Runaway City

Armored Heart
Vertusent Music Group

The Darling family they ain’t. Hailing from Mount Airy, N.C. (the real-life Mayberry of “The Andy Griffith Show”), the four members of Runaway City have committed themselves not to bluegrass but completely competent modern rock in the vein of Daughtry and Nickelback and Breaking Benjamin and just about every other grittily sung, guitar-driven song on the radio.

Since even straight rock ‘n’ roll can sometimes stump Christian bands, that is actually a compliment. The deceptively catchy songs on the band’s debut (and nicely titled) album “Armored Heart” are large, in charge and nothing if not heartfelt.

Alabamians might be interested in noting that the artwork and layout for the record are the work of Birmingham-based celebrity indie-rock photographer Ryan Russell. Also the album was recorded in Birmingham’s Syncromesh Studios.