Christian Rock Rocks

Leaders Sign to Facedown Records

2012-01-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

Hollister, California-based metal/hardcore crossover Leaders have joined the Facedown family. Before going through a line-up and name change in 2011, Leaders shared the stage with Flyleaf, Blindside, and Brian "Head" Welch as ALLORNOTHING. Now, Leaders are storming onto the hardcore and metal scenes with their powerful debut album Now We Are Free. Comprised of 10 tracks engineered by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios (As Blood Runs Black, All Shall Perish, In the Midst of Lions), Now We Are Free blends metal and hardcore influences seamlessly and is a must have album for fans of Hatebreed and Living Sacrifice.
Leaders will be taking their live show on the road and will be on tour for all of 2012. The band describes their live shows as "powerful, intimate, and real. With enough character and groove to the rhythm that it makes you want to move." Now, they look forward to touring with a solid line-up and new music. "We love to give it our all when we play shows so that everyone can see the passion we have."

Leaders will release Now We Are Free, their debut full length with Facedown Records on March 27, 2012, but you can hear the first single "Conviction" here: http://www.facebook.com/leadersmetal

Leaders will make their Facedown Fest debut this spring. www.facedownfest.com

Pre-order Now We Are Free here: http://facedown.merchnow.com/products/preorders

Indie Picks: A Year or Two In Review

2012-01-27T19:58:00.000-05:00

Kye Kye - Young Love

Kye Kye are a band of harmonious melody, to sum it up in a few words. The Northwestern four piece plays a mix of experimental and indie music, creating an amalgam of electronic soundscapes, soothing vocals, and catchy drum loops. On their latest album, Young Love, the band have crafted a truly unique expression of faith and love, all wrapped up in the album's 11 songs. The strong opener, "Reach," sets an ambient pace, which is then followed by looped beats and electronics, along with vocalist Olga's soft, delicate voice, which especially shines on the delightful, acoustic-driven "Rooftops." Young Love is a highly recommended album if you are into bands such as Future of Forestry and perhaps The Ember Days, and you can also catch Kye Kye live this spring, on tour with John Mark McMillan.

From Indian Lakes - The Man With Wooden Legs

From Indian Lakes have undoubtedly been one of my favorite bands over the past year, after discovering their late 2009 release The Man With Wooden Legs. The Californian quintet plays a fresh, edgy, and sometimes calming brand of indie rock, that is to be marveled at. Vocalist Joey Vannucci's lyrics are very introspective, and show wisdom and honesty beyond his age, and his range consists of anywhere from soft falsettos to near screams. "I Have No Answers" and "We Are Invincible" show off the more vibrant side of From Indian Lakes, full of fluid guitar riffs, and remarkable percussion, while tunes such as "Away!" and "I Am Aware" reveal the band's softer side, with equally as much passion (the band also released an acoustic EP last fall, which can be streamed here). The Man With Wooden is truly a hidden gem, and an album that will be sure to stick with its listener over the years. If that isn't enough, the band have a new, full length album coming out this year, which is certainly much anticipated.

Quiet Science - Dark Words on Dark Wings

Quiet Science hail out of Florida, and are an alternative/glam rock trio. Dusting over intense drums and echoing guitars are heavy doses of synths, adding something unique to the songs. Throughout the 10 song venture of Dark Words on Dark Wings, the band explore themes of finding hope in dark times, and fighting the good fight. The album's lead single, "Runner," is oh so catchy, and the chorus will be sure to hook any listener, unknowingly, while "A Dying Breed" has an aggressive drive to it, and harmonies between lead vocalist Mark Nathan and Daisy Elisabeth. "A Feast For Crows" is another one of the album's strongest points, littered with danceable electronics, and swooning vocals. If you're looking for some catchy, passionate alternative rock, and perhaps enjoy synth-heavy songs from the 80s, then Quiet Science might just be the band you are looking for. Also, be sure to check out their debut album as well, 2010's [With/Without].

Theatre Breaks Loose - Stranger Places, Greater Things

Playing an energetic blend of alternative pop rock is Theatre Breaks Loose, from Oklahoma City. The band just released their new EP, Stranger Places, Greater Things, this past November, and it shows some good potential from a young band. The band have not one, but two vocalists, which are backed by crisp guitars, and lyrics full of love, hopes, and dreams. The EP's closer, "Stranger Places, Greater Things," shows a realization that we are part of something bigger in life, and not alone in struggles, while "Costa Rica" is a pretty serious, upbeat love song, and for good measure, there's even a piano ballad, "Buried Alive." Overall, I can see Theatre Breaks Loose being a band to be listened to driving around with windows rolled down on a summer day, the perfect setting for some fun alternative rock, with a slight pop punk influence, which is exactly what the six song EP Stranger Places, Greater Things brings with it.

A Hope For Home - In Abstraction

2012-01-27T15:10:00.005-05:00

Artist: A Hope For Home
Album: In Abstraction
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Label: Facedown Records

Let me be completely honest, I didn’t have an easy time writing this. Probably the reason it’s coming so incredibly late. Also, when you personally know a few of the members, it makes it a bit difficult to not be bias. It’s especially hard when one of their mother’s was your 5th grade teacher, and was far too kind to you when you least deserved it. When a band releases an album that takes this long to review, you know it has something about it that makes it “special”. A Hope For Home has been a familiar name with me for many, many years. I remember seeing them back when they were just a local band, and had just started playing shows, and they did strange things with their guitars, like using a violin bow to make eerie sounds. But fast forward 5 years, and now you have one of Facedown Records most well known bands, and to be frank, one of the most mature sounding bands ever on the roster.

In Abstraction is art. It’s not just simply music, and I don’t think the boys in A Hope For Home would have it any other way. From the first listen you immediately hear a change in sound from their previous albums, but not at all a retreat from their aggressiveness. The music is very ambient, and gives of an Explosions In The Sky vibe, but then when the vocals cut in, and it evolves in to more of a Cult Of Luna sound. This sound continues for the entire album, it never really fluctuates, which is where I feel it loses a lot of listeners. This album can be described as a mood album, an album that you have to been in a certain type of mind set to fully grasp everything it has to offer.

Lyrically, I think this is the albums strongest factor. Nathan Winchell’s lyrics have always been a huge part of A Hope For Home, and nothing has changed with In Abstraction. If anything, they have gotten more deep, and visual. The lyrics really focus on a spiritual connection with nature, and how we as humans find God in his creations, whether it’s the roaring ocean, the rigid mountains, or the vastness of space, we can find Him just by observing these elements. For me personally, I love the visuals that they give through the lyrics, and how well they mix with the instrumentals.

Overall: In Abstraction is a concept album, so it’s hard to do a track by track review of it. I think A Hope For Home has found a sound that really defines who they are as a band. Some won’t find enjoyment of the “new” sound, but some need it. Though it is only 7 songs long, there isn’t a song that is under 5 minutes, and another factor that plays in to the listener’s longevity. I urge you to give this album a shot, or at least read the lyrics. You won’t regret either. Recommended for fans of: Hands, Russian Circles, Cult of Luna; post-rock bands.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by Tabor Brown

Tracklisting:

Calm
Out Of Ruin, Misery
Firewind
Tides
The House Where You Were Born
Weaved
Everything That Rises Must Converge

(Buy Here)

The Skies Revolt Want You to Choose Your Own Adventure

2012-01-26T21:22:00.001-05:00

THE SKIES REVOLT WANT YOU

TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE AND

ENTER TO WIN A SUPER NINTENDO

The Skies Revolt are taking a step back in time! Embrace your childhood memories and head on over to www.theskiesrevolt.com to see the boys embark on an epic adventure in which you choose what happens next! Here’s a hint, watch out for bears!

While you’re there check out a chance to win your very own Super Nintendo! To enter simply draw a picture of what you think “action and adventure” look like and submit to:
Superdupernintendo@gmail.com

From there the band will post all the pictures on their Facebook. The person with the most “likes” on their picture will win the Super Nintendo! This contest will end March 20th so get your photos in now!

You can still check out The Skies Revolt brand new video “Its All in the Reflexes” exclusively at hmmagazine.com. The band's new album, Some Kind of Cosmonaut, will be out February 18th.

Sinai Vessel - Labor Pains

2012-01-26T20:57:00.000-05:00

Artist: Sinai Vessel
Album: Labor Pains
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Label: None

Music is something that with the right intentions, can really connect with the listener on a deeper level. Sinai Vessel do a good job of this. I first discovered the music of Sinai Vessel, headed by Caleb Cordes, from a large independent music site a few years ago, but it wasn't until the summer of 2011 that I really gave a listen to their sometimes upbeat, sometimes somber taste of indie rock. By the time the band's new album Labor Pains arrived, I was more than ready to dig into it.

The songs on Labor Pains each have their own individual feel, while containing a cohesiveness that is rare to come by these days. There are moments of acoustic subtlety, energetic drums, pulsating electric guitars, and the sometimes intimate, yet always commanding, vocals of Caleb Cordes, which show a truly great range. Lyrically, Labor Pains is a spiritually very deep album, revealing that a good deal of thought, introspect, and intellect were put into the writing.

A strummed guitar buzzes into the speakers to introduce "Venture," which has a lovely, pure sense to it, reflecting the loving relationship between God and his children. "Wisteria" follows with a raucous groove of untapped energy, with guitars that progress from electric to acoustic within a measure, before the electric resurfaces, along with the lyric "break free!" Raw emotion is poured into "Heels of Lions," a slow, orchestrated song, which builds into an eerie, hallow yell towards the song's climax, which is chill inducing. The rhythmically heavy "Untitled" dwells heavily on the bass line, and lyrically, expresses an honest conversation with God, stating "You could be with anyone else, I'd make a better wife to hell itself." Despite being acoustically driven, "Vows" is easily the most upbeat song on Labor Pains, abounding in worship, proclaiming "Where You go, I'll go, where You stay, I'll stay as well."

"Yet Lovely" takes on a different note, and is backed by an ambience of strings, which build into a dramatic crescendo of sound, taking a much more diverse feel from anything else on the album. "The Submariner" also has a build up, but into a collection of gang vocals, before some of Labor Pains' best lyrics, showing a spiritual renewal, are unveiled to close the song; "They call it a revival but it's more like a birth, when the marrow in my bones begins to mix with the earth and the water in my lungs mixes as mud with the dirt, and "hallelujah" is recorded as my first spoken word." Based off of the hymn "My God, I Know, I Feel Thee Mine" by Charles Wesley is the Sinai Vessel arrangement,"Parturition," sounding like it was tracked live to tape. The song begins with a folk sounding guitar part, which ends up fueling the intimacy of the song, not only just a man and a guitar, but also showing the love between the Father and a son, which sums up Labor Pains as a whole.

Overall: Caleb Cordes, assisted by David Wimbish, makes up Sinai Vessel's inception of Labor Pains, an album conveying deep honesty and passion driven by an introspection of faith, expressed through well written lyrics and indie rock full of grooves. The production quality gives off the feeling of what an indie album should sound like, a sharp rawness that only adds to a near live, intimate setting. Labor Pains is more than simply a collection of songs, and it is more than just another album, but instead is a deep experience of worship, composed of the joys and pains of a spiritual birth. I can truly see it being a timeless album, showing that Sinai Vessel certainly have the talent to be recognized among the likes of faith-driven indie rock bands such as My Epic and Ascend The Hill.

Rating: 9.5/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Venture
Wisteria
Heels of Lions
Untitled
Vows
Yet Lovely
The Submariner
Parturition

(Pay What You Want Download)

Blessed By A Broken Heart - Feel The Power

2012-01-26T11:05:00.001-05:00

Artist: Blessed By A Broken Heart
Album: Feel The Power
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Label: Tooth & Nail Records

After touring extensively as a part of the metal scene and an array of member changes, Blessed By A Broken Heart are back in 2012 with a new album, and a bit of a new direction. This time around, the screaming is cut to a minimum, still showing up from time to time, but taking a backseat to the many harmonic vocals, sounding right out of the 80s. In fact, Feel The Power is a modern take on the hair metal and rock n' roll of the 80s, a la bands like Stryper or Bon Jovi, accented with small hints of their past metalcore antics.

"Deathwish" and "Shut Up and Rock" start off Feel The Power with a rush of fist pumping, high adrenaline tunes, the latter drawing on a southern rock influence, courtesy of Dallas Taylor of Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. Following up two tracks later is the album's single, "Forever." There's something about "Forever" that just strikes me as catchy, with layered vocal harmonies in the chorus, and shredding riffs in the verses.

In true 80s style, there is of course a power ballad on Feel The Power, "I've Got You." In fact, "I've Got You" is vocally one of the strongest points of the album, really showing off frontman Tony Gambino's chops, in much more of a solo position, as compared to being backing by harmonies or gang vocals. The album's real heavy hitter, "Innocent Blood," strikes late in the rotation, as track number 11, and shows a real aggression. Gang vocals, growls, and chugging guitars all take their rightful places in the song, alongside a great guitar solo, which Feel The Power is filled with.

Although Feel The Power is a good album, it is not for everyone. For one thing, if you are not a big fan of 80s rock and metal, along with layers and layers of vocal harmonies, you probably won't enjoy this album. There is nothing too serious talked about on Feel The Power, with the exception of a few nods to faith. The album takes some time to get used to, and it is a fun listen, but there not much to delve into lyrically, although the opener "Deathwish" does speak of the pain and downfall of addictions.

Overall: Blessed By A Broken Heart have put out a fun album with Feel The Power, the band's Tooth & Nail debut. Past fans looking for the band's 80s-tinged metalcore will not find much of that sound on this release, but instead more of an 80s rock album, complete with lots of shredding riffs, guitar solos, harmonic vocals, and even a power ballad. Feel The Power is an undoubtedly fun and catchy listen, and may take some time to get used to, with the band's new direction, but if you are a fan of any of the mentioned qualities that this album contains, or are still stuck in the 80s as Blessed are, then certainly give it a spin, and as the band say, shut up and rock!

Rating: 7/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Deathwish
Shut Up and Rock
Love Nightmare
Forever
Thunder Dome
Holdin' Back For Nothin'
I've Got You
Rockin' All Night
Scream It Like You Mean It
Skate or Die
Innocent Blood
Sleepless Nights

(Buy Here)

Sent By Ravens to Release Mean What You Say

2012-01-24T20:59:00.001-05:00

TOOTH & NAIL’S SENT BY RAVENS WILL RELEASE SOPHOMORE ALBUM
MEAN WHAT YOU SAY ON FEBRUARY 28th

SEATTLE, WA –January 24, 2012 –Tooth & Nail Records’ Sent By Ravens is ready to release their sophomore label album, Mean What You Say, on February 28. This album is a follow-up to their 2010 breakout hit, Our Graceful Words, which debuted at No. 34 on Billboard Heatseekers Chart. In anticipation of their release, the band has posted a new song, “We’re All Liars,” up now on their Facebook and YouTube.

With their sophomore effort Mean What You Say, Sent By Ravens have taken their driving modern rock sound and rounded it out, expanded its diversity while staying true to a base of powerful vocals and soaring guitar tones. The new album was produced in Nashville with Rob Hawkins (Fireflight, Disciple) and mixed by Ainslie Grosser. Mean What You Say is a polished collection of songs that contain moments that are sometimes delicate and sometimes raw.

Frontman Zach Riner’s lyrics and their meaning’s are the heart behind Mean What You Say. He does not mince words as he speaks to the hunger for spiritual authenticity in each of us. On the song “Listen” he addresses the idea that transparency, rather than preaching, produces lasting impact. And on the debut Rock radio single, “Learn From the Night,” he reminds the listener that we must let go of pride and admit our own mistakes if we want to find healing in relationships.

“I want to be true to what I believe,” adds Riner. “I’m fine if someone is offended or disagrees with me, but not if it was because I lacked passion. I am no preacher, I only feel qualified to write songs and speak about what I believe and talk sincerely with people - that’s what I’ll stick with.”

Stay tuned for more information on this release and the band’s touring schedule. Sent By Ravens hails from South Carolina and is composed of Zach Riner, Vocals, Andy O'neal, Guitar, JJ Leonard, Guitar, Jon Arena, Bass and Dane Andersen, Drums.

Mean What You Say Track Listing:
1. Prudence
2. Listen
3. Rebuild, Release
4. Learn From The Night
5. Mean What You Say
6. However Long It Takes
7. Need It Today
8. Never Be Enough
9. We're All Liars
10. Best In Me

http://www.twitter.com/sentbyravens
http://www.facebook.com/sentbyravens

New Mychildren Mybride Album Due Out March 13th

2012-01-24T20:51:00.001-05:00

MyChildren MyBride out March 13 on Solid State Records

Band to set out on two-month tour with For Today, A Skylit Drive

Jan 24, 2012 - Solid State Records is pleased to announce the release of MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's third full-length album, a self-titled effort available online and in stores everywhere March 13.

The eagerly awaited album is the band's third release in six years, and the first since 2010's lauded Lost Boy, which debuted at #183 on the Billboard Top 200.

For MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE, the self-titled album represents a new chapter for the band, and stamps the advent of a refined sound the members have been chasing since MCMB's inception.

"That's exactly what this album is, a new beginning," says guitarist Robert Bloomfield. "I really do feel we found our sound. It's definitely MCMB still, but with this new flare that we've all loved and understood but never figured out a way to translate it to our music."

Recorded with esteemed producer Zeuss (Hatebreed, Shadows Fall), MyChildren MyBride finds the band reaching deep mentally and emotionally for what is without a doubt their crowning achievement thus far, a hard-hitting, experimental, cinematic opus that will set a fire in the hearts of old and new fans alike. With a no-holds-barred approach to programming and effects, and good, old-fashioned brutal riffage - not to mention a new level of dynamics from frontman Matthew Hasting - MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE have boldly redefined themselves for this new chapter of their career.

"I feel like everything we've done as a band all comes together in this one record," Bloomfield says. "Everything we've learned along the way. We put all our love and hate into it. It's the best album in our career so far."

In celebration of the release, the band will be setting sail on a two-month trek alongside FOR TODAY, A SKYLIT DRIVE, STICK TO YOUR GUNS and MAKE ME FAMOUS that includes dozens of stops throughout the U.S. and Canada, culminating in a spot at the infamous New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in Worcester, MA.

