Balance Of Power

Released in 1990, Balance Of Power was the album that was released after 1986's Branded, which many consider the transition album that saw Undercover segue from a happy New Wave-y punk band to a darker, more introverted post punk alternative band, much like The Cult. Balance Of Power continued on in that darker path, resulting in an album that is dark, moody and probably the heaviest they have released.
After the departure of Bill Walden and the introduction of Sim Wilson as new lead vocalist on Branded, Undercover began a change in musical and lyrical direction. Branded was a bridge between the two ears and has both a sense of the previous releases as well as hinting toward what was to follow.
What was to follow was fully realized with 1990's "Balance of Power." Much heavier, darker and introspective, the keyboard driven pop punk was also but gone and replaced with layers of guitars on top of louder and heavier drums. Where Sim brought a darker vocal technique on "Branded" with the impressive operatic voice, there is something rougher and tougher here.
The new musical direction also matched the new lyrical direction with more social issues, personal failings and humbling doubts taking more of the lyrical center. This whole directing paradigm shift also brought the band out of the 80's bright colors and into the 1990's grays.
The album was recorded under very dark circumstances: Gym Nicholson's wife, shortly after their marriage, died during routine surgery, and her death fills every corner of Balance of Power.
The album was rated number 70 in HM Magazine's Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time

Lineup

Sim Wilson - Lead Vocals
Gym Nicholson - Guitar/Vocals
Joey Taylor "Ojo" - Bass/Keyboards
Gary Dean Olson - Drums/Vocals

Guests

Dennis Murphy - Backing Vocals
Inki Svensson - Backing Vocals