uses its instrumentation and lyrics to keep the faith, holding on to hope after something tragic. The soundscape is expansive, moving and not dark.
It inspires this feeling of warmth and comfort before the true end of this odyssey.
‘I Receive You’ serves as an epilogue, cascading, bright and reassuring. “…Seek and you will find it, love and you will feel it. I will be with you…”. The track soon builds into something bright, loud and glorious, but also settled. Faith feels secure and this dynamic journey we’ve been on keeps us grounded.
The song feels like a final, sound, warm embrace.
Conclusion
‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’ by Valley of Salt is a moving album that stays with you. Each track takes you on a journey, moving through acts that build on the last, while the story of John the Baptist feels realised and well-told.
Moving, dynamic and cascading, the album makes for a memorable listen.
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You’ll find my correspondence with Valley of Salt below, where they talk about the album, what inspired it, their collaboration with Marty-Wilson Piper and more!
On ‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’
1. Congratulations on the release of ‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness:The Story of John the Baptist’! How does it feel now that the album is out?
Brian: Thank you! It feels great that the album is finally out. It was years in the making and truly a dream come true for me. Finishing it was a real pleasure and something I’ve been passionate about for a long time.
2. Could you walk us through the process of making this album? What inspired its themes and messaging?
Brian: I started writing this album during the COVID pandemic. At that time, I was interested in reconnecting with playing the guitar. I had played professionally for many years but stopped due to work and business obligations.
Through a songwriting guidance program on Skype, I connected with Marty Willson-Piper from The Church. He noticed my tendency to write more complex music and suggested trying something progressive, in the style of Yes or Rush. That challenge inspired me to write the first song on the album, The Love of God Is All Around Us.
From there, Marty and I discussed creating a concept album. He suggested the idea of writing about John the Baptist, which resonated deeply with me because of my faith. John the Baptist is a monumental figure in the Bible—a man who prepared the way for Jesus. I sought to tell his story through the album, from his miraculous birth to his eventual death.
3. The tracks on the album feel epic, awe-inspiring, and moving. Is there a track that particularly moves you or stands out to you?
Brian: Absolutely. My favorite track is Don’t Be Afraid. It’s about the birth of John the Baptist and has a lot of dynamic shifts. The song starts out with a vibe reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, transitions into a soft, melodic section, and then builds back up. It also has several time changes, which keep it exciting. That track really captures the spirit of the album for me.
On Marty-Wilson Piper & Valley of Salt
4. Could you tell us a bit more about how your collaboration with Marty Willson-Piper came about?
Brian: As I mentioned earlier, I connected with Marty through his songwriting guidance program, which is part of the Sessioneer series available on his website. Marty is incredibly talented—he’s been a member of The Church, All About Eve, and The Saints. He has an amazing ear for songwriting and production. I’m eternally grateful for his input and how the album turned out. His guidance was invaluable.
5. How did Valley of Salt get its start? Could you tell us a bit about your musical journey?
Brian: Valley of Salt is essentially a band centered around my vision, with players changing depending on the project. My musical journey began in third grade when I started playing guitar. I later earned a degree in music and played professionally in rock and jazz bands until my 30s. Valley of Salt is a continuation of that journey, allowing me to bring my ideas to life with the help of talented collaborators.
6. How has faith informed your approach to creating art?
Brian: Faith has played a huge role in shaping my music and this album in particular. Without my faith, this project wouldn’t have been possible. It’s the foundation that guided me through the creative process and inspired the message of the album.
Message for Listeners & Aspiring Artists
7. Do you have a message for your listeners?
Brian: I hope everyone enjoys listening to this album. Faith played a big part in its creation, and the message is universal. It’s meant to inspire and connect with people from all walks of life. I’d love for listeners to take something meaningful away from it.
8. Lastly, is there anything you’d like to share? Especially a message for artists like yourself?
Brian: Yes, absolutely. If you have a dream or a goal, don’t wait—go for it. Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it feels daunting. It’s never too late to pursue what you’re passionate about.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!
Listen to ‘Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: The Story of John the Baptist’ by Valley of Salt here:
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