Fight The Silence Tour with FOR TODAY, A SKYLIT DRIVE, STICK TO YOUR GUNS and MAKE ME FAMOUS
Mar 9 - Nashville TN @ Rockettown
Mar 10 - Douglasville GA @ The 7 Venue
Mar 11 - Jacksonville FL @ Murray Hill Theater
Mar 12 - Pensacola FL @ American Legion Hall
Mar 18 - Houston TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater (Houston We Have a Problem Fest)
Mar 20 - Tucson AZ @ The Rock
Mar 21 - Anaheim CA @ House of Blues
Mar 23 - Simi Valley CA @ 118 West
Mar 24 - San Diego CA @ Soma
Mar 25 - Sacramento CA @ Ace of Spades
Mar 28 - Iowa City IA @ Blue Moose Tap House
Mar 29 - St Paul MN @ Station 4
Mar 31 - Joilet IN @ Mojoes
Apr 1 - Lousville KY @ Expo Five
Apr 3 - Memphis TN @ New Daisy Theater
Apr 4 - Tulsa OK @ Marquee Theater
Apr 5 - East St Louis IL @ Pop's
Apr 6 - Dayton, OH @ The Attic
Apr 7 - Pontiac MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom
Apr 8 - Buffalo NY @ Club Infinity
Apr 10 - Pittsburgh PA @ The Altar Bar
Apr 11 - Toronto ON @ Annex Wreckroom
Apr 12 - Montreal QU @ La Tuilpe
Apr 13 - New York NY @ Gramercy Theater
Apr 14 - Allentown PA @ Crocodile Rock Cafe
Apr 15 - Sayerville NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Apr 17 - Raleigh NC @ Lincoln Theater
Apr 18 - Charlotte NC @ Amos
Apr 19 - Richmond VA @ Kingdom
Apr 20 - Poughkeepsie NY @ The Chance
Apr 22 - Worcester MA @ The Palladium (Metalfest)

Sons to Release Keep Quiet on February 14th

2012-01-23T16:52:00.000-05:00

NASHVILLE, TN – January 23, 2012 – SONS (formerly Sons of God) just announced the February 14th release of their debut full length album titled Keep Quiet. The indie rock band posted the album trailer (seen below) to give fans a preview of the highly anticipated record.

After signing with Slospeak Records at the end of 2011, SONS started preparing for the album release and winter tour, which came to a close last weekend. “We met so many great people while on the road. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to see them singing along to songs from the EP (2010) and reacting so well to the new tracks,” says lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.

The twelve track record is filled with the raw emotion and passion the band is known for - in addition to a wide vocal range, impressive instrumentation and revealing yet relatable lyrics. A re-recorded version of “Doubt” is SONS’ first radio single and charted at #2 Most Added on the BDS Chart its first week out.

ABOUT SONS:

SONS is Aaron Newberry, Jacob Bundren and Ethan Kattau. Newberry began the project under the name Sons of God. He released The Genesis Prologue EP in 2010. The three tracks met excellent acclaim –getting recognition on Relevant’s “The Drop,” HM Magazine, IndieVisionMusic and more. From there, the band began working on Keep Quiet, which drops on February 14th, 2012, altered the name to SONS and signed with Slospeak Records. For more information, log on to www.sonsofficial.com

Stand Together Fest Announced

2012-01-21T09:31:00.003-05:00

Details about the first annual STAND TOGETHER FEST have been announced! The event, which is presented by Blood & Ink Records and F!GHT Clothing, will be held April 13th and 14th, 2012 at Rocketown in Nashville, Tennessee. Scheduled to perform are Zao, Saints Never Surrender (reunion), Flatfoot 56, Venia, As Hell Retreats, Debtor, and more (full line-up below).

STAND TOGETHER FEST was launched with the hopes of bringing fans of Spirit-filled hardcore and metal together for one awesome, weekend-long event... without needing to break the bank in order to attend. Featuring bands from a number of notable labels, including Ferret Music, Paper + Plastick, Ain't No Grave Records, Facedown Records, Mediaskare Records, Red Cord Records, and of course Blood & Ink Records, the line-up offers a diverse glimpse into this scene's best current offerings.

Tickets for STAND TOGETHER FEST are $45 for a two day pass and can be purchased online via the festival website at: www.standtogetherfest.com

FULL LINE-UP:

ZAO
SAINTS NEVER SURRENDER (reunion featuring all original members)
FLATFOOT 56
VENIA
AS HELL RETREATS
DEBTOR
DYNASTY
JAWBONE
MESSENGERS
DEPENDENCY
REDEEMER
THIN ICE
THIRTYSEVEN
IRONWILL
DIVIDE THE SEA
STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS
FRIENDS
WITH INCREASE
A PAST UNKNOWN
COOL COUGH (ex-members of Call To Preserve)
+ MORE TBA

A Plea For Purging to Tour with Shai Hulad

2012-01-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

A Plea for Purging is excited to announce their first tour of the new year on which they'll be joined by co-headliners Shai Hulud.

As a long time fan of Shai Hulud, I am honored to share the stage with them on our upcoming, co-headlining tour with them. I'm sure I will lose my mind every night. They are legendary. We both are very lucky to have Counterparts and Dead Icons come out and support this tour. Both bands are killer and will be a great fit to this run. - Andy Atkins

The Hope Within Hatred tour, supported by Counterparts and Dead Icons, kicks off February 23 in Danbury, CT and wraps up March 18 in Evansville, IN.
See below for full tour dates.

Plea has also just released a live video for "The Life", a song from their 2011 release The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging. The band explains how the video came about:

While on last year's "The Life and Tour of A Plea for Purging" we had a chance to hangout with our good friend, Mark Eshleman of Reel Bear Media, whom we have worked with in the past on "The Eternal Female." With one camera and an ecstatic Dayton, OH crowd, Mark shot some footage that would become a live video for "The Life." We are very happy with the way it turned out and owe it all to Mark and his neat camera.

Check out the live video for "The Life" here: http://www.youtube.com/user/FacedownRecords

Tour dates:

Feb 24 - Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theater
Feb 25 - Trenton, NJ @ Championship Bar
Feb 26 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ Eat Your Heart Out Fest
Feb 27 - Crofton, MD @ MACC
Feb 28 - Fredericksburg, VA @ The Refuge
Feb 29 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
Mar 1 - Sylaga, AL @ New Needle Tattoo
Mar 2 - Jackson, MS @ The Carter
Mar 3 - Plano, TX @ Tomcats
Mar 4 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Mar 5 - El Paso, TX @ Lips Lounge
Mar 6 - Mesa, AZ @ The Underground
Mar 7 - Anaheim, CA @ Mirror Image Studios
Mar 12 - Canoga Park, CA @ Cobalt Cafe
Mar 13 - Sunnyvale, CA @ Dosa Biryani
Mar 14 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project
Mar 15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Salt Lake Foursquare
Mar 17 - Springfield, MO @ Outland Ballroom
Mar 18 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch

Solid State Records Signs The Overseer

2012-01-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

Solid State Records is pleased to announce the addition of Arkansas road warriors THE OVERSEER to its roster of trendsetting acts.

The surging hard rock outfit has been dominating the Southern underground circuit as of late with a relentless touring schedule and a rousing catalog of pummeling riffage, savage breakdowns and vocal cord-rupturing vocals. Inspired by bands like Thrice and Underoath, THE OVERSEER have three goals with their music: To elevate, to transport the listener to a place that’s emotionally honest ... and to stir up one hell of a mess in the moshpit.

All of those elements are on full technicolor display in the band's debut single "Secrets," available for download on iTunes beginning today. The song is the first taste of THE OVERSEER's as-yet-untitled debut album, being recorded now in Atlanta’s Glow in the Dark Studios.

Download 'Secrets' on iTunes Now:
http://blpr.co/ovrsrsecrets

"Everyone almost always has a secret or something to hide, and it eats you up inside," says vocalist Anthony Rivera of "Secrets." "The best thing to do is to let it out - to 'come clean,' as the end of the song proclaims. The song is a good blend of our heavier side, which is everyone's initial take on the band, and a bit of our softer side which I feel really bleeds out well in our upcoming debut record!"

Proving they've got the work ethic to back up their talent, THE OVERSEER have spent 400 days over the last two years touring as an unsigned band and winning over the fans the good, old-fashioned way: By playing their hearts out and grabbing listeners by the throat with an artful brand of dynamic, hard-hitting rock. It's been a fruitful run for THE OVERSEER - if not always glamorous. “There’s really nothing like sleeping in a van in a different Walmart parking lot every night and showering once a week - or less,” laughs bassist Bradley Riggs.

The sacrifices paid off when the band achieved one of the goals the members had set from the beginning - getting signed to Solid State Records. "Growing up, I would buy any record they put out and was never disappointed," vocalist Anthony Rivera says of his new label home. "Signing with them has been a dream come true."

Needless to say, the excitement is mutual. "THE OVERSEER'S commitment to touring and their exciting live shows over the past couple years made them stand out to me," says Solid State A&R rep Adam Skatula. "They're able to stay on the road all year, and the energy in the room when they play is truly remarkable. After hearing the first few tracks from their debut record, we're extremely proud to have them be a part of the Solid State family."

###

For more information, please visit:
www.facebook.com/theoverseerband or www.solidstaterecords.com

Attalus - Post Tenebras Lux

2012-01-16T19:49:00.000-05:00

Artist: Attalus
Album: Post Tenebras Lux
Release Date: November 18, 2011
Label: None

Social networking has come a long way in the music industry, sometimes drastically effecting and launching the careers of some bands. Whether it be through promoting shows or debuting new music, tools such as Facebook and Twitter have become some of the most crucial parts of bands, believe it or not. It was just yesterday, while on Twitter in fact, that I stumbled upon Attalus' profile bio. Wrapped up in one sentence was one of the most interesting things I've read by a band as of late; "The music is original; the message isn't." And is the heart of the North Carolina band, who mix a strong overtones of faith in their lyrics, with a diverse blend of alternative, indie rock, pop punk, and post-hardcore.

Post Tenebras Lux, the debut full length album from Attalus, tells the story of an individual caught between light and darkness, faith and reason, and pain and healing. "Night" begins the journey of Post Tenebras Lux, with a subtle piano intro that has the tendency to send chills down your spine, before a strong wall of guitars enters the scene, which eventually build into a crescendo of the song's climax, with a fantastic array of dual vocals, and backing screams of "All is vanity!" Clocking over a minute is a sound clip of multiple painful news stories of death and war, and eventually the vocals come in, asking God why there is such thing as pain. One of the album's slower, jazzier tempos is found in the piano-soft title track, although the mood is soon shaken with the highlight "Faith and Reason," which contains strong pop punk elements, and one of the album's best lines; "Whoever said life is easy, they lied!" "Shadow of Doubt" also strongly follows, with a complex section of guitars that are sure to get you moving.

The second half of the album seems lyrical very hopeful, especially the ballad, "When I Lose My Way," a message from the perspective of God, letting the story's individual know that he is not alone. "One Defining Spark" is yet another very solid rock song, which rides the line between indie rock and post-hardcore, with some heavy and soaring riffs, and layered singing and screaming. From there, the album slows down into mainly piano filled songs, ending with the two and a half minute long "Let There Be Light," the album's conclusion. Interestingly enough however, a fuzzy hidden track comes in after a few seconds of silence, with what sounds like an energetic time of worship, an even more fitting way to conclude the journey of trying to find God's love through the dark, painful times that life is prone to throw at anyone.

Overall: Attalus have crafted an extremely well done album with Post Tenebras Lux, creating a mix of truly memorable music, with a storyline of one looking for faith in the dark parts of this world. While the album took a little time to grow on me, the final outcome was something very enjoyable and gripping, as the band dip their feet into not only alternative rock, but post-hardcore and pop punk, backed and layered by heavy doses of piano. Post Tenebras Lux certainly is a surprisingly well done album, and if you're a fan of bands such as Thrice, Emery, or edgier indie rock bands, be sure to check out Attalus.

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Night
The Problem of Pain
Post Tenebras Lux
Faith and Reason
Shadows of Doubt
When I Lose My Way
One Defining Spark
At the Rubicon
A Country Road in Two Seasons
Let There Be Light

(Buy Here)

My Heart To Fear Post Two New Songs

2012-01-13T20:23:00.004-05:00

Pennsylvania metalcore band My Heart To Fear have released two new songs off of their upcoming full length album, Into The Maelstrom, which are streaming now right here. Into The Maelstrom will be releasing over the next few weeks, with a release date to be announced. To stay up to date with the new album and My Heart To Fear's upcoming tour dates, check out the band's Facebook page.

New Music from Ruth

2012-01-13T19:14:00.001-05:00

Ruth are back after three years of new music (their covers EP), and will be releasing their new album, Payola, on January 31st. The band has also recently released a new music video for their new song "Life is Just a Dream," which can be viewed below. In addition to new music from Ruth, the band's vocalist, Dustin Ruth, also released an EP a year and a half ago, named Learn How To Love Someone, which is available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Noisetrade.

Ryan Blake Martin - Fragile EP

2012-01-10T21:03:00.000-05:00

Artist: Ryan Blake Martin
Album: Fragile EP
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Label: None

The best artists should not keep their creativity locked away, but should instead freely share it. About a year and a half ago, we were introduced to the voice of Ryan Blake Martin, guitarist of hardcore heavy hitters A Plea For Purging. With a few songs of clean vocals, listeners finally discovered Martin's pent up talent, but it wasn't fully until just about a year ago that we got a glimpse of what was yet to come; a man and his guitar. The Fragile EP is a five song collection, and finally gives the Plea listener a full glimpse of Ryan Blake Martin.

Fragile holds a somber mood over its songs, especially in the lyrical content. "Its In The Pain We Grow" flows with gently picked strings, and touches on getting through times of pain and longing in life, knowing that in the end, we will only grow with the experiences. Both "Turn It Around" and "Wandering Souls" seem to resonate on Martin's touring life, and desiring for home. A near folky guitar line is heard on "The Controller," which reminisces on a past relationship, and the EP's title track, "Fragile," discusses the weakness of people, and how fragile life and love can really be, hitting especially hard with the lines "Fragile we are, broken from the start, forgetting who we are." For those who may have heard an early version of "Fragile" last year, this version is re-recorded and has a bit more of a haunting depth, due to some new found vocal melodies which layer the leading vocals.

Overall: The Fragile EP has been long in the making, and after just about a full year of some covers here and there, we finally get a full glimpse of the solo music of Ryan Blake Martin. The EP's five somber songs show an honest introspection on the sorrowful times in life that Martin has experienced, which have come along with his numerous years of touring in A Plea For Purging. If you've been a fan of A Plea For Purging's more recent albums, which include slower songs which Blake has sang, or if you have a thing for discovering talented singer-songwriters, then the Fragile EP is certainly worth checking out.

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Its In The Pain We Grow
Turn It Around
The Controller
Wandering Souls
Fragile

(Buy Here)

Your Memorial to Hit the Studio

2012-01-03T16:19:00.002-05:00

This February Your Memorial will be heading into Covenant Studios to record their follow up album to 2010's Atonement. The band will work with engineer Josh Barber to put the album together, and then Josh Schroeder from Random Awesome will step in to do the mixing and mastering. The band expects to finish up the album in late spring for a summer 2012 release with Facedown Records. You'll be able to follow the band's process via video updates.

From the band:
It's time for a new Your Memorial record. We've been in the writing process on and off since early 2011 and right now we're working on wrapping up our third album, and sorting out all of the ideas for pre production. We're working with our friend Josh Barber, who also was the main engineer on our last record 'Atonement', at Covenant Studios in our home away from home Kansas City, MO. We are also really excited to be working with Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studio who will be mixing, mastering, and helping build soundscapes for the record. We're excited about how the songs are shaping up and can't wait to share them with everyone. We'll also be posting video updates of the whole recording process so be on the look out for those in the coming weeks!

Check Out: Vocal Few

2012-01-02T10:46:00.001-05:00

Vocal Few is the new acoustic project from Matt MacDonald (vocalist of The Classic Crime) and his wife Kristie. The duo will be releasing their debut EP, She'll Be Right, on January 10th, and it can currently be pre-ordered from the band in digital or vinyl format here, with all funds going to help the couple raise their newborn baby. Also, Vocal Few have two songs from She'll Be Right streaming at their website, which can be heard right here.

New Song from Ryan Blake Martin, Fragile EP Out January 10th

2012-01-02T10:10:00.001-05:00

Ryan Blake Martin, guitarist of Facedown Records' metal band A Plea For Purging, has just released a new song, titled "It's In The Pain We Grow," which can be streamed below. The song is off of Martin's upcoming EP, Fragile, which will be released to iTunes, AmazonMP3, and Spotify on Tuesday, January 10th. For more info on the Fragile EP and Ryan Blake Martin, check out his Facebook page.

*NEW SONG* Its In The Pain We Grow by ryanblakemartin

Sons Sign to Slospeak Records

2012-01-02T08:29:00.002-05:00

SONS SIGNS TO SLOSPEAK RECORDS, RELEASES SINGLE, EMBARKS ON JANUARY TOUR

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 2, 2012 - Slospeak Records just announced the newest addition to their roster. SONS (formerly Sons of God) signed to the indie label and immediately crafted a marketing plan for their upcoming full length release. In addition, the band will re-release “Doubt,” as its first radio single and tour the south to mid west states with sosaveme in January. "Doubt" is now on online to stream and download. The Nashville, TN based indie rock band is pleased to be share this news with both SONS and Slospeak fans.

" Slospeak is a perfect fit because it's like a small family,” says lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.“We're really happy to partner with them and go a slightly unconventional route. "Most of all, we can't wait to share our new music with the world, and the people who have patiently supported our band." shares lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.

SONS began the signing process after developing a friendship with Slospeak A&R Davy Baysinger, after meeting Newberry through mutual friends. The relationship grew, music shared and conversation increased. Soon enough, there was a deal on the table and a pen in the guys’ hands.

The band previously called the nonprofit music organization Come&Live! their home, and founder Chad Johnson is giving them a proud send off. "We are floored for where God is taking SONS and what He has in store for them. They have formed a strategic partnership with an exciting new music endeavor and we wish them the absolute best. We look forward to how God will continue to use us to pour in to SONS."

The band is looking forward to releasing their long-awaited full length album this year, along with multiple tours. With a new lineup, new music and a solid direction, SONS is slated to spend a large part of 2012 on the road.

Tour dates are as follows:
January 7 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Hebrews
January 8 - Sidney, OH @ Sidney First United Methodist Church
January 11 - Cary, NC @ Grace Church
January 12 - Cary, NC @ Colonial Baptist Church
January 13 - Greenville, SC @ The Channel
January 14 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater
January 15 - Columbus, GA @ Collision Church
January 17 - Chattanooga, TN @ TBA
January 19 - Nashville, TN @TBA
January 20 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch
January 21 - St. Louis, MO @ Melvin Theater

ABOUT SONS:
SONS is Aaron Newberry, Jacob Bundren and Ethan Kattau. Newberry began the project under the name Sons of God. He released The Genesis Prologue EP in 2010. The three tracks met excellent acclaim –getting recognition on Relevant’s “The Drop,” HM Magazine, IndieVisionMusic and more. From there, the band worked on a full length record, to release in 2012, altered the name to SONS and signed with Slospeak Records. For more information, log on to www.sonsofficial.com .

