This month Ben and Alex delve into ‘The Reckoning’, Needtobreathe’s fourth studio album.

Described variously as a Southern Rock/Alternative/Country/Folk outfit the South Carolina quartet have produced half a dozen albums but perhaps none as ambitious as The Reckoning.

Embracing both sides of the band by emphasising brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart's emotional songwriting while trying out new sounds and musical approaches, The Reckoning evokes themes of wandering and longing in a timeless sound.

A somewhat eclectic record with an ability to effortlessly merge aspects of classic rock, blues, folk, pop, Springsteen inspired Americana, bluegrass, and country, The Reckoning has been described by various critics as, “a delightful hodge-podge of rootsy folk and crunching alternative rock”, “genre busting”, “a mix of heartland rock & roll and chest-thumping, rafter-reaching uplift” and “grandiose pop”.

It has, however, also been labeled “bombastic and corny”, “over sentimental stadium schlock” consisting of “vast gospel choirs and gaudy lyrics”, skating dangerously close to “Meatloaf/Josh Groban territory of puffery”.

So is this their magnum opus, a flawed masterpiece or merely an enjoyable blip on the Needtobreathe artistic timeline? What do Ben and Alex reckon of The Reckoning?

Just click on that Play button and find out.