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "Legacy"/"That I May Love You"

2011-12-24T14:58:00.000-05:00

Day 12: "Legacy"

Explanation: The name “Legacy” was given because of the song it was taken from and who wrote it. The title is a tribute to Glenn Gizzi, one of our old guitar players who wrote this epic clean guitar piece in “Lessons Never Learned” which was one of the first songs written by Phinehas.

"That I May Love You"

Explanation: “That I May Love You,” was also written by Glenn. It is originally in an older Phinehas song called “True Love.” The reason why I named it “That I May Love You” is because of the correlation with the old song’s lyrics. The line goes “that I may love You as You have loved me.” It’s a prayer: that we may love Christ as He loves us. Also, if you have a physical copy of our album, then the lyric booklet connects this title to the “The Rider’s” lyrics. The last line of the album then becomes, “Your will be done, that I may love You.”

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "thegodmachine: The Rider"

2011-12-24T14:57:00.000-05:00

Day 11: "thegodmachine: The Rider"

Lyrics: "Trapped in the trenches/overrun by idols/we’ve strapped pride to our bones and sealed it with our skin/looking for a way to beat this system/we’re trading life for a corpse/entangled with the dead and silenced by our guilt/we’ve strapped pride to our bones and sealed it with our skin/i’ve encased myself in a tomb/with gods as dead as me/surrounded by stones of depravity/i’m already dead/and i’m running out of answers out running all the answers/we want more/every failure leaves me deeper in the ground/show me what i’ve become/hanging skulls on my branches/waist below the earth/i was a fool of lust since the day of my birth/oh my love i haven’t let you go/golden skies will divide to receive your soul/oh my son you’ve just begun to grow/but we’ve strapped pride to our bones and sealed it with our skin/turn this tomb to dust/oh my God You never let me go/as lifeless as statues/as fleeting as dust in the air/we’ve robbed your splendor and replaced it with deceit/replaced with ruin/show us what you see/grace come swiftly/oh God give us rest in you/like the waves upon the shore/we can’t hear you in our hearts anymore/grace come swiftly and drag the axe further towards me/the Son of man approaches the hollows/He breaks the guilt in one fell swoop/beheading our treachery/oh God would you bring a burning downpour of Your… blood/i can hear the hordes of ghosts screaming in Your choir/but would Your love make any difference in a graveyard/there’s no running now/His thunder shakes the earth/there will be no trace of betrayal/all creation trembles before You/as You lift Your hand/Your will be done"

Explanation: The final full song on “thegodmachine” is about God’s perfect and just judgment upon our hearts. The concept is that we are a garden but have become rooted in our idols, thus stealing God’s glory and putting it into our fake gods. I’m not just talking about the Old Testament “golden calf.” I’m talking about money, sex, vanity, or anything that you seek validation from or for. We are too prideful to understand the importance of not putting ourselves higher than God. The choruses are sung to us from God’s point of view. In this song he sees us as little saplings that are being strangled by the weeds we’ve surrounded ourselves with. In God’s eyes, we have turned the garden into a tomb/graveyard rather than fulfill the true purpose he has given us. The chorus is about him uprooting us from our devils and redeeming us with life. The ending of “The Rider” is from my perspective as a deformedly growing seed asking for judgment day because I cannot reconcile what I have become when I realize that the creator of the heavens has been pursuing me my entire life and I have denied him. The last couple of lines are more of an image I dreamt of: the entire world watching in fear as God lifts his hand high as if he is preparing to bring it down upon us and wipe earth’s slate clean. This song is one of my favorites off of the album because of the almost apocalyptic theme it hints towards and that no matter how messed up we are, God pursues us to the ends of the earth. I believe that Christ has the power to raise the dead, to break guilt and addiction, and to completely make beautiful what we have destroyed.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "Pendulum"

2011-12-24T14:56:00.001-05:00

Day 10: "Pendulum"

Lyrics: "Bright lights are breaking through the sky/dark clouds are pouring from your feet/the seas and valleys all run dry/reach through the sky and capture/my heart a child trembling in sight of his wake/your blood was the bridge between/a new song"

Explanation: “Pendulum” is the reprise of the entire album before the destruction of thegodmachine. It revisits almost every chorus throughout the album and combines them into one single song over a different movement and progression. The songs link somewhat lyrically and I thought it would be perfect to arrange it that way. The bridge of “From One End Of The Sky To The Other” and the chorus of “I Am The Lion” become “Reach through the sky and capture my heart.” It twists the melodies to work together so you can hear the songs in a completely different way, a worship song.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "Grace Disguised By Darkness"

2011-12-24T14:55:00.000-05:00

Day 9: "Grace Disguised By Darkness"

Lyrics: "I’ve felt their lives slip through my fingers/now i watch them circle the drain/with breath like the torrent they sink to the bottom/i’ve wasted so many chances/my efforts not a drop in the barrel/with a body like a boulder i sink to the bottom/i’ve shown my teeth and have had them kicked in one too many times/in my yearning He split the rock, and the water gushed forth/a voice keeps yelling, a voice keeps yelling/”this is where your proud waves end”/my fingers trace lines, on the surface i’m consumed/the sinking feeling, the sinking feeling/”this is where your proud waves end”/i take my first step, and i’m thrown over the edge/i tried to walk on the water but now i just swim/where is your mercy/what grace is this that saves me/i scream Your name/are You outside of Your wrath/oh God Your name/amongst the pile of dead/i see a light split the water from the heavens/i feel God glowing inside me/my heart shakes with the music of the spheres/i no longer tremble in fear/for Redemption has found me/and in Redemption comes the overflow of peace"

Explanation: This song is my story of salvation. I’ve been a Christian since I was a kid. When I wrote this song’s lyrics (4 years ago), I was in the middle of going through one of the roughest experiences in my life. I felt that I was destroying the relationships with the people I love, that I was falling further into my own depravity, and I hadn’t felt the presence of God in what seemed like years. I felt that I was in a giant pit that was half full of water, and I was drowning while clawing at the edges to lift myself out. I was dealing with depression, being exiled and excommunicated from the school I was attending, and was trying to find purpose. I fell far into alcoholism and smoking. All I could feel was that I was drowning and I couldn’t see over the wave towering over me to see if there was just another wave behind it that was going to destroy me or if there was a break. I felt that God had left me to die in this pit that I dug myself and that his mercy was nowhere to be found. Then one of my friends became a Christian. I remember calling my mom and telling her about it. My mom told me that I should tell my friend to read the book of John in the bible because it is the best description of who Jesus is. I told my friend, and then decided to take my mom’s advice and read it for myself. The words felt like they reached out and took hold of my heart and shook my entire existence. The words gave me purpose when I thought I was worthless. “Grace Disguised By Darkness” is about Christ finding me and pulling me out of the pit of depravity I had thrown myself into.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "My Horses Are Many"

2011-12-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

Day 8: "My Horses Are Many"

Lyrics: "This is what it’s like to be on fire burning through the coals/what a way to release this fury and be consumed/a false prophet and a terrible liar/trading money for souls/abomination of a broad horizon/you sold them for a frail mansion/it’s nothing but dust/your recompense and tongue will be fed down your throat/oh you’d topple the pillars of a church to make yourself a god/when you speak it’s a dead language/forfeit the grace you never preach/limb for a limb/you’ll be torn to shreds/eye for an eye/you’ll be torn to shreds/throw it down like you never want to see it again/if this is a slippery slope you’re at the bottom of the ditch/take advantage of the children yet you call yourself a man/if this is a slippery slope you’re at the bottom of the ditch/headlong"

Explanation: “My Horses Are Many” is about my experience as a kid when my family moved to Texas and was looking for a church to attend. I have had a lot of awful experiences at church, and this song is about just a handful of them. I remember distinctly going to a huge church when I was 6. In the Sunday school class, I remember seeing every kid at the end of the lesson get up and move in a single file line towards the altar. Kid after kid handed the preschool-pastor money, change, or even a check that their parents had obviously given them. As a little kid, I didn’t really understand what I was seeing until years later, but I remember feeling embarrassed because I had nothing to give and I was getting closer and closer to the end of the line. When it was my turn in front of the preschool pastor, I said “I’m sorry, but you can have my grapes” out of embarrassment, handed him the last of couple of grapes that I had been eating during the lesson, and then started crying when I saw the pastor’s look of disapproval. The line in the song, “take advantage of the children yet you call yourself a man” is NOT about those grapes that I regret giving up (haha), but the embarrassment, the brainwashing, and the peer pressure that churches use. I have nothing against tithing, but making the children in your Sunday school class get in a single file line and make it a habit of giving money at an early age is a bit of a disturbing tactic to me. This same thing happened at a different church I attended years later, only the entire congregation was in a single file line dropping money into a golden altar in front of the stage. That was after the pastor preached “tithe or you aren’t right with God” for an entire year. Bible belt America’s leaders will have some serious explaining to do on judgment day. Every shepherd will be held accountable for his flock. This song is me reacting honestly to these experiences.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "The Wishing Well"

2011-12-20T06:41:00.000-05:00

Day 7: "The Wishing Well"

Lyrics: "A thunderstorm a distant shore, i’ve witnessed this before/patience was fleeting/if a thousand coins on the ocean floor would bring back love to me/i’ll wait forever/fill the sea with dreams of a wishing well/waves bring back my coins to me/drain the deep that teems with my empty shells/slaves of sand still call for me/i once had love to give/i once had hoped to live/the rarest stones will break my bones and golden salt stops my lungs/the perfect limbs and haunting eyes begs the seas: begin to rise/man: and when these delusions come to fruition/believe you me/i will strangle myself into nothingness/and be reborn from the dream of a blasphemous fool/in my sordid pelt of mold/i’ll earn back years to me/the god of a nightmare will fall as I take back what is…/devil: mine!/worthless swine enraptured by my vanity/your soul sank under the weight of gold you offered me/man: a waste of a life, squandered my heart until it rests upon the ocean floor barren/watching the light descend deeper and deeper/a deadening feeling starts to grow in my ribs/from where I lie, the waves overflow, with my blood/devil: from where I hide, the snakes overgrown, with your blood/man: where are my years/I’ll bleed dry by myself/i wish I was someone/devil: you wish you were someone else"

Explanation: “The Wishing Well” is quite different lyrically from every other song on the album. It is the only song on thegodmachine with no redemptive qualities. I wrote the lyrics to this song after watching the movie “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.” I remember falling asleep and waking up at the end when the credits are rolling, and there was the darkest piano piece I’ve ever heard playing. It put me in such an odd and dark state of mind. I had never heard a piece so beautiful yet dissatisfied and brooding. It’s called “Going Crazy, Coast to Coast,” and it was written by Alex Wurman. If you can find it anywhere on the internet, give it a listen.

I ended up writing the lyrics and concept of “The Wishing Well” soon after. It is the story of a man flipping coins into the ocean and wishing that he was richer, stronger, better looking, happier, etc… He is completely unsatisfied with himself and what he has been given. The idea is that he regretted being himself to the point of losing his identity. The ending of the song is a conversation between the man and the devil, going back and forth over who is truly in control of the man’s life. It’s the classic idea of “selling your soul to the devil for personal gain.” In this case, it comes with a catch that is too much for the man to handle. With all of these regrets and wishes, the man’s life is torn apart. Even the devil sees him as delusional at the end; the man wishes to be important, rich, famous, and attractive because of the inner hatred for himself after wasting his life, and the devil reminds him, “no, you just want to be someone else, anybody but yourself.”

Interview with Abel at SoulFest 2011

2011-12-19T20:57:00.000-05:00

After months of what seems like procrastination, we're happy to finally release our interview with Abel, which took place on the top of Gunstock Mountain at SoulFest this summer (August 4th). The new album discussed in the interview has been completely funded since August, but if you didn't get a chance to donate, Abel are still offering perks with donation for other band finances, and more info can be found at their Facebook page. The new album will be available for free in the spring through Come&Live!, and their album Lesser Men is also available as a free gift here.

Part 1:

Part 2:

The Old-Timers are working on a new album

2011-12-19T20:17:00.002-05:00

The Old-timers to Record New Album

The Old-timers are a punk outfit from South Africa, formed by good friends Dave & Don. Dave is originally from England and moved to South Africa with his wife and kids in late 2009 as full time missionaries, working with the needy and underprivileged in prisons, on the streets, in schools and wherever else God leads them. Don is a native of South Africa and is also married with two kids, and works as a youth pastor for his church as well as running his own pie company. Both have been involved in punk since an early age, playing in bands, promoting and running 'zines in their respective home towns. Most notably Dave played in Dragged Out with former members of The Exploited & Voice Of The Mysterons, and Don has played with a variety of musicians and was involved in multiple organizations and ‘zines who helped promote the anarcho-punk scene in Port Elizabeth in the early 90's.

The Old-timers' recording process is pretty unusual as Dave & Don live twelve hours apart. Further complicating matters is that drumming is handled by Matt Lagusis from False Idle at the Simpul Studios in Boise, Idaho, in the United States. Leveraging modern technology, the Dave & Don put vocals and music together, then forward it over for Matt to add the drum track, then back to South Africa for mixing and mastering.

The purpose of The Old-timers remains what it has always been – to glorify God in every song, to reach a desperate world with the good news of God's grace & love and to have a ton of fun while we're doing it! Musical influences include GBH, Hit The Deck, Minor Threat, Officer Negative, Crass, Headnoise, Conflict, God So Loved The World and many other old school punk and early hardcore bands. Get ready for SOLI DEO GLORIA! coming in February 2012.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "Crowns"

2011-12-19T16:03:00.002-05:00

Day 6: "Crowns"

Lyrics: "Draw your depiction/stars become scars in the palm of Your hand bridged by blood/your blood paints the paragon of unrequited love/do you remember pain followed by reassurance and the light shining through/bearing the poise of a Redeemer choking the shadows defeating death/providence: laid out before us/a father’s arms reaching as/the nations will hear a new song/as we’re lead to the water/the nations will hear a new song/as we’re lead to the water/give us discernment/doors that glow at the sound of forerunners’ words/we are empty until you sit at the throne of our hearts/break us free; unshackled from our dire condition/ we have hope/kings of earth bow down lose your crowns/kings of earth bow down lose your crowns/bow/the nations will hear a new song/as we’re lead to the water/the nations will hear a new song…of rebirth"

Explanation: If you have ever seen the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” then you probably remember this scene (a few curse words in this video):

This scene is exactly the visual I had while writing the lyrics to “Crowns.” As childish as Delmar may seem in the video clip, his elation towards being absolved of his sins is beautiful to me. The imagery and symbolism of baptism has always been, in my opinion, one of the most powerful ways to convey salvation and redemption. Plus, the way that all 3 of them appear to be frozen when the congregation passes by while singing “Down To The River To Pray” has always made me wonder, “Are our songs, or is our faith, a good enough reflection of Christ to leave people in awe or at least make them question their own reasons for living?" The only way that is possible is to get rid of our earthly idols or kings, most often ourselves, and do away with our own pride or crowns in order to let Christ sing through us. Baptism symbolizes becoming a new creation, and the new song is sung through us by Christ.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "From One End of the Sky to the Other"

2011-12-18T21:36:00.000-05:00

Day 5: "From One End of the Sky to the Other"

Lyrics: "Part the dark sky that keeps me from Your eyes/even as the darkness descends/my cry came to Your ears/as my heroes fail me/they leave me to fend on my own/my cry came to Your ears/the earth withers beneath me/i’m always looking towards the clouds/i know we are not alone/can’t help but feel You in my bones/when all is dead and gone Your love will still remain/from one end of the sky to the other you burn your banner/cords of the grave, snares of death cannot take me from You/i see the eyes of the empty/they form an eclipse above me/until i find safety in Your memory/safety in Your memory/safety in Your memory/safety in the memory of Your faithfulness/bright lights are breaking through the sky/dark clouds are pouring from Your feet/seas and valleys all run dry/so reach through the sky and capture me/my cry came to Your ears/your love saved no mercy for Yourself"

Explanation: This song is about finding hope amidst a dying world. While nations fight amongst themselves and depravity festers, the only thing that remains constant is Christ's love that spares no expense towards us, even to the point of death. The only solace we can ever expect to find as wars pit people against each other as a result of the human condition, is the promise of faithfulness from God. I wrote these lyrics as a reminder of the day that God will peel back the sky and right all wrongs.

Staff Blog: Mikey's MMXI in Review

2011-12-17T16:01:00.004-05:00

2011 was a very good year for music, especially in the metal scene. There were a lot of good things about this year, like Five Iron Frenzy coming back, Blindside returning from the dead, and all of the new young bands that came out with GOOD debuts. As with every year there were the bad things as well, like Haste the Day calling it a day, and Thrice going on hiatus. Looking back I still think 2011 turned out to be a much better year for releases than I anticipated. Here are my top 15 albums of 2011.

1. Emery - We Do What We Want
2. Hands - Give Me Rest
3. Phinehas - thegodmachine
4. A Plea for Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea for Purging
5.Saving Grace - The King is Coming
6. Blindside - With Shivering Hearts We Wait
7. In the Midst of Lions - Shadows
8. Switchfoot - Vice Verses
9. Thrice - Major/Minor
10. August Burns Red - Leveler
11. The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne
12. Life in Your Way - Kingdoms
13. A Hope for Home - In Abstraction
14. My Epic - Broken Voice
15. Red - Until We Have Faces

Honorable Mentions:
Memphis May Fire - The Hollow
Grave Robber - You're All Gonna Die

7"'s of the year:
1. A Plea for Purging - Fat Pride
2. Saving Grace/One Choice - Now the Fight Has Two Sides

Albums I'm Looking Forward to in 2012:
Project 86
mewithoutYou
War of Ages
For Today
Norma Jean
Five Iron Frenzy
Skillet
P.O.D.
Emery

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "I Am The Lion"

2011-12-16T22:23:00.002-05:00

Day 4: "I Am The Lion"

Lyrics: "Son of Mine, can you hear the sound of this repetition as clockwork?/I'm always peeling back your skin to rip the legions from your heart/every scar you leave yourself is a jewel in the making/I would give new passion yet you've turned your back/like a devil of details cut your throat, you're so addicted/you'll swing the hammer and I'll turn your nails to gold/you will know My voice when the hair on your neck stands up/I opened this door, and I will bring the End/all gives way and all will fall to their knees and beg for grace/son of Mine these letters I swear have not been burnt/my heart a child trembling in sight of his wake/is longing to rest in the hollow of Your hand/I know now what it is to be helpless like a foot on my neck to the ground/I'm longing to rest in the hollow of Your hand/here I am/I await you/you will know My voice/I AM THE LION/clear the path/I am the Lion/you brood of snakes/I am the Lion"

Explanation: There are two perspectives that the lyrics in "I Am The Lion" are being sung from.

The choruses are from my point of view as a helpless and addicted soul. One of the most helpless feelings is being controlled by your addictions knowingly and not being able to overcome them. These vices don't just hurt you; they also create a wake of destruction among those close to you and affect every area of your life. Addiction pulls us away from our true purpose, so consequently we are not completely ourselves when under its spell.

Everything else sung in "I Am The Lion" is from God's point of view, watching us destroy ourselves. It isn't out of cruelty that God allows us to experience these lows. We would not learn or grow if God pulled us out of the depths we create for ourselves without us first experiencing our own true depravity. It isn't the devil who is strong; it is us who are weak when on our own. When we finally realize how weak we are and when we release our grip on the belief that we can fix ourselves, God comes in, rips everything to shreds, and gives us a new heart.

Blog: Tabor's EOTY

2011-12-16T14:36:00.007-05:00

With 2011 coming to an end, it's hard not to think about how amazing this year has been with music. Though mostly good there were some cases when hearing certain things about the industry made it tough to swallow (i.e. Thrice hiatus). But when you reflect on the good things, most of the time you feel excited about how the next year will top it. Here are my picks for the best of 2011.

Best EP’s 2011
1. Neurology-Worker
2. Opposition- Altars
3. Loss Of Innocence-Jawbone
4. Fear. Anger. Strife-Divide The Sea
5. We Are The Ones-Wolves at the Gate

Top 15 Albums of 2011
1. Separation-Balance and Composure
2. Major/Minor-Thrice
3. Let Go-Hundredth
4. Kingdoms-Life In Your Way
5. Waves-Moving Mountains
6. Costs-Gideon
7. Thegodmachine-Phinehas
8. Broken Voice-My Epic
9. Give Me Rest-Hands
10. Dead Throne-The Devil Wears Prada
11. The Life And Death Of A Plea For Purging-A Plea For Purging
12. Unturned-Ironwill
13. Parting The Sea Between Brightness and Me-Touche Amore
14. Empty Days and Sleepless Nights-Defeater
15. Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts-Close Your Eyes

Honorable Mentions:
In Abstraction-A Hope For Home; The King Is Coming-Saving Grace; Shadows-In The Midst of Lions; Under Soil & Dirt-The Story So Far; Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing-The Wonder Years; Divided By-Structures; Wildlife-La Dispute; Simple Math-Manchester Orchestra; Volition-As Hell Retreats; Elsie-The Horrible Crowes

sosaveme and Sons to Tour in January

2011-12-13T17:41:00.002-05:00

SOSAVEME ANNOUNCES JANUARY TOUR WITH SONS, FREE TICKETS

OWOSSO, MI - December 12, 2011 - sosaveme just announced its Winter 2012 tour with SONS. The two indie rock acts are partnering for a month long run in the Mid to South West states. Says vocalist Nicholas Pidek, "We are excited to start off the year of 2012 with touring and we are honored to be sharing the road with the band SONS. The initial response from our CD release tour of The Garden in Oct/Nov of this year has only fueled our passion to really stretch this new album's preverbal legs." For more info and tour dates visit http://sosaveme.com and http://facebook.com/sosaveme. You can also follow the tour and all it's crazy happenings on sosaveme's tour blog (http://sosaveme.com/blog)

In addition, the tour package is hosting a contest via social media, that will last for the duration of the scheduled dates. To qualify, fans must tag both @sosaveme and @sonsofficial in a Twitter or Facebook post, along with information for the show they plan to attend. ("I'm seeing @sosaveme & sonsofficial in Fort Wayne, IN on 1/7/12"). There is no limit to the number of entries. Five winners will each be given a pair of tickets. Winners will be announced January 6th.

Tour dates are as follows:

January 7 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Hebrews

January 8 - Sidney, OH @ TBA
January 9 - Columbus, OH @ TBA
January 10 - St. Albans, WV @ TBA
January 11 - Pittsboro, NC @TBA
January 12 - Cary, NC @ Colonial Baptist Church
January 13 - Greenville, SC @ The Channel
January 14 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater
January 15 - Columbus, GA @ Collision Church
January 16 - Atlanta, GA @ TBA
January 17 - Chattanooga, TN @ The Warehouse
January 19 - Nashville, TN @TBA
January 20 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch
January 21 - St. Louis, MO @ Melvin Theater

ABOUT SOSAVEME:

sosaveme is Nicholas Pidek (vocals/guitar), Justin Ozanich (guitar/aux perc), Austin Germain (bass) and Jon Moore (drums). Based in Owosso, Michigan, the four-piece formed in 2006 during high to create inspiring, convicting and passionate music to share with listeners. They’ve performed at high profile events including Big Ticket Festival, Ichthus Festival and Cornerstone. Their 5^th release, The Garden, dropped on October 4^th, 2011. Logon to www.sosaveme.com for continual updates.

ABOUT SONS:

Playing with a poetic message and delivering it with power, SONS creates masterful sounds filled with highs and lows – polarizing swings that mirror the beauty of life’s struggle and redemption. Their explosive The Genesis Prologue EP surpassed 10,000 downloads, and their debut album, due out later this year, was funded completely by pre-orders. Over 7,000 dollars raised purely on anticipation. For more information and to stay updated on the new record, log on to facebook.com/wearesonsofgod and twitter.com/sonsofficial.

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "A Pattern In Pain"

2011-12-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

Day 3: "A Pattern In Pain"

Lyrics: "As I charge the bloody fields waiting for your hands to pierce the depths/the world is stirring yet you keep silent to me/this battle shakes the ground, but your voice could split the earth/the world is stirring yet you keep silent to me/eternity will never be long enough with you/when every step I take feels so worn/if heralds of glory sing the minute life begins to fade/then death is just a bridge between us.see the enemy line the hills so hide my fears from me/the world is stirring yet you keep silent to me/like a burning wound it kills me that I haven't heard you in years/the world is stirring yet you keep silent/all I am is a scar-laden body from those years you were gone/now You appear to me/faced with suffering death You restore this porous heart that bleeds every time it beats/Your suture lives in me/there must be something You wished me to see, a pattern in this pain/I see a pattern, I see You in this pain/I've waited for years what what a brush with death has shown me/I will trust in Your grace that speaks of the end/as my life begins to fade I know Your blood was the bridge, the bridge between us/Your blood was the bridge between us"

Explanation: "A Pattern In Pain" is sung from the perspective of a worn down and weary warrior in the midst of a battle. Longing for peace in his soul, he hasn't felt the presence of God since he can remember. When death shows its face to him, he is rescued and restored by Christ's blood. We all go through spiritual droughts and doubts throughout our lives. It's so easy to forget the grace we were given and take for granted the blessings we receive everyday when things don't go our way. Specifically, this song is about our impatience and arrogance towards God's sovereign timing. Being in Phinehas for five years, this band has been a constant reminder of God's faithfulness. We have gone through so many highs and so many hurtful lows, but God has always come through when we were least expecting it and in ways we could never have fathomed. This song is about that shimmer of hope and that rain drop of joy that arrives just moments before giving up. No matter how brutalized, bloodied, or broken we are, we always have the promise of salvation that was forged by Christ's blood on the cross and that is further reinforced by the promise of His spirit's presence.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. - John 14:18 (NIV)

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "Bad Blood"

2011-12-11T17:03:00.001-05:00

Day 2: "Bad Blood"

Lyrics: "Grieve that your body's so worm eaten inside/crawling with infection/fed by your lies/drop into your put you dug with your pride/now you're nothing but a slave/you polish yourself as if you were a monument/reaching high like a tower to hell and the ground concedes/pulled from the earth like rotting roots/purge the demons/draining your veins/pride in your heart deceives you/dragged from the depths of a dying world/purge the demons draining your veins/pride in your heart deceives you/keep your teeth before your tongue/or you'll claw for divinity/your filthy rags: a disgusting crown/the offspring of an unhealed wound/you wear your skin like a scoured corpse/after you heave you return like a dog/you had love but your heart is not your own/grace is not beyond you but you walked away/the heavens will expose you.../hell bent on destruction/hell bent on escape/show us there's nowhere to hide/show us fear"

Explanation: The first full song on thegodmachine, "Bad Blood," is a very personal song to me (Sean), because I tend to struggle with bitterness and malice towards people who have hurt my family or friends. Straight up, I was dealing with a lot more anger than I'd like to admit when I wrote the lyrics. The lyrics might be a bit harsh and disgusting, but they were my honest reaction after someone deeply wounded my family. I won't go into too much detail, but the sickest part of the situation was the ruthlessly selfish manor in which he defended his actions. This song is me praying to God for a wake up call to those who refuse to be held accountable for their actions. At the same time that I am angry for my family, I can't help but love the person who hurt them. "Bad Blood" humbles me every time we play it live because it reminds me that I am just as capable of causing pain to other people as anyone. If I can't let go of my own anger and hatred that has sparked from that situation, then I am no better than the man who hurt my family.

Staff Blog: Brooks' 2011 in Review

2011-12-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

2011 was a great year for music, and looking back, and amazed at the amount of good releases that debuted this year, among numerous other big moments such as bands reuniting, breaking up, and everything in between. Kickstarter has become an amazing way for bands to create new art, and has even brought Five Iron Frenzy back from the dead, eight years after playing their final show in '03.

Below are my personal favorite albums for the year, along with some anticipated albums for 2012. Thanks for the great support of CRR this year, and I'm looking forward to another great year!
- Brooks Ginnan, Christian Rock Rocks founder and writer

Top Albums of 2011:

Thrice- Major/Minor
Emery - We Do What We Want
My Epic - Broken Voice
Switchfoot - Vice Verses
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Abandon Kansas - Ad Astra Per Aspera
Great Awakening - Songs in Secret
The Ember Days - Emergency
Eisley - The Valley
Moving Mountains - Waves

Cool Hand Luke's final album, Of Man, Owl City's All Things Bright and Beautiful, and La Dispute's Wildlife were a few additional albums that narrowly missed my top 10.

Top Heavy Albums of 2011:

Hands - Give Me Rest
Life In Your Way - Kingdoms
A Plea For Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging
Phinehas - thegodmachine
Hundredth - Let Go
Oh, Sleeper - Children of Fire
As Hell Retreats - Volition
August Burns Red - Leveler
A Hope for Home - In Abstraction
Sleeping Giant - Kingdom Days In An Evil Age

Onward to Olympas, Gideon, and Not One Is Upright also all released very solid albums that just missed the list as well.

Favorite EPs (No particular order):

Jake Germany - Leftover
Friends - Better Off Alone
Sleep For Sleepers - Conditions
Levi The Poet - Monologues
Aaron Newberry - Homewrecker
Ocean Is Theory - Future Fears

Favorite New Artists:

sosaveme
Kye Kye
Listener
Sinai Vessel

Most Anticipated Albums of 2012:

Showbread
The Classic Crime
Emery (potential new album, along with acoustic side project)
Sons
To Speak of Wolves
From Indian Lakes
Ocean Is Theory

Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas: "The Speaking Stone"

2011-12-10T17:43:00.001-05:00

CRR are excited to bring you a special feature for the month of December; Phinehas' 12 Days of Christmas! For the next 12 days, we will be posting a song, lyrics, and an explanation from the band. Phinehas' new album, thegodmachine, is out now on Red Cord Records.

Day 1: "thegodmachine: The Speaking Stone"

Lyrics: "Trembling in the shadow of your creation/your knees grow weak/watch my eyes beam with gold and you'll keep coming back/if you fixate your desire upon me you'll give me breath with your lungs/feed me living!/I am what you fashioned/your praise gives me power/with it I will devour you"

Explanation: "This song is the preface of the entire album and the lyrics are from the point of view of an idol, or "speaking stone." While obviously idols are dead, so often we feel the need to pour our trust, lives, and time into things that are lifeless and have no true worth. The more we put into our "speaking stone," the more it consumes our lives, and our capacity to love God. We breathe life into it, but, unlike Christ, our idols suck the life out of us.

Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, "Come to life!" Or to lifeless stone, "Wake up!" Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. - Habakkuk 2:18-20 (NIV)

Help Fund Ascend The Hill's New Album

2011-12-05T16:01:00.001-05:00

Ascend The Hill are currently running a Kickstarter to fund their upcoming album, which will be releasing next spring as a 100% free gift through Come&Live!. They have only 10 days left to raise about $10,000, and need all the prayer and financial support they can get. If you are interested in helping fund this album, you can visit this link or check out the widget below. Also, if you haven't already, you can download Ascend The Hill's self-titled album, along with their collection of hymns, Take The World, But Give Me Jesus, from Come&Live! right here.

In the Midst of Lions - Shadows

2011-12-03T14:11:00.002-05:00

Artist: In the Midst of Lions

Album: Shadows

Release Date: November 22, 2011

Label: Facedown Records

Shadows, is a fitting name for In the Midst of Lions' third album, because on this album they are ready to come out of the shadows and into the forefront of the Christian metal scene. Shadows is the band's third album in as many years. Where the band finds time to write/record between tours is a mystery to me, but not only do the find the time to make new music, they also find a way to keep getting better.

Musically, I expected the same kind of generic deathcore style that the band had on the last album, but this albums delivers a much more technical and polished sound. It was more original than anything I've heard from In the Midst of Lion before, and definitely had me excited about the album after the first track. One thing that really jumped out to me was the wicked drumming skills of Alex Livingston. The drums are pretty prominent on this album, and may be some of the best drum work I have heard in all of 2011. The guitar playing is sick, and like I said more technical, and much tighter than I've heard before from the band. Some of the songs took on more of a straight-forward metalcore sound, but they didn't sound like they were from the cookie cutter. There's some cool use of some atmospheric background noises, most notably in "False Idols", which is also one of the standout tracks from Shadows. The band has grown so much as musician in these three short years, and this album shows that growth 100%.

Vocally, Matt delivers some amazing vocal patterns, and one thing I love is he enunciates his lyrics and you can actually understand what he is saying, which is rare in the deathcore scene in my opinion. His screams are deep, and guttural growls which fit the music perfectly, and he tosses in some of the more traditional higher screams as well, like on "Cry of the Oppressed", and it shows his vocal range so well. Lyrically, the band has produced some of their best work. The song "Overcome" is lyrically the best song on Shadows with lines like: "Give me strength/Remove this doubt from my mind/I have built these walls of

weakness/Remove this doubt from my mind/Break down these walls!/Break down these
walls and leave nothing behind." the song is about being ashamed of oneself, and God saying I still love you and don't be ashamed we all have bad times, "erase all doubt" and know that I will always be here for you. That is truly powerful and shows just how deeply our God loves us. This album is full of passionate, inspirational, and original lyrics.

Overall: Shadows is by far the best album In the Midst of Lions has released, and shows such great growth from the band in their short existence. The album is absolutely the best I've heard in the deathcore/death metal scene this year, and is easily in contention for the best album of 2011. Their record label has a void to fill with the departure of For Today, and In the Midst of Lions could very well be the band to fill that void. On Shadows, the band shows that there are sick of being in the background and are ready to take the "mainstream" metal scene by storm and show they are a force to be reckoned with. If Shadows is a sign of where this band is going and what we can come to expect from them there will be several excited metalhead, myself included. The only bad thing I can say about this album is that it's only ten tracks and leaves you craving for more from In the Midst of Lions.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: "False Idols", "Overcome", "Cry of the Oppressed", and "New Beginnings"

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. False Idols

2. The Call

3. Take Your Place

4. Overcome

5. Cry of the Oppressed

6. New Beginnings

7. An Offering

8. Hardened Hearts

9. Prepare the Way

10. One for All

(buy here)

Seventh Day Slumber - The Anthem of Angels

2011-11-28T21:26:00.001-05:00

Artist: Seventh Day Slumber

Album: The Anthem of Angels

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Label: BEC Recordings

Seventh Day Slumber have been busy. The Anthem of Angels is the band's fourth album in five years. This album is their first original studio album since 2008's Finally Awake. The band's last two albums were a Spanish album of previously released songs, and a worship album. The band returns to the form of the aforementioned Fully Awake on the new album, with the passionate lyrics and vocals, and rocking music.

The album is what it is, in the sense that is a Seventh Day Slumber album, you're going to get your run-of-the-mill rock tracks here and there, and the rest of the album is your more modern CCM music. Not saying this is bad, just what the band does. There are a few rock songs on here, that could get the adrenalin pumping, but most of the guitar playing is along the lines of an edgier adult contemporary band. The Drums are practically nonexistent, or at least never really featured prominently on the album. If you want a solid rock track like "Awake" from their last album your best bet is "Never Too Far Gone" which is one of the examples of the band's rockier side. The song is musically the highlight of the album. On their worship album the band experimented with some string arrangements (How Great is Our God) in the vein of the newer Skillet material, I was looking forward to more of that on The Anthem of Angels, but was sadly let down.

Lyrically, the album has some of the best, most passionate lyrics you'll hear outside of a church service. It is clear by listening to Joe Rojas lyrics that he has a deep love for Christ and isn't afraid to say it in his music. One lyric that sticks out to me is in the song "Knows My Name": "I'm trying to see myself the way you do/Sometimes it's just so hard/There are days that I'm ashamed." Sometimes I am ashamed to call myself a Christ follower, because I don't always give that name a good reputation, but God doesn't care if we slip up he still loves us, and knows our name. That's just awesome. Most of the lyrics are CCM lyrics, very straight-forward worshipful lyrics, with great passion and meaning to them. I have always loved Joe's lyrics and this album continues that pattern. Vocally, Joe doesn't stray too far from what he's been doing for years with the band. It's a very smooth, yet powerful voice. Joe makes you feel the passion and intensity of his words as he sings them, which is a very impressive thing.

Overall: Like I said before The Anthem of Angels is what it is, a Seventh Day Slumber album. Most of the albums sound very similar to each other, which could become boring to fans. However, they do what they do very well, and I still find myself getting excited for each new album, and furthermore thoroughly enjoying each album. I think that streak is coming to end with this new album though, there were a few songs that I enjoyed, but overall the album was too slow, and lost my attention on several occasions. Hopefully the band will come back next year with a new album and restore some of that more upbeat rock tempo.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended Tracks: "Wasted Life", "Never Too Far Gone", and "Knows My Name".

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. Wasted Life

2. Love Came Down

3. One Mistake

4. Addicted to My Pain

5. Never Too Far Gone

6. Pieces

7. Crash

8. Back Where I Began

9. Knows My Name

10. My Life

11. How He Loves

(Buy Here)

A Message From Thrice

2011-11-21T14:20:00.003-05:00

Thrice is not breaking up. If nothing has broken us up by now, I doubt anything ever could.

However, we will be taking a break from being a full-time band, and the upcoming tour in the Spring will be the last one for the foreseeable future.

Playing music for the past 13 years with Riley, Ed, and Teppei has been such a gift. We have been able to see the world, share music with thousands and thousands of people, and make records with a variety of talented and inspiring people. The four of us have been through many highs and lows and overcome them together. I value their friendship, and it has been a great priviledge to play alongside them for so long. They are truly an amazingly gifted group of people, and the ways we’ve grown together as people and musicians has been a joy to experience.

Along the way we have adapted to many changing situations, especially the growing families of both Teppei and myself, but it has been harder and harder for me with each step. I have three little girls now under the age of 5, and it is a huge strain on my family and I when I’m away for several weeks at a time. The way we’ve been doing things for a while is simply not sustainable for me anymore.

I don’t know what the future looks like for Thrice, or for any of us individually. I do know that I would love to make more music in the future with them, as well as play some shows or short tours, but for the time being, I need to step out of the role of full time touring/recording musician, and will do so after this tour. I will continue to make music in various capacities I’m sure, and continue in my work as a Worship Director at Mars Hill Church in Orange County.

I know this will be very disappointing news to many people, and for that I am truly sorry. The amount of support and love we’ve been given in our career is staggering and overwhelming. I know I’m biased, but I think we have the best fans in the world.

This upcoming tour should be a lot of fun. We are planning for it to be somewhat of a celebration of the last 13 years and I’m sure we’ll be breaking out a bunch of songs that have been buried in the archives. I hope to see you out there to celebrate with us.

I never expected to be able to do any of this, let alone do it for 13 years, with such amazing bandmates, such gifted and hard working crew and management, and such incredible and loyal fans.

Thank you all.

(source)

Major/Minor Tour - Thrice, La Dispute, O'Brother, and Moving Mountains

2011-11-18T16:57:00.004-05:00

I had the great privilege of attending the Thrice, La Dispute, O’Brother, and Moving Mountains show a couple weeks ago when the tour came through Portland. Thrice has been a long time favorite of mine, so this was quite an experience! Being my first non-hardcore/metal show in about 6 years, I wasn’t too sure how the night was going to go. I knew there would be a large lack of breakdowns, and no circle pits, but as I stepped foot in to the venue and the show began, I knew I was in for a great time.

Moving Mountains was the first band up, and they did a fantastic job of setting the mood for the night. Though they didn’t express tons of energy on stage, their incredible musicianship made up for that. Moving Mountains just released an album a couple months ago, and is one of my favorite albums of the year. Hearing them live definitely made me enjoy their album a bit more.

Next up was O’Brother, an alt-rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. O’Brother had an amazing performance, they played only 4 songs, but those songs were at least 5 minutes in length. I never really thought of O’Brother as a heavy band, but they sure sounded it! All the songs they played were from their new album Garden Window which just release on November 15th. They were definitely one of the highlights of the night.

The third act was Grand Rapids, Michigan post-hardcore outfit La Dispute. I LOVE La Dispute and thought their last album was a masterpiece. They had just recently released their new album Wildlife, and though it is a fantastic album I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t play some of the fan favorites from Somewhere At The Bottom…, like my personal favorite ‘Damaged Goods’. However, La Dispute brought great energy to the show, and absolutely killed it!

By this time in the show, I was so overwhelmed by how awesome the other bands were, I was a bit nervous to hear how Thrice was going to do. Well, let’s just say they did not disappoint at all.

Thrice opened with ‘Yellow Belly’ the first single off their new album Major/Minor. I immediately felt like a little kid on Christmas morning. Thrice sounded flawless, I have never in my life heard anything like it. Dustin Kensrue’s voice was raw, and emotional, the guitars were loud and thick, and Riley Brekenridge’s drumming was massive, and perfect. The show never felt like it ever let up, even when Thrice switched gears and focused on some of their softer songs. Hearing the new songs played live like ‘Promises’ and my personal favorite ‘Call It In The Air’ were easily my highlights of the night. To my surprise Thrice played quite a few of their older songs from albums like Artist In The Ambulance, Vheissu, and The Illusion of Safety. One of the neatest things that Thrice did on this tour was bringing out the non-profit organization Invisible Children, which alerts people about the child soldiers in Africa that have been unjustly taken from their homes and brainwashed to serve corrupt armies. Dustin said that IC had raised $17,000 over their initial goal, which was awesome to hear!

As the night went on and Thrice toned their sound down, we got a more intimate feel for Thrice and their passion. Songs like ‘Words in Water’ and ‘Of Dust and Nations’ had a lot of great sing along parts. Thrice’s last three songs were ‘Firebreather’, ‘The Earth Will Shake’, and ‘Anthology’. Towards the end of ‘The Earth Will Shake’ members of La Dispute, and O’Brother brought out drums and started banging on them to the beat of the ending of the song, it was the greatest moment of the night for me. Like most shows the headlining band gets called for an encore. Thrice played fan favorites ‘Phoenix Ignition’ and ‘To Awake and Avenge The Dead’. At the end of ‘To Awake…’ Dustin took off his guitar and grabbed the mic off the stand and jumped in to the crowed to finish off the night.

Overall:

Thrice put on the greatest show I have ever seen/heard. Their live sound is flawless, but never loses the rawness of the experience. In a time where you see bands try too hard to put on a great live show, Thrice pulls it off without having to really try. They are veterans in the music world, and are some of the most humble people you’ll ever meet. I will never forget this performance, and hope that everyone gets to see this amazing band live at least once!

Set list:

Yellow Belly

The Weight.

Promises

All the World is Mad

In Exile

Call it in the Air

Silhouette

Cold Cash and Colder Hearts

Treading Paper

Hold Fast Hope

Circles

Words in the Water

Of Dust and Nations

Firebreather

The Earth Will Shake

Anthology

-------------

Phoenix Ignition

To Awake and Avenge the Dead

New Preson Phillips Album Out Now

2011-11-11T08:35:00.001-05:00

Preson Phillips, one of Come&Live!'s original artists, has recently released a brand new album titled Wrath. The album is now available on iTunes and AmazonMP3, and a physical copy is available here, with all proceeds going to Preson's church, Watermark. If you want to preview the album, Come&Live! are currently offering a small album sampler for free download, along with his two other albums, The Observant & The Anawim and Weep... He Loves The Mourners Tears.

A Plea For Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging

2011-11-08T16:43:00.000-05:00

Artist: A Plea For Purging
Album: The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Label: Facedown Records

The A Plea For Purging boys are back at it again with their new album, The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging. I was shocked to find out that Plea was releasing an album so (seemingly) soon, after their last masterpiece, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, and it seems like only yesterday that it was released. How would The Life and Death stack up with such a short space of time in between? Could they top their last effort, or would they suffer masterpiece hangover?

The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging kicks off quickly with a creative, 8-bit sounding guitar and drum part, that is simply perfect. After the tasty 8-bit intro, the heaviness comes in and kicks you down. The first track, "the life," has powerful lyrics that hit me immediately. They tackle an important issue in a Christian's life: forgetting who got you this far by allowing yourself to get caught up in the rat race. "music city" also moved me. I could feel Andy Atkins' love and homesick emptiness he feels towards his home of Nashville while he's away on tour. A thought not lost on me when considering what these people do to entertain us. The song also features a pretty unique shout-out to fellow hometown bands as well.

Maybe it's just me, but I hope not. The lyrics featured in The Life and Death are heavy, powerful, and meaningful. Even if you're only a few tracks in, it feels like Plea's most important work. "heart of a child," which features an amazing vocal appearance from Chad Ruhlig (of Legend/ex-For The Fallen Dreams), definitely brings Matthew 18 to mind. It's almost an anthem for us to hold tightly to the childlike mentality and innocence that Jesus spoke of. Towards the middle of the album however, things slow down a bit, and we have "skin & bones." It has a slowed down, somber mood, and the singing is handed off to guitarist Blake Martin. He can never sing enough for my tastes, and thankfully we get a few more glimpses of it on this album. I do think an exception on the album's deepness is "room for the dead." I say this because it is a little weak, lyrically speaking. It's also an anomaly because it's a great song. I know it's a strange thought, but it's true. Regardless of my feelings about the lyrics, it flows so well.

Overall: The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging answers my questions poised earlier. Does it stack up to The Marriage of Heaven and Hell? It's better. A tough feat, but they accomplished it. Masterpiece hangover? Not at all. This is a complete record with a ton of bang for the buck. With an astounding 14 tracks that clock in at around 53 minutes long, you can't go wrong. Pick this up.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by Gary Peterson

Tracklisting:

the life
music city
heart of a child (featuring Chad Ruhlig of Legend)
miss fortune
my song (featuring Chad Johnson of Hundredth)
skin & bones
room for the dead
a fight for peace
hell at our backs
words misread
hands & feet
"living the dream"
the death (featuring Chad Urich of Venia)
the setting sun

(Buy Here)

Righteous Vendetta - Lawless

2011-11-08T02:22:00.000-05:00

Artist: Righteous Vendetta

Album: Lawless

Label: Red Cord Records

Release Date: November 8^th, 2011

Righteous Vendetta was a band that really flew low under my radar. Their first release The Dawning just didn’t grab me, and I just kind of gave up on the band. But then came along Lawless the newest release from the Cody, Wyoming hardcore/metal outfit. Upon my first listen I noticed huge improvements all over the place. I was instantly grabbed and wanted more.

The album starts off with a pretty generic intro, but that doesn’t mean you should just give up all hope right there. The rest of the album really takes a turn for good, and is not just full of cliché breakdowns. This is an album full of soaring guitars, and fast paced drumming, but never feels over used. At first listen one of the ‘turnoffs’ for me was the clean singing, but as I listened more and more it became a strong factor in to the album. Sometimes I think that bands tend to just not use a clean singer for the sake of trying to be as heavy as possible. Thankfully, Righteous Vendetta does not try to abandon musical diversity for the sake of being heavy, and the clean vocals do not sound generic or overused.

Lyrically this album is BOLD! There is no doubt that this band loves Jesus Christ, and wants to see his name be glorified. It’s refreshing to hear a band like Righteous Vendetta take the time to reflect on God, and write with the intention of praising him. With that, I never feel like the lyrics are overly spiritual and in your face about their beliefs. I also appreciate that the lyrics aren’t cheesy and they really come from the heart without losing creativity.

Overall: This album is for sure a great listen. In a time where heavy music can be a bit boring and old sounding, Righteous Vendetta keep things solid. Though not anything groundbreaking, this album definitely pulls out some surprises. One of my favorite moments of the album was last song ‘The Psalmist’. It really closed the album out beautifully. Pick this album up if you’re in to bands like For Today, Gideon, or Altars.

Rating: 7/10

Reviewed by Tabor Brown

Tracklisting:

1. From Zion

2. Inheritance

3. John, the Revelator

4. Reason

5. Lawless

6. Prelude to Destruction

7. Signs

8. The Chosen One

9. For The Skeptic

10. The Psalmist

(buy here)

A Hope For Home Pre-Orders Available Now

2011-11-02T20:18:00.000-04:00

This just in from Facedown Records:

A Hope for Home pre-orders for the new album In Abstraction are now available. We're featuring a "build your own bundle" pre-order option for this album, so be sure to add a limited edition blue or grey vinyl version of In Abstraction to your order.

Build-A-Bundle: http://facedown.merchnow.com/bundles/build/134763

Check out "Calm", the newest song to be released from A Hope for Home on their Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/ahopeforhome

A Plea For Purging Release "Heart of A Child" Video

2011-11-01T15:46:00.000-04:00

A Plea For Purging have just released the first music video off of their upcoming album, The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging,, which is for the song "Heart of A Child," which can be viewed below. The band are currently on a headlining tour with No Bragging Rights, Gideon, and Take It Back!, and dates can be seen here. The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging will be available on November 8th, and can currently be pre-ordered here in a variety of bundles, including limited edition vinyl.

sosaveme - The Garden

2011-10-29T16:56:00.002-04:00

Artist: sosaveme
Album: The Garden
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Label: None

So much music out there today lacks emotion, and instead is replaced with cookie-cutter lyrics and music, that some people eat up. And these days, it's great to see the creative band that breaks out of the norm and does something different. In fact, to say that indie rockers sosaveme thrive almost completely on honesty is no understatement. The band's new album The Garden really holds nothing back, and is full of no holds barred emotion, only found in the most genuine artists.

The Garden is a ten-track album, full of many different stories and introspection, analyzing different aspects of life, from lust to pain to grace. "Gentle Slope" kicks things off with a powerful and convicting indie rock energy infused with some post-hardcore charisma, and lyrics that talk of a man being tempted, while "Fall In Love" honestly pleas "my God, I want to find the end of me," accompanied by grooving percussion, guitars, and emotional vocals. While "Wolves" and "Wake Up" both pack in an aggressiveness, the title track, "The Garden," is a true shining point of the album. The song takes on somber tones, and a look on the garden of Eden, along with a crescendo that builds into a majestic gang vocal section of "You call me by Your name."

Two of The Garden's highlights are in fact the album's closing two tracks, the first being "Sender/Receiver." The song features a guest vocal spot from Mike Mains of Mike Mains & The Branches, who shows off his passionate vocal style, contrasting with Nicholas Pidek's soaring range. The closing "More in Us" is a slower song, with minimal instrumentation, only one guitar in fact backing Pidek's vocals, telling a story of hope amidst the pain of loss, a moving piece that will be sure to tug on the listener's heartstrings.

Overall: sosaveme are one band that you need to know. The emotions painted throughout The Garden are in hues of honesty, a pure yearning for hope and redemption among the broken-hearted. This indie rock four piece seem to have emerged out of seemingly nowhere, despite The Garden being their fifth album, and so skillfully capture the mind of the listener, and pull on emotions hidden deep inside. To simply put it, The Garden is one album you don't want to miss this year.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Gentle Slope
Fall in Love
Wolves
Wake Up
Tides
The Garden
Wasteland
Autumn Leaves
Sender/Receiver (featuring Mike Mains)
More in Us

(Buy Here)

Levi The Poet Joins Come&Live!

2011-10-29T09:56:00.004-04:00

Come&Live! have just recently welcomed Levi The Poet into their community of musicianaries. Levi The Poet has been an underground spoken word poet over the past few years, touring with the White Collar Sideshow, appearing on numerous albums, such as In The Midst of Lions' The Heart of Man, and has also released a solo album as well, Werewolves. On November 22nd, Levi The Poet will be releasing his first new project in over two years, an EP titled Monologues, which can also be pre-ordered from Levi as a limited edition package, including a handmade EP, shirt, and poster, which can be found here.

From Indian Lakes Acoustic EP Available Now

2011-10-28T21:33:00.001-04:00

From Indian Lakes just recently released a brand new acoustic EP on their Bandcamp, which can be streamed and purchased here. The EP contains some old and new songs, done acoustically for this release. Joey Vannucchi, From Indian Lakes' vocalist, will also be going on tour shortly with Abandon Kansas' Jeremy Spring on The Living Room Tour 3, an acoustic tour of house shows all across the midwest and west coast. More info and tour dates for The Living Room Tour 3 can be found here.

Mychildren Mybride Post New Studio Video

2011-10-28T19:56:00.002-04:00

Mychildren Mybride are currently in the studio with Zeuss, who produced Texas In July's new album, and they are recording a brand new self-titled release out early next year. The band's bassist Joe Lengson has been filming a series of short studio videos for the new album, and the newest one, titled "2," can be seen below. Mychildren Mybride are also heading out on a fall tour with Within The Ruins starting next month, and dates for that can be viewed here.

Haste the Day - Haste the Day vs. Haste the Day (DVD/CD)

2011-10-24T18:08:00.002-04:00

Artist: Haste the Day

Album: Haste the Day vs. Haste the Day

Release Date: September 13, 2011

Label: Solid State Records

June 29, 2010 was a special day in Haste the Day history. Not only was it the release of their fifth (and what would become last) album Attack of the Wolf King, but it was also the day of their CD release show for said album at Rhino's in Bloomington, Indiana. However, this wasn't just any CD release show, this concert was Haste the Day vs Haste the Day, it would mark the first time that that original line-up played a show together since December 30, 2005. The show was recorded for a live DVD/CD combo.

There are some differences between the DVD and the CD portion of the album, one example is that the CD features a pre-recorded introduction whereas the DVD goes straight into the adrenalin pumping opening track "68". The place goes crazy as Stephen and the boys then follow it up with the crowd favorite "Pressure the Hinges". Stephen then asks the crowd if they want to hear Jimmy scream some stuff, and the crowd goes crazy. When the opening guitar riff of "Blue 42" starts and Jimmy walks out onto the stage the intensity is instantly cranked to 11. Fans were stage diving all over the place, and hanging from the rafters, the band actually had to stop so they could warn people not to hang from the rafters. The band and Jimmy sounded like they never stopped playing together, I was surprised at how tight they sounded. Stephen came out and helped finish off "Fallen" because Jimmy was lost amongst the fans. Stephen keeps the intensity going with "The Minor Prophets" before a hauntingly beautiful acoustic rendition of "Autumn". Jimmy comes back and sings "The Closest Thing to Closure" and "Walk On", and then Stephen takes over. Stephen settles into his role and shreds through the songs "White Collar", and "Needles".

One of the biggest differences between the DVD and CD is about 46 minutes into the DVD new drummer, Giuseppe Capolupo has a killer 90 second drum solo, which is not heard on the CD. Following this the new line-up plays two new songs from Attack of the Wolf King called "Travesty" and "Dogs like Vultures". Jimmy comes back out and talks about the history of Haste the Day and their love of our Lord. The original line-up plays "American Love" before Mike Murphy, the only original member left in the band, screams "Substance". The final track is "When Everything Falls" which Jimmy and Stephen scream the entire song together, it's a fitting end to such a special show and still gives me goosebumps.

Overall: The show was more-or-less a greatest hits showcase featuring four songs each from Burning Bridges and Pressure the Hinges, three songs from When Everything Falls, and two songs each from Dreamer and Attack of the Wolf King. The DVD quality was hit-or-miss, the three or four main camera views were pretty good, but the handheld views were blurry, out of focus, and kind of annoying, The sound quality of the DVD was very good for a low budget live album, except my constant complaint of too much fan interference, and providing of their own vocals. Also, the CD quality seems to be a touch lower than the DVD. With the hindsight that Haste the Day will never play a show together again this is a good way to relive it. Having been at the show, the combo pack doesn't do it justice, but do they ever? This was also my first time ever seeing the band with Stephen and he blew me away. His stage presence and interaction with the fans was phenomenal. This will get a higher rating just because the original songs are so awesome, and the live performances raised their intensity another notch.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. 68

2. Pressure the Hinges

3. Blue 42

4. Fallen

5. The Minor Prophets

6. Autumn

7. The Closest Thing to Closure

8. Walk On

9. White Collar

10. Needles

11. Travesty

12. Dogs like Vultures

13. American Love

14. Substance

15. When Everything Falls

(Buy Here)

Not Dying Out Anytime Soon: An Interview with A Plea For Purging

2011-10-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

A Plea For Purging are a real hardcore band, in the purest sense. Always connecting with fans, touring hard, and releasing a new album year after year, the band just continue to mature and grow with each release. Now, their upcoming album, The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging is on the horizon (with a November 8th release date), but despite the title, A Plea For Purging are not slowing down anytime soon. Below is our conversation with guitarist/clean vocalist Blake Martin, which took place at this year's iMatter Festival, where we discussed the new album, touring, and why the band aren't done yet, despite the new album's title. (Interview took place on September 3rd, 2011)

Interview with Blake of A Plea For Purging (Pt. 1) by Christian Rock Rocks

Interview with Blake of A Plea For Purging (Pt. 2) by Christian Rock Rocks

Close Your Eyes Release "Valleys" Video

2011-10-23T08:29:00.000-04:00

Close Your Eyes are currently premiering their new music video for their new single "Valleys," which comes off of their sophomore release, Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts, out this week via Victory Records. The video can be seen below.

Immortal Souls - IV: The Requiem for the Art of Death

2011-10-20T14:18:00.002-04:00

Artist: Immortal Souls

Album: IV: The Requiem for the Art of Death

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Label: Facedown Records

Christianity and European death metal don't mix. Well if you're Immortal Souls you disagree. The band mixes traditional death metal with a creepy winter vibe to it to make what they call "winter metal". As the title suggest this is the fourth full-length album by the band, and is full of technical guitar work, and some amazing death metal screams.

Musically, the album is so technical in nature with some amazing guitar work. The band uses the instruments to give of the winter-esque atmosphere that would constitute as winter metal. The album starts with Act I of a three act musical number entitled "Art of Death Act I: Soulbells" as the title suggest there is a lot of Gothic church bells ringing with a guitar riff playing behind it, the same riff will be featured in the other two acts as well. The album immediately kicks into a face-paced, guitar driven track, "Evil Believer", which also features some killer drumming throughout. Aki uses his signature deep death metal growls throughout. About 2:00 into the song there is a very nice guitar solo, and then the song dies a little and Aki whispers something before the song kicks back into gear. The album continues on this chaotically rapid pace through the lead single "Nuclear Winter" which is an iconic death metal song, with the drummer going crazy at the beginning, and Aki's slow growls and then kicking into his more traditional style. The pace doesn't let up until "Art of Death Act II: The Last Journey", which features the same guitar piece heard at the end of Act I, this time without the bells. Then comes the track "Reek of Rotting Rye" which starts with a super heavy guitar riff, before the guitarist just starts to shred away, and the rapid pace of the album is back. "The Last Day on Earth" has a nice guitar riff in it, mixed with some super heavy drum beat, which makes it more like a deathcore song, than death metal but it still works so well with the rest of the album. The album finishes with "Art of Death Act III: The Requiem of the Funeral Eve" which once again has that same guitar piece in it, but this time it doesn't stop there the music picks up into this very melodic dark and heavy piece, and then it stops and there's this soft music playing again, the song becomes a bit of a roller coaster or more like a whirling snowstorm of slower melodic sections and chaotic metal sections before ending with the same bells that started the album.

The lyrics of IV use several elements of the wintry feel to bring the emotions of a dark time, like a cold winter's day. One example of the wintry elements being used as metaphorically to convey a much deeper message would be in the song "Nuclear Winter"; "After the fall where do you crawl when lights are dim/After the sin nuclear winter bleak is the and the end is nigh/After the fall a new winter dawn" it symbolizes the dark times of a sin-filled life, and how bleak it is for a person trapped in that dark, cold lifestyle. Aki's vocals are classic death metal vocals, but they sound so good nonetheless. His voice adds another atmospheric depth to the dark, cold, miserable feelings of a long winter.

Overall: This is a very good album from the best Christian European death metal band around. The technicality, and tightness of the album is superb. If you love guitar solos, you'll love almost every song on this album. I went into IV thinking it was going to be another Wintereich type album, but there is a whole new level to the talent on this album, thus making IV Immortal Souls best album to date.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: "Nuclear Winter", "Last Day on Earth", and "Reek of Rotting Rye"

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. Art of Death Act I: Soulbells

2. Evil Believer

3. Nuclear Winter

4. I Wept

5. Absolution

6. Art of Death Act II: The Last Journey

7. Reek of Rotting Rye

8. Last Day on Earth

9. Hypnotic Atrocity

10. Thoughts of Desolation

11. One Last Withering Rose

12. Art of Death Act III: The Requiem of the Funeral Eve

(Buy Here)

Blessed By A Broken Heart Unleash "Deathwish" For Free Download

2011-10-17T20:51:00.001-04:00

October 17 - Glam metal buzz band BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART are back with their first new material since 2008's Pedal to the Metal (Century Media), a pulse-raising, headband-inducing, '80s-influenced rock assault entitled Feel The Power, available in stores and online January 24th from Tooth and Nail Records.

Today, starting at 5pm EST, the band is excited to give fans a chance to feel the power of Feel The Power by offering a free download of lead track 'Deathwish' in exchange for a tweet. Fans simply need to retweet a message about the song, and in return they'll receive a free download of the track.

Fans can visit here to spread the word after 5pm EST:
http://deathwish.blessed.mu/

"'Deathwish' is a runaway train on full steam," explains guitarist and British newcomer Sam Ryder. "It's a full metal juggernaut of rapid fire riffs, mental baselines and supermassive vocals courtesy of [vocalist] Tony Gambino and myself. The song is the story of a mother's struggle with substance abuse - locked in the vortex with her life in the balance."

BBABH drummer Slater will appear on TVU Live's RadioU from 4:30-5:00pm EST to debut the single just ahead of when fans can get ahold of it. Fans can listen in at:
http://tvulive.com/radiou/

Formed in 2003 in Montreal, Canada, BBABH released its first album - All is Fair in Love And War - a year after its inception. 2008 saw the release of Pedal To The Metal on Century Media Records, which was followed by years of incessant touring throughout the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Australia alongside the likes of JUDAS PRIEST, A DAY TO REMEMBER, BRING ME THE HORIZON, MEGADETH, STEEL PANTHER and more.

Like any artist with a notable body of work, BLESSED has experienced a near constant evolution over the past eight years, in some part due to lineup changes, but mostly due to a stylistic progression away from pure metalcore in favor of more traditional metal and hard rock. One listen to Feel The Power will confirm that not only is this not the same band that recorded All Is Fair, but that that very fact is their saving grace. Staying ahead of the curve and distancing themselves from the pack is the key to BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART's longevity, and the reason the new album will resonate with even the most veteran headbangers.

"'Deathwish' is a deep song to come out of the gate with, but it's gonna turn heads for the right reasons," says Ryder. "The record may not come out until January 24th, 2012, but starting today everyone will begin to 'Feel the Power'..."

Check Out: Ryan Shelley

2011-10-16T07:35:00.001-04:00

Check out Ryan Shelley, an indie/folk worship artist from Florida, who has shared the stage with such artists as Aaron Gillespie, The Ember Days and Ascend The Hill. Ryan has recently released a new full-length album, Sights & Sounds, on iTunes, and you can preview some new songs at his website or Facebook page, which also contains tour dates and more info on Ryan's music.

Stream John Mark McMillan's Economy

2011-10-15T09:47:00.001-04:00

Relevant are currently streaming John Mark McMillan's upcoming album, Economy, which can be heard at The Drop. Economy is releasing November 1st through Integrity Music, and can be pre-ordered now, right here.

Your Memorial to Headline the Hope For The Nations Tour

2011-10-15T09:33:00.000-04:00

Your Memorial will be heading out with Sovereign Strength, Fall In Archaea, and As Hell Retreats this November for a tour that will span the US.

Your Memorial will be touring in support of their 2010 release "Atonement." Partial proceeds of the Hope for the Nations tour dates will benefit Hello Somebody to help feed starving children.

Hope for the Nations tour

w/ Sovereign Strength (Mediaskare), As Hell Retreats (ANGR), Fall In Archaea (Mediaskare)

Nov 11 - Johnstown, NY @ Anthony's Pizza

Nov 12 - Buffalo, NY @ Broadway Joe's

Nov 13 - Dayton, OH @ The Attic

Nov 14 - Louisville, KY @ Sanctuary Music Venue

Nov 15 - St. Louis, MO @ TBA

Nov 16 - Salinas, KS @ Indian Rock

Nov 17 - Denver, CO @ The Marquis

Nov 18 - Ogden, UT @ Mojo's Gallery

Nov 19 - St. George, UT @ TBA

Nov 20 - Canoga Park, CA @ The Cobalt Cafe, Turkey Fest

Nov 21 - Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome

Nov 22 - Fullerton, CA @ TBA

Nov 23 - Mesa, AZ @ The Underground

Nov 25 - Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater

Nov 26 - Lubbock, TX @ TBA

Nov 27 - San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit

Nov 28 - Houston, TX @ Caines Ashes

Nov 29 - Metairie, LA @ The Cypress

Nov 30 - Jackson, MS @ The Safehouse

Dec 1 - Mobile, AL @ TBA

Dec 2 - West Palm Beach, FL @ The Speakeasy

Dec 3 - Tampa, FL @ Transitions Art Gallery

Dec 4 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater

Dec 5 - Columbus, GA @ TBA

Dec 6 - Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue

w/ Fall In Archaea, Mercy Screams (Red Cord)

Dec 7 - Charleston, SC @ TBA

Dec 8 - Wilimington/Jacksonville, NC @ TBA

Dec 9 - Fredericksburg, VA @ The Refuge

Dec 10 - Lynchburg, VA @ Crosspoint Venue

Dec 11 - Toledo, OH @ Frankie's Inner City

Saving Grace Pre-Orders and New Song

2011-10-14T19:24:00.002-04:00

Saving Grace has just released a lyric video for "Shekinah" from their upcoming album The King is Coming. Check that out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA2giDLtZ_Y

Then go pre-order the new album, due out November 22.

http://facedown.merchnow.com/catalogs/saving-grace

Blessthefall - Awakening

2011-10-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

Artist: Blessthefall

Album: Awakening

Release Date: October 4, 2011

Label: Fearless Records

In 2009 Blessthefall proclaimed “We’re not dead!” and I believed them, replacing a lead vocalist is hard to do but they pulled it off. Here it is 2011, and they’re calling their new album Awakening, and this time I’m not buying it. The band has been the same for it’s entire career except Beau replacing Craig on the last album and the new rhythm guitarist on this album. Just like the members haven’t really changed, neither has the band.

The album opens with another little track much like the last album did, with the same four lines or so repeated a few times before kicking into the body of the album. Musically this album is about the same as the last album. It’s good, generic metalcore music. There’s nothing really special or stand-out about the music, they play what most scene bands play, and they do it well. Not saying the bands not talented, just that there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of originality in the music. Regardless, the music still does what it’s primary purpose is, and that’s get the listener pumped. Their breakdowns are very good, as they’ve always been. The band has also lost some of the keyboards/synthesizers from the first two albums, which in my opinion shows some of the weaknesses in the rest of the bands instrumental material. If you go the digital iTunes route you get the dubstep remix of “Promised Ones” by Big Chocolate. If you like dubstep, check this out, it’s a pretty cool dubstep remix of one of the better songs on the album.

Lyrically, the band has made improvements. They’ve gone back towards more faith based lyrics, which is a very good thing. The song “Promised Ones” to me shows some of this movement “Don't you know/We are the promised ones and nothing's in our way/They can try but/They'll never stop us/Tell all our enemies we're ready for the war/We've been here and we'll never die.” What it says to me is that tell all of those who oppose us who live under God’s law that we won’t back down from our beliefs and we will never die, because we've been granted eternal life. The band even touches on the fact they strayed away from what they once stood for on the song “The Reign”; “I swear that this time it's real/I promise that I will keep true/My heart belongs to you/My heart belongs to you!” Beau’s vocals aren't the greatest on this album, but they’re not horrible either. The clean vocals sound like every other band signed to one of the major metalcore labels out there. I enjoy the lyrics, but other than that the vocals are just average, and Beau seems to have lost a little something on his screams.

Overall: This album is a step down from their previous album, which was incidentally enough a step down from their debut album. There’s nothing special about this album, and it is easily forgettable. In the three and a half years since Beau has joined the band, they haven’t shown any real signs of growing as a band, they’re comfortable with the sound they have, and it seems don’t want to see it change from that too much if at all. It’s sad to see once a band gets some national attention that they fall into making the same album as before, and I feel this is what’s happened to Blessthefall. However, the album was better the second and third time around than it was the first, so maybe it’s one of those albums that will grow on you over time but I doubt it.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended Tracks: “Promised Ones”, and “The Reign”

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. Awakening

2. Promised Ones

3. Bottomfeeder

4. I'm Bad News, in the Best Way

5. The Reign

6. 40 Days...

7. Bone Crew

8. Don't Say Goodbye

9. Undefeated

10. 'til the Death of Me

11. Flatline

12. Meet Me at the Gates

(buy here)

Switchfoot - Vice Verses

2011-10-12T19:28:00.005-04:00

Artist: Switchfoot

Album: Vice Verses

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Label: lowercase people records

It’s amazing what independence can do for a band. Since forming their own label, lowercase people, Switchfoot released the Grammy award winning Hello Hurricane in 2009, and just released what many people are considering its companion album, Vice Verses. Whilst recording their previous album the band mentioned they had four albums worth of music, they wanted to release. Instead they went back into the studio and recorded their eighth studio album, and focused on each individual song until it was what they considered perfect.

Vice Verses is more of a drum/bass driven album than Hello Hurricane, but at the same time it contains the overall vibe from that album. It’s refreshing to see such a huge band like Switchfoot not make the same album over and over again. Where Hello Hurricane was more laid back on most tracks, Vice Verses is the opposite, it’s more of a rock album with brief breaks for the Switchfoot staple softer song. You get both sides of what the band has become in recent years, and then they throw you a curveball. The band experiments with some Beck vibes on songs like “The War Within” and especially the super-raw, amazing song “Selling the News”. The music on Vice Verses is quite diverse and possibly some of the best playing I’ve heard from the band in their fifteen year career. From the opening riffs of “Afterlife” you know you’re in for a big rock song. The song takes on an almost Bon Jovi-esque stadium rock feel, it’s just such a big sounding song. The next song takes on a more upbeat tone to it with awesome musicality, and another dimension of Jon’s vocals. From the opening of the third track, you know this song is going to be like nothing you’ve heard from the band, and it really shows off the focus on the rhythm section of the band. It’s also one of the strongest tracks on the album. ”Blinding Light” starts off with this funky little riff and then it disappears and shows up a few other sections of the song, but the song turns out to be a soft song that reminds of The Fray meets One Republic. Then comes the climax of the album, the track “Selling the News”, on this track the band experiments with those Beck sounds, and they nail it! The song is probably the best Switchfoot song I’ve heard, and sure to be one fans talk about for years to come. Most of the rest of the album settles into the Hello Hurricane sound with the softer songs, with the exception of the lead single “Dark Horses” which a radio-friendly mainstream song, not that that’s a bad thing, but for once the lead single isn’t the strongest/best song on the album.

What can you say about Jon Foreman’s vocals after all these years, they’re always about the same right? Wrong! Granted many of the songs, feature the vocal style we’ve all come accustomed to with the band, but there are several songs where he pushes the boundaries of what he can do with is voice, and almost every time it pays off. “Selling the News” features Jon almost rapping his lyrics, which may be some of the most powerful I’ve heard, his voice is just so raw with the emotions he’s conveying through the lyrics. It’s simply amazing. He kind of does the same on “The War Within” which features a vocal style which is hard to explain, other than just listen to it, and you’ll love it. As far as lyrics go they’re what you’d expect from the band. They’re good but nothing really spectacular. There are however some lines that really stick out to me, for example the opening song “Afterlife” has the lines “I've tasted fire/I'm ready to come alive/I can't just shut it up and fake that I'm alright /I'm ready now /I'm not waiting for the afterlife”. I love how it’s basically saying that there is no better time to make right with God and accept Him as he accepts us, don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait until the afterlife. The lyrics of the entire song “Selling the News” really speak to me with the raw emotion, and critique of what America has really become but the one line that really hit me like a ton of bricks is “suspicion is the new religion”, because a lot of Americans have become like that during recent times and events.

Overall: I didn’t think Switchfoot could do better than Hello Hurricane, and I’m still not 100% sold that this album is better than that album, but is definitely tied at least. If you put Hello Hurricane and Vice Verses together you have a masterpiece. The more I listen to the album the more I fall in love with it as a whole. The focus on the bass/drum section is refreshing and makes for a very good and solid rock album. The experimentation with some other vocal styles was a very welcome aspect of the album, not only did the band try something new but they blew it out of the water. The lyrics for the most part are ok, but there are some exceptions like I said. “Selling the News” should go down in history as the best Switchfoot song of all-time. Vice Verses will absolutely make several apperences in my CD player, as well as a much deserved place on my top albums of 2011. Do yourself a favor, and go buy both Hello Hurricane and this new album, Vice Verses because they’re the perfect compliments to each other.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: "Afterlife", "The War Within", "Selling the News", and "Dark Horses"

Reviewed by: Michael Small

Tracklisting:

1. Afterlife

2. The Original

3. The War Within

4. Restless

5. Blinding Light

6. Selling the News

7. Thrive

8. Dark Horses

9. Souvenirs

10. Rise Above It

11. Vice Verses

12. Where I Belong

(Buy Here)

Leaders Post 4 Song Demo for Free Download

2011-10-12T13:46:00.005-04:00

Our friend's in Leaders (formally known as AllorNothing) have posted a 4-song demo for free download, as a way of saying thanks! Go check it out, and let them and us know what you think!

A Plea For Purging Post "room for the dead"

2011-10-11T06:40:00.003-04:00

A Plea For Purging have posted another new song from their upcoming album, The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging, titled "room for the dead," which can be seen below in the form of a lyric video. Their new album is out November 8th through Facedown Records, and can currently be pre-ordered here.

Oh, Sleeper - Children of Fire

2011-10-10T20:52:00.000-04:00

Artist: Oh, Sleeper
Album: Children of Fire
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Label: Solid State Records

The most compelling bands can always create music that really grabs the listener's attention. It's a fact. Oh, Sleeper are one band that have always proven true to that statement. In a world of unoriginal music that lacks substance, Oh, Sleeper just can not resist making metal that really shakes things up. Like on prior albums, frontman Micah Kinard's brutality shows, both vocally and especially in his honest lyrics. In fact, Children of Fire is another concept driven album, and like Son of the Morning, is driven through highs and lows in different musical fashion. Children of Fire is not just an album, but also a gripping story, of a darkened world with no apparent hope, with two main characters: one a so-called "religious zealot" and his daughter, an athiest, both of which who go through life-changing times in their life, one on a hopeful path, and the other not as bright (but I won't spoil the story for you).

On the musical side of things, Children of Fire is easily Oh, Sleeper's most dynamic album yet. Besides the highly technical guitar work and heavy breakdowns that we've grown used to from the band, this album also shows great diversity in its melodic parts, with two acoustic tracks, and plenty of great clean vocals from guitarist Shane Blay. Blay's vocals have gotten even stronger since Son of the Morning, and really shine this time around, working cohesively with Micah Kinard's commanding, ferocious growls.

To highlight only a few songs on Children of Fire is somewhat hard to do, but some of its strongest points come on these four songs: "Endseekers," "Hush Yael," "In The Wake of Pigs," and "Chewing The Stitch." "Endseekers" opens up the album quite literally with a bang (on the drums), leading into a breakdown, and even some gang vocals, which should make the song a live favorite. "Hush Yael" is a chilling song to accompany a dark story, and has dueling vocals between Shane and Micah. The album's two strongest songs however are "In The Wake of Pigs" and "Chewing The Stitch." The chorus of "In The Wake of Pigs" features a resounding "You are not alone in the eye of the darkest storm," which really carries the song. The guitar work of "Chewing The Stitch" is very melodic and technical, encompassing the powerful lyrics of "You are the new sign of proof, a calloused heart can still be reached. Stand and believe that it's true, you hold the voice to change the sea."

Overall: In a great year of heavy music, Oh, Sleeper only contribute to the list of quality releases with Children of Fire. One of the best metalcore releases I've heard in a while, the album is no doubt the band's most dynamic work to date, with a gripping concept, and music that accompanies the story's highs and lows. Children of Fire is one solid album that you don't want to miss, and hopefully you've heard it by now, but if not, do so.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Endseekers
Shed Your Soul
The Marriage of Steel and Skin
Hush Yael
The Conscious Speaks
Dealers of Fame
Means To Believe
In The Wake of Pigs
Claws of A God
The Family Ruin
Chewing The Stitch
Children of Fire

(Buy Here)

Get Deas Vail's New Album At Amazon A Day Early

2011-10-10T08:46:00.001-04:00

Deas Vail's new self-titled album is available today at AmazonMP3 a day early, and for only $3.99. The new album is out this week through Mono vs. Stereo Records, and you can also get a free song from the album right here.

Mat Kearney Daytrotter Session

2011-10-10T08:29:00.001-04:00

Mat Kearney recently recorded a new Daytrotter session, which can be listened to and downloaded for free right here, which features his hit single "Hey Mama." Kearney is currently on a headlining tour with support from Thad Cockrell's new band, Leagues, and the tour dates for that can be viewed at this location. Young Love, Mat Kearney's new album, is in stores and online now.

House of Heroes Debut "Lovesick Zombie"

2011-10-07T16:35:00.000-04:00

House of Heroes are debuting their new Halloween-themed love song, "Lovesick Zombie," right now at Alt Press, in the form of a lyrics video. "Lovesick Zombie" will be available on iTunes and AmazonMP3 starting October 18th from Gotee Records.

Abandon Kansas Debut "Like It Or Not" Video

2011-10-05T18:33:00.001-04:00

Abandon Kansas have just posted their brand new music video for the song "Like It Or Not," which was filmed by In The Boat Productions (members of Showbread), which can be viewed below. The song comes off of the band's album which released back in March, Ad Astra Per Aspera, which is in stores and online now via Gotee Records.

Holding Onto Hope Track-By-Track

2011-10-04T06:09:00.000-04:00

Florida's post-hardcore act Holding Onto Hope return this week with a new album after two years, a self-titled release, that will be sure to tug on the listener's heartstrings. The band's vocalist Anton Kellner took the time to go in depth about the album's ten songs, and the concept of the self-titled album. Be sure to check out Holding Onto Hope, and download their brand new album as a free gift from Come&Live! today.

Old Voids: This track pretty much is where the story begins. The target is at the darkest state in life, not knowing God or caring to. This target is particularly drifting along the lines of atheism, and conjuring so much hate for the world around him. He is the "carrier of poison" so to speak.

Hollow Vessel: "Hollow Vessel" is about being trapped in literally a self-made "hollow vessel." It's about feeling empty, feeling that there is no hope. No matter what scripture, words of encouragement, or positive advice are thrown at him, he refuses to let it affect him (in a good way that is).

Low: In this track, the target's brain is starting to take control of his body. He starts struggling with nostalgia and being haunted by his past.

Mediums: As we continue on the journey, the target just keeps getting darker and darker. This track is about the target blaming God for all things bad. This is sort of an "if there is a God, he's doing a terrible job" type mock up. This is an almighty refusal to anything named holy.

Ourselves: This track hints out hope. The target wakes up during a melancholic dream and for some reason cannot move his body. He starts to feel rushes of goodness throughout his entire body, yet does not know why. As the track comes to an end, the target's "eyes finally open" and starts to realize that this so called "god" was not to blame... it was himself.

Forsaken: Take I: This track is the divider between the bad and the good. Throughout this entire song, the target is hearing God's voice and it's simply saying "let me carry you."

The Indication: This is where the target starts to fight against what he now realizes was the devil.

A Momentum: In this track, God is telling the target to focus on letting go. The target still has some "poison" in him, so the healing is not yet complete.

Forsaken: Take II: This is God's voice speaking in metaphor, telling the target to "leave this town," and let go of everything that he has ever known bad.

Don't Grieve For Me, For Now I Am Free: Nothing bad breathes forever. This track is where evil reaches a cessation. This is the conclusion to the story. In this song, the target has released every last drop of "poison" for the ghosts and all things dead. Light starts to fill his eyes and he sees God's physical being. He is now a believer.

The Life and Tour of A Plea For Purging

2011-10-03T20:26:00.000-04:00

A Plea For Purging have announced their first headlining tour of 2011 "The Life and Tour of A Plea For Purging." They will be touring in support of their new album The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging which will be released November 8. You can pre-order the new album now. http://facedown.merchnow.com/

Oct 29 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
Oct 30 - Chattanooga, TN @ The Warehouse
Oct 31 - Memphis, TN @ Escape Alley
Nov 1 - Raleigh, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
Nov 2 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Club Relevant
Nov 3 - Annapolis, MD @ Knights of Columbus
Nov 4 - Lemoyne, PA @ The Championship
Nov 5 - Dayton, OH @ The Attic
Nov 6 - Louisville, KY @ Encounter Church
Nov 7 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch
Nov 8 - Goshen, IN @ Goshen Theater
Nov 9 - St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Nov 10 - Sioux City, IA @ The Underground
Nov 11 - Wichita, KS @ TBA
Nov 12 - Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall
Nov 13 - Tulsa, OK @ Marquee
Nov 14 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Nov 15 - Waco, TX @ Art Ambush
Nov 16 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tomcats
Nov 17 - Mobile, AL @ The Indie Spot
Nov 18 - Savannah, GA @ City Church
Nov 19 - Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
Nov 20 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theatre

Check Out: Sinai Vessel

2011-10-02T16:36:00.001-04:00

Sinai Vessel is an indie rock project, mainly driven by Caleb Cordes, with a mission: to make deeply personal music with a goal of touching the listener. A passion for God is knitted into Sinai Vessels lyrics, intertwined with the joys and pains of life, shown on their upcoming full length release, Labor Pains, which will be out on October 4th. Labor Pains can currently be streamed at the band's Bandcamp, and the first single from the album, "Vows," is also available for free download. Give Sinai Vessel a listen, check out Labor Pains, and take in the beauty found in its music and lyrics; you may just find something special.

Passionate Hope Vol. 1 Free Download

2011-10-01T09:22:00.001-04:00

Our friends over at Indie Vision Music have just released a new compilation, which is a bit different than their usual free downloads. It is titled Passionate Hope Vol. 1: Songs of Worship and features some great worship music from artists such as Cool Hand Luke, Esterlyn, My Epic, and The Ember Days, in addition to new music from upcoming bands such as Oceans & Vessels, Standing Small, and Sinai Vessel to name a few. Passionate Hope is available now as a completely free download right here. Give it a listen, and let us and IVM know what you think.

A Plea For Pre-Orders

2011-09-30T19:32:00.000-04:00

THE LIFE & DEATH OF A PLEA FOR PURGING – PRE-ORDERS, VINYL, FREE STUFF & MORE!

You can now pre-order the upcoming album from A Plea For Purging titled The Life & Death Of A Plea For Purging in our online store. http://facedown.merchnow.com/

Ten different pre-order options are available including

• 4 brand new exclusive PLEA shirts

• 500 copies of the album as a double gatefold, white double LP

• all vinyl pre-orders will get a free exclusive “Fat Pride” 7” featuring the bonus song “Fat Pride” which is not on the album (Limited to 500 copies on brown vinyl. The Facedown store will be the only store offering these for sale.)

• all pre-orders come with a free poster

• all pre-orders will be entered to win an Omen-6 guitar compliments of Schecter Guitars

• all vinyl pre-orders will be entered to win a test pressing of the double 12” (limited to only 8 copies)

The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging will be released November 8.

Close Your Eyes Reveal First Track-By-Track Video and Song Clips

2011-09-29T13:13:00.000-04:00

“Musically and lyrically, we poured our hearts into this one,” states vocalist Shane Raymond.

Watch melodic-hardcore group CLOSE YOUR EYES openly discuss the first four tracks of Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts, including the single “Valleys,” which the band filmed a music video for in Chicago earlier this week. The track-by-track video streams 30 second clips of the first four songs on the new album and reveals artwork.

Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts is now available for pre-order at the Victory Records Webstore.

For more information on CLOSE YOUR EYES:

http://www.victoryrecords.com/closeyoureyes

http://www.facebook.com/cyeband

Check Out: Rejoice the Awakening

2011-09-29T08:48:00.001-04:00

Check out Rejoice the Awakening, a rising melodic hardcore band out of Florida. The have just released a new song, which can streamed over at Indie Vision Music. The new song comes off of their upcoming EP, Many Waters/Many Floods, which is releasing on December 5th. The EP was recorded with Brian Hood at 456 Recordings (A Plea For Purging, Gideon, As Hell Retreats), and is sure to be a good release from this upcoming band, who have shared the stage with the likes of The Chariot, Oh, Sleeper, and My Epic to name a few. For more info on Rejoice the Awakening, check them out on Facebook.

Life In Your Way Pre-Orders and Release Shows

2011-09-29T07:09:00.001-04:00

Life In Your Way have just announced the pre-orders of their upcoming triple-disc album, Kingdoms, which is releasing on October 25th through Come&Live!/Kingdom Records. The album can currently be pre-ordered in a limited edition digipak, along with a wide variety of shirts, at the band's webstore. Life In Your Way have also just announced both of their Kingdoms release shows, on November 4th and 5th, playing with bands such as Hostage Calm, Shai Hulad, and I Am Alpha and Omega (reunion show) over the course of both nights. For more info on those shows, and to purchase tickets, you can check out their website.

Hundredth - Let Go

2011-09-27T02:07:00.007-04:00

Artist: Hundredth

Album: Let Go

Release Date: September 27th, 2011

Label: Mediaskare Records

"Give up yourself and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it." – C.S. Lewis

Hundredth is a band that has shown over and over what it looks like to be a band that focuses on the foundation of what it truly means to live a life of purpose. Let Go is the band’s sophomore release through Mediaskare Records. Hundredth holds nothing back and has no problem with getting in your face with issues that they strongly believe in. Let Go is an album full of catchy songwriting, honest and passionate vocals, and tons of aggression.

Let Go starts off with a very short instrumental track that serves as a great opener for the next track “Weathered Town”, which has some great gang vocals on it, and really sets the tone of the album. “Live Today” is the first song Hundredth released and though I loved the track at the time, it has since became one of my least favorites on the album. The next track “We Can Take Them All” is one of the more political songs on the album, it talks about the “American Dream” and to really question and challenge everything about it. You soon find out that Hundredth is a band that stands against violence, hate, and injustice in all forms and focuses on loving others above all else. In songs like “Humane” it talks about putting an end to redemptive violence and spreading love over our enemies and reminds us that justice lies in God our King.

Though some of the album is about social justice issues, I feel that the true theme is about changing our lives to live for a purpose and giving up the things that hold us back. “Monumental Part I” is a partial instrumental track that features a recorded audio clip of C.S. Lewis doing a live radio broadcast. I personally think that this track alone sums up what Hundredth is trying to get a across to the listeners.

The final tracks of the album I personally believe are the strongest of the album, and some of the most well written songs Hundredth has put out. The “last” track on the album “Soul” has a part in it that actually made my jaw drop and say out loud “What just happened”, and is for sure the heaviest part of the album. The album closes out with a hidden track, a cover of Johnny Cash’s rendition of Nine Inch Nails “Hurt”, and it is one of the best covers I have heard in a long time.

Overall: Hundredth is a band that in my eyes can do no wrong. Though they have abandoned their metallic hardcore style, the new melodic style is sure a thing of beauty. The lyrics of the album are uplifting and they challenge a way of life that some of us have been accustomed. The musicianship is top notch, with soaring guitars, huge hits, and catchy riffs that will make any hardcore fan happy. Hundredth really hits the head of the nail on Let Go, and believe me when I say that this is an album that you should not miss.

Rating: 9.5/10

Reviewed by Tabor Brown

Tracklisting:

Let Go
Weathered Town
Live Today
We Can Take Them All
Carry On
Humane
Remain & Sustain
Monumental Part I
Monumental Part II
I Hold the Key
Restless
Soul
Hurt [Hidden Track]

(Buy Here)

New Music Video from sosaveme

2011-09-26T18:30:00.000-04:00

Indie rock quartet sosaveme are currently premiering their music video for their new single, "Gentle Slope," off their album The Garden, which is releasing October 4th. The video can be viewed below.

Exiting The Fall - Parables

2011-09-26T06:40:00.001-04:00

Artist: Exiting The Fall
Album: Parables
Release Date: June 2011
Label: None

I love discovering new bands who show a lot of potential, like many people out there. A few months ago, before trekking to SoulFest, I heard about a new post-hardcore band named Exiting The Fall, and soon after, got to listen to them, and a few weeks later, their recently-released EP, Parables. The seven-song effort is a solid release for the genre of post-hardcore, complete with somewhat technical guitars, heavy breakdowns, and clean vocals that are not high and whiny like so many other bands on the same type.

A short, ambient intro slowly fades in when you press play, with the words "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. Remember the words I spoke to you, no servant is greater than his master. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin, now however, they have no excuse for their sin." Right after, Parables kicks into full gear with the breakdown-laden "Pharisee" and "The Prodigal." The latter of the two ends with a haunting gang vocal section, boldly proclaiming "My God is bigger than this world, I know the truth."

A bit more melody is shown on "Finisher of Faith," which builds strongly on clean vocals, and near melodic-hardcore sections as well. "The Great Lie" follows up much more aggressively, taking on a darker aspect, that fits with the song's title. "Sin. Faith. Duty." shows off lead vocalists Matt Vacaro's vocal range, from his lower growls, to higher screams, which he shows a good deal of professionalism in, and are not some bad attempt at trying to hit different notes. The seventh and closing song, "Eye of The Needle," is the EP's most technical song, that even includes a short guitar solo, and gang vocals which sound more like a choir, with a message of not giving up because of finding hope.

Overall: Exiting The Fall have gotten off on a great start with the release of Parables. A fresh take on post-hardcore, with a technical edge, the seven-song EP shows off some quality musicianship, and lyrics of hope, and the realization that God is love. I would be glad to hear a full length from the band, although the songs on Parables do satisfy the listener, and look forward to hearing new material, and some growth from the band. That being said, look for Exiting The Fall to be making waves in the heavy music scene over the next year, and perhaps years to come. Check these guys out if you like technical post-hardcore, I Am Alpha and Omega, and Wolves At The Gate.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Intro
Pharisee
The Prodigal
Finisher of Faith
The Great Lie
Sin. Faith. Duty.
Eye of The Needle

(Buy Here)

The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne

2011-09-24T15:03:00.001-04:00

Artist: The Devil Wears Prada
Album: Dead Throne
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Label: Ferret Records

The Devil Wears Prada have always been a groundbreaking band in both the Christian and secular heavy music markets since their inception. They've influenced countless metalcore bands out there today, and for some reason, almost every new band will tell you that they sound like The Devil Wears Prada. Dead Throne is something a bit different for the band, an album that shows them moving away from the "scene" metalcore that they've come to master over the years, and has them leaning towards more thrashier metal, with less of emphasis on clean vocals, and more on Mike Hranica's screaming, growling, and newfound yelled vocals.

To be honest with you, I've never really been a fan of the band. Dead Throne changes some things for me. There are a handful of tracks I enjoy, unlike the usual one or two. The craftsmanship of these songs have improved from the band's prior material, and really shake things up a bit. The guitar work is not all chugging, although it is at times, and there is a good amount of shredding. The clean vocals, from guitarist Jeremy DePoyster, are not really whiny this time around, although they do still maintain some scene vibes, and they do add a lot to the tracks that they're featured on.

Some of the album's best crafted songs would have to be "Born To Lose," "Chicago," "Constance," and "Holdfast." Both "Born To Lose" and "Holdfast" come off as more typical metalcore pieces, but both are done well, both musically, and especially lyrically, with themes of anti-idolatry and hope. "Chicago" is perhaps the album's best song, an ambient piece with Hranica screaming, before reaching a point of yelling emotionally, "I did it for the Lord, I did it for Chicago!" Immediately after comes "Constance," filled with some good guitar riffs and a guest appearance from the one and only Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying, who adds a different level of intensity to the song's closing.

I do have some problems with Dead Throne. First of all, a good deal of songs on the album to run together a bit, and start sounding similar after some time. Another thing I'm worried about is its lasting value. Despite the few aforementioned highlights, the album doesn't hold my attention for long, and leaves me moving onto something else to listen to.

Overall: Dead Throne is a step in the right direction for The Devil Wears Prada, and has a handful of highlights, but really does not have much value other than that for me. I do like the band's new direction, hinting at an altogether departure from metalcore, certainly a risky move in the scene they're in, and I do expect some longtime fans to be disappointed, along with some new ones to become interested in the band. However, besides a few songs in the past, the band have never really caught my attention all that much, and while I do find myself enjoying some of Dead Throne, I can't call it great, but maybe good, just maybe.

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Dead Throne
Untidaled
Mammoth
Vengeance
R.I.T.
My Questions
Kansas
Born To Lose
Forever Decay
Chicago
Constance
Pretenders
Holdfast

(Buy Here)

New Quiet Science Album Out October 25th

2011-09-20T16:00:00.001-04:00

Quiet Science Announces Details of Forthcoming LP, Premieres NewTrack on Alternative Press

The Space Coastelectro-rock trio Quiet Science have announced their upcoming LP DarkWords of Dark Wings will be released October 25^th via Last Satellite Records.

Dark WordsOn Dark Wings is a collection of stories about characters facing the darkesthours of their lives and how in these tremendously difficult times, thecharacters choose to respond. “In a world where hurt is easy to come by anddespair is not always addressed, we want to plant a seed of hope and achallenge for all of us to help mend the broken,” exclaims singer NathanWalter.

“A Feast ForCrows”, oneof the first standout tracks from the album, can be streamed via it’s exclusive premiere on AlternativePress. Additionally, the band has officially released the track listing,which can be found below as well as the official album art by Brett English.

For DarkWords on Dark Wings, the band enlisted Jeremy SH Griffith (Underoath,Sunbears, Norma Jean) to produce and engineer, with Drew Lavyne (FooFighters, White Stripes, Moby) at the helm of mastering. The result is a sonicmasterpiece that sounds big enough to fill arenas while maintaining theinnovation to demand multiple listens.

For two years QuietScience has toured the country non-stop sharing the road with such artists as Switchfoot, Showbread,Abandon Kansas, Sleeping At Last, Cool Hand Luke, Futureof Forestry, and Remedy Drive. Quiet Science’s first full lengthalbum, [With/Without] gained the band much attention including severalfeatures in publications such as Relevant Magazine and received airplay onradio stations across North America. QuietScience has been in demand at many festivals including Cornerstone, Ichthus,and Summer Side Show. The band moved over 3,000 copies of [With/Without]independently, while playing over 150 shows a year since it’s release in2010. Music from the album has also been featured on E!’s Married toRock and several other television shows. Following the albums’ release theband will tour in support. Look for Quiet Science on the road this fall.

Tour Dates

9/30 Club Relevant – Virginia Beach, VA

10/1 RCM – Haggers Town, MD

10/3GroundZero - Allenstown, NH

10/7Murray Hill Theatre – Jacksonville, FL

10/8H20 Live – Orlando, FL

10/12The Warehouse – Chatanooga, TN

10/14The 86 Club - Coryville, OH

Help Abel Fund A New Album

2011-09-16T16:49:00.001-04:00

The Poughkeepsie, NY-based Come&Live! band Abel are currently using Kickstarter to fund their upcoming third album that will be recorded this January. The new album is expected to release next spring through Come&Live! as a free gift, and the band need to raise $10,000 to completely fund the project. You can visit the widget below for more info on Abel or to donate to their Kickstarter, and you can also be on the lookout for our video interview with the band from SoulFest this summer!

Thrice - Major/Minor

2011-09-13T18:25:00.000-04:00

Artist: Thrice
Album: Major/Minor
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Label: Vagrant Records

Chances are, if you've read any interviews or talked with any indie or hardcore bands over the past few bands, there's almost always one band that they all say influence them, and that always recurring band is none other than Thrice. Thrice have been constantly progressing through the years, from being a punk band early on, then moving into the post-hardcore scene (before it became over run with countless scene bands with auto-tuned vocals), and are now currently dwelling in indie rock, most notable over their past few albums, especially Beggars, and now on Major/Minor.

Although Major/Minor is still distinctively Thrice, do not just assume that it will be Beggars part two. While the two albums have similarities, Major/Minor finds the band really infusing past elements (not the heavier ones) with the indie rock grooves, for an overall great outcome. The songs on the album range from a more raw, aggressive side ("Blur") to big, melodious, rock songs, including "Anthology" and "Cataracts," the latter with a, dare I say it, soaring chorus, and still even a somber, more contemplative feel, especially on "Call It In The Air," which builds up to a chaotic ending, and emotional, passionate vocals from Dustin Kensrue.

Dustin Kensrue's lyrics are very deep as always, and show of a desperation. One of the best lyrical spots on the album comes on "Listen Through Me," and speaks of Jesus bearing the sins of the world on the cross, and pouring out His love for us. Other topics focus on things such as abuse, on "Yellow Belly." Kensrue's lyrics have always been one of Thrice's best aspects, and Major/Minor is no exception for that.

Overall: For a band that so many others are inspired by, it is no surprise that Thrice have once again put out another great album. Major/Minor truly finds the band honing in on their (now subtle) post-hardcore elements, with a much more melodic, indie, and almost alternative, rock sound. This album is musically a step up from Beggars, which I actually really enjoyed, so in saying that, Major/Minor is a very strong contender for album of the year. Do yourself a favor and go pick up this album, maybe even on vinyl. It's worth every penny.

Rating: 9.5/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

Yellow Belly
Promises
Blinded
Cataracts
Call It In The Air
Treading Paper
Blur
Words In The Water
Listen Through Me
Anthology
Disarmed

(Buy Here)

From Indian Lakes Debut New Music

2011-09-10T19:39:00.001-04:00

California's indie rockers From Indian Lakes have recently posted a new song, titled "We Are Sick," which can be heard here. The band's new album is in the process of being finished up, and their vocalist, Joey, will be playing the west coast section of the third living room tour that Abandon Kansas' Jeremy Spring has done this fall/winter, and dates will be announced soon.

Life In Your Way Debut "Like A River"

2011-09-10T07:28:00.003-04:00

Life In Your Way have just released a brand new song, "Like A River," which comes off their Kingdom of God EP, part of their upcoming album Kingdoms, which will be out October 25th through the band, and as separate EPs through Come&Live!. You can stream "Like A River" at the band's Facebook page.

Family Force 5 Return with III on October 18th

2011-09-06T13:01:00.002-04:00

Since 2005, FAMILY FORCE 5 has been galvanizing audiences with their incendiary dance floor mix of dirty South dance-rock anthems, thunderous beats, Southern-fried guitar and good-time lyrics. After raucous performances at Sonisphere, the Vans Warped Tour and a handful of U.S. festivals this summer, the Atlanta quintet will release their genre-obliterating new album III on October 18 via Tooth & Nail Records//III Entertainment.

Part party-bangers, part grimy rockers, FAMILY FORCE 5’s booty-quaking beats and face-melting synths have earned them a loyal following culled from their ceaseless touring and chart-topping albums, the group’s previous album 08’s Dance or Die debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #30and the Modern Rock chart at #8 with 13,000 copies sold in the first week.

III marks a dynamic shift for the group, a return-to-rock sound that resurrects the heavy guitars and bombastic beats of their debut. Opening track “Can You Feel It” explodes with searing guitars and vocalist SOLOMON’s distorted voice slices through the boom-bap of tumultuous drums. “Our goal was to make jock jams for the future,” DEREK (guitars) says about the album opener. “At the time, we were listening to a lot of Sleigh Bells, and we wanted to create something mean and gritty. This track gets people hyped up, and it perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album.” Unadulterated energy ties the band’s unstoppable genre-hopping as FAMILY FORCE 5 explores low slung bass booms and harmonica howls on “Wobble” and the tongue-in-cheek “scenie baby” call-out pop song, “Tank Top.” These are songs for blaring at maximum volume, blasting from a sweaty club or alow-riding pick-up truck. “III sounds like rock and roll with barbecue sauce,” DEREK laughs.

III is the follow-up to 08’s Dance or Die which pushed the band into electro-groove territory, as a synth-powered cavalcade lead with SOLOMON’spassionate vocals. An Alternative Press magazine cover story followed the album’s release and the group co-headlined the completely sold-out “Alternative Press Fall Tour” with 3OH!3 and The Maine in late 2009. Ever since their frenetic ’06 debut Business Up Front, Party in the Back(Maverick), FAMILY FORCE 5 has forged their own path. After leaving their major label deal, the band pushed on to sell over 350,000 digital singles and well over 150,000 albums. It’s this DIY-style that has continued to make the group (made up of the brothers JACOB, JOSH, and SOLOMON OLDS, and brothers-from-other-mothers, NATHAN CURRIN and DEREK MOUNT) into self-made juggernauts that steamroll audiences with their upbeat party anthems and raucous stage antics.

Although they aren’t afraid to take a trip on the ironic side, the band tips their hats to authenticity. On III, they infused a taste of reality, exploring more than just the party scene they’ve espoused during their career. On “Paycheck,” the band addresses the challenges of living in a country suffering with economic collapse and seemingly incurable unemployment. “I’m broke/broke as a joke/thinkin’ ‘bout movin’ back in with my folks,” Solomon sings on“Paycheck.” FF5 heard the stories of their fans who are down on their luck, unemployed and struggling to survive. “A lot of America is pretty poor right now,” SOLOMON explains. “We kept hearing our fans say they were living paycheck to paycheck. So we wanted to write a song about that, with a positive message that turns it around.”

After a lifetime of making music, FAMILY FORCE 5 have unmistakably come into their own. They’ve forged together their disparate musical influences, their reckless attitude, and heartfelt authenticity into III. Now, with hardships behind them and the open road ahead, the band is on a mission to keep their fire spreading and their family growing. “FAMILY FORCE 5 is a real, authentic community that transcends the music,” Derek says. “We make music that we love, and we hope other people love it too, whether it makes them break-dance, two-step, or simply smile.”

www.FAMILYFORCE5.com

Oh, Sleeper Digital Album Out Today

2011-09-06T12:26:00.003-04:00

Solid State have pushed up the digital release of Oh, Sleeper's highly anticipated album, Children of Fire, and the album is out today, September 6th. You can pick up Children of Fire on AmazonMP3, iTunes, and wherever you buy digital music. If you want a hard copy however, the album will be in stores on September 27th.

Help Come&Live! Show Hope to Europe

2011-08-31T11:14:00.004-04:00

Come&Live! only have a little under a day left to raise support for their fall missions trip/tour to Europe, with Showbread and Holding Onto Hope. They still need to raise a substantial amount of money to reach their goal, and you can join them in prayer, or support them financially if you feel called. They are raising support through IndieGoGo, a site set up like Kickstarter, and for more info on the project, or to donate, you can go here.

Holding Onto Hope Announce New Album

2011-08-31T08:29:00.000-04:00

Holding Onto Hope have announced that their new, self-titled album will be releasing October 4th through Come&Live!. The band have also posted a new song, "Old Voids," which can currently be streamed at their Facebook page.

iMatter Festival 2011 Preview

2011-08-30T14:01:00.002-04:00

One of the summer festivals' best kept secrets may just be iMatter Festival, now in its fourth year, held at Eldridge Park in Elmira, New York. This year's festival is being held this weekend, September 2-4, and is looking to be the biggest and best one yet, with three days of music, speakers, and a message of hope and love. For more information on the festival, and to purchase tickets, check out the iMatter website. Below are some things that you can be looking forward to at each of iMatter's three days.

Friday, September 2nd

Friday night will be the start of this year's iMatter Festival, and will be kicked off with worship from Oceans and Vessels and The Ember Days. After that, there will be a night of hip-hop, provided by Benjah, Flame, and the night's headliner, Reach Records' Trip Lee. Joey Furjanic will also be speaking as well.

Saturday, September 3rd

Saturday will be iMatter's main day, and will be full of heavy music. As Hell Retreats will be starting out the day at 10 AM, and will be followed by some up and coming hardcore bands, such as My Heart To Fear, Gideon, To Speak Of Wolves, and Hundredth. Life In Your Way will be playing their third show back as a band this year, and A Plea For Purging will be playing their second show back after recording their upcoming album. The day will be headlined by August Burns Red, along with Emery. Throughout the day, Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red will be speaking, as well as Chad Johnson, founder of Come&Live!. There will also be a Come&Live! tent, in which bands will be doing interviews throughout the day in. To end the night, The Ember Days will be playing their second set of the festival.

Sunday, September 4th

Sunday is the last day of iMatter, but will be free. Speaker Joey Furjanic will be talking again, and The Ember Days will be leading worship to close out iMatter Festival 2011.

New Album from The Ember Days Available Now

2011-08-30T13:17:00.000-04:00

The Ember Days' new album, Emergency, has at last been released. The album can be downloaded as a free gift from Come&Live!, as well as from iTunes and AmazonMP3. If you want to support the band by buying a hard copy of Emergency (which includes a bonus DVD with an extended version of the Come&Live! New Zealand documentary) or a shirt, they can be purchased right here. The band will be playing iMatter Festival all three days this weekend, and will be going on tour with Kye Kye in October.

For Today Signs with Razor & Tie

2011-08-30T11:25:00.001-04:00

FOR TODAY SIGNS NEW ALBUM AND PUBLISHING DEAL

WITH RAZOR & TIE

New Studio Album Slated For Release In 2012

For Today Confirmed On Fall/Winter Tour With The Devil Wears Prada (Also Featuring Whitechapel and Enter Shikari)

(New York, NY) - Razor & Tie is pleased to announce the addition of Christian metalcore juggernauts For Today to its expanding label and publishing rosters. The Sioux City, Iowa based band will hit the road this fall / winter with The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, and Enter Shikari for a national U.S. tour (dates below). The band is already in the writing stages for its forthcoming new studio album which will be released in 2012.

"We can't even begin to explain how excited we are to join the Razor and Tie roster. The label has shown tremendous confidence in their ability to continue developing us as a band, and to build on the foundation we've set," said For Today lead singer Mattie Montgomery. "Anyone who follows our band should know, this changes nothing about our commission or our passion. This means that, as we continue to proclaim the nearness of hope for the nations of the earth, from this point forward, we will do so with greater force, presence, and prominence than ever before."

John Franck, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Razor & Tie comments, "We're thrilled to welcome For Today to the R&T family. The band's incredible energy and positive message is a well needed breath of fresh air."

For Today formed in 2005 and has since released one EP and three full-length albums: Your Moment, Your Life, Your Time EP (Self-Released 2006), Ekklesia (Facedown Records, 2008), Portraits (Facedown Records, 2009), Breaker (Facedown Records, 2010). Having played over 1000 shows in five continents, For Today has toured with Emmure, We Came As Romans, Winds of Plague, The Devil Wears Prada. The band headlined the Scream The Prayer Tour 2010 with Maylene and The Sons of Disaster and also was on the Motel 6 Rock Yourself to Sleep Tour with We Came As Romans this past year. To date, For Today has sold over 65,000 albums in North America.

The hardcore-influenced metal band is known for their non-stop touring, high energy live performance, and unrelenting message. As forthcoming about their faith as they are about their musical prowess, For Today have become widely known as one of modern metal's most technically proficient bands. For Today is Mattie Montgomery ( lead vocals), Ryan Leitru (lead guitar, vocals), Brandon Leitru (bass), Michael Reynolds (rhythm guitar), and David Morrison (drums, percussion). The band is managed by Shawn Keith of Sumerian Entertainment and represented for touring by Matt Andersen of The Pantheon Agency.

For Today is the latest addition to independent label Razor & Tie's expanding Rock roster that includes such artists as All That Remains, Norma Jean, Chelsea Grin, Attila, Saves The Day, and many more. The New York City-based label is one of the fastest growing independent record companies in the United States, and has garnered both Platinum sales and Grammy awards in its 20-year history.

For Today - Tour Dates with The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, and Enter Shikari

Nov 3 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Nov 6 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
Nov 7 - Minneapolis, MN - Epic
Nov 8 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick
Nov 10 - Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Events Centre
Nov 11 - Calgary, ALB - MacEwan Ballroom
Nov 13 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
Nov 14 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
Nov 15 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
Nov 17 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
Nov 18 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
Nov 19 - San Diego, CA - Soma
Nov 20 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Nov 21 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
Nov 23 - Magna, UT - Saltair
Nov 25 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall

Nov 26 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
Nov 27 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
Nov 28 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
Nov 29 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Ballroom
Nov 30 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
Dec 2 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor

Dec 3 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Dec 4 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
Dec 5 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Dec 7 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend

Dec 8 - Richmond, VA - The National
Dec 9 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore - Silver Spring
Dec 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Dec 11 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Dec 13 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theatre
Dec 14 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Dec 15 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Dec 16 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
Dec 17 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
Dec 18 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts

LINKS

www.myspace.com/fortoday

www.facebook.com/ForToday

Life In Your Way Post Kingdoms Teaser

2011-08-30T11:06:00.000-04:00

Life In Your Way have posted an album teaser, for their upcoming album Kingdoms, which will be releasing as a full length album in late October, and also as three EPs over the next few months for free, through Come&Live!. The teaser can be listened to here. Life In Your Way will be playing iMatter Festival this weekend, their third show back as a band, and if you can't make it to the show, you can check out their merch site.

Creations - The Gospel

2011-08-30T10:11:00.000-04:00

Artist: Creations
Album: The Gospel
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Label: Rite of Passage/Mediaskare Records

The Gospel starts off appropriately with spoken Scripture in the first track, "The Wandering, The Call." That sets the tone for this album, because Creations want to be honest with you on a Biblical level, and they surely succeed.

The honesty is very apparent in track two, "The Wolf, The Clothes." Here are just a few excepts from its lyrics: "Would you be satisfied in heaven without the One who saved you?," "Why do you treat the cross like a prostitute, and purvey a false gospel? You'll gain the world but lose your soul. You're not a Christian!" Mesh these open and thought provoking lyrics with some great grooves and you have one of the best songs of the year.

I only have a few criticisms for this album. First, and this is just a symptom of music genres in general, the songs start sounding too similar after a bit. Again, this happens to a lot of bands, but some are able to cover it up a little better. My second criticism is that the vocals seem too thin to me. Now, that's not to say that Michael's vocals are bad. They're actually good, but in my opinion seem a little thin next to the heavy backdrop of down-tuned instrumentation.

There are some standouts on The Gospel, "The Rich, The Poor," "The Mist, The Storm," "The Tongue, The Sword," "The Almighty, The Wretch," and of course, the aforementioned song of the year contender, "The Wolf, The Clothes."

Overall: I had high hopes for this album, and maybe because of these lofty expectations, The Gospel was a little lackluster for me. I actually want people to disagree with me on this album, and pick this up based on its pure honesty alone. Honesty is severely lacking in this scene, and in Christianity in general. These guys are original in that sense.If you care about your walk with Christ, this album will only serve to keep you thinking and walking the straight and narrow. This is a good album, whose only real sin is being musically unoriginal.

Reviewed by Gary Peterson

Tracklisting:

The Wandering, The Call
The Wolf, The Clothes
The Lion, The Lamb
The Rich, The Poor
The Cross, The Deserving
The Idols, The Warning
The I Am
The Mist, The Storm
The Tongue, The Sword
The Coward, The Lie
The Almighty, The Wretch

(Buy Here)