Author: Timo Cuoco

I began my career as a regular Army soldier & work at an insurance company. Live in the VA Beach area, but originally from the Illinois area. I graduated with a B.A. in Mass Communications in Broadcast Journalism from Winthrop University & hold many insurance designations along with I-Car & EOM Certifications. In my spare time. I run an automated online radio station & website "Casting Such a Thin Shadow" which has given me the opportunity for several live telephone interviews over the years. I DJ & produce an online radio show currently for Ripper Radio which airs primarily in the USA, but also in Japan & England. I am also a music enthusiast & have seen circa 400+ shows. I have an awesome son, Tyler & 2 Siberian huskies & several arachnids & reptiles. My current bucket list is to start a spirit filled hxc cover band.

November 20, 2024

Song of the Day: Benjamin - Don't Tell Him You Love Him

Benjamin is the only son of Christian music legends Bill & Gloria Gaither. I have always liked this song & The Narrow Road. Rain Down a Fire was big on CCM radio also. I love the lyrics to the chorus of this song. Don’t tell Him you love Him, Don’t tell Him you need Him til you’re ready to fall down on your knees & ready to serve Him. Don’t tell Him you’re sorry, Don’t tell Him what you’re never going to do until you let Him stand & follow through.… Continued →

November 18, 2024

November 13, 2024

Song of the Day: Zach Williams - There Was Jesus vs Old Church Choir

I admit I stopped listening to radio in the late 90s. Most of it was due to the point that Christian radio changed formats. It just seems to have the same exact basic gospel message to every song. We were dead in sin, but God brings us to Him & so we praise Him for that. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but there is more to Christian music than just the same idea. Here is an artist who has been through a lot & sings about Jesus being there all the time.… Continued →

November 11, 2024

November 6, 2024

Song of the Day: All Star United - Let's Get Crazy vs Saviour of my Universe

I remember first hearing Ian Eskelin’s music from his rave outing called Zero. He then went by his Ian Eskelin birth name (which Wikipedia has incorrectly the album listed as his name) and then to just Ian. Then he changed musical direction entirely for this fun quirky alternative rock band called All Star United which released a slew of Christian rock radio friendly singles over the next few years. These 2 songs have always been my faves.  
 
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November 4, 2024

Song of the Day: Scars of Eden - Fade Away

Texan metalcore Scars of Eden formed in 2009 & released 2 EPs: Resistance & The Awakening. Check out this SOTD & the song’s lyric`s. I’ve walked away from the one who bled to take me From deaths cold embrace where flesh would surely take me Break me, Father Send me, Humbly God pour your spirit Into our hearts You will not abandon Those who call Your name I will not fall To the vices that restrain my soul We press on knowing Eternity was written on my heart Your looking at the ones who will never fade We will never fade away  
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October 30, 2024

Song of the Day: Rusty Shipp - Neck Breaker

Yah! Russ T Ship is back at it again with his nautical modern rock/grunge band. The first single is from their upcoming album, ‘Cosmic Innuendo, Vol. II.’ Here is what he says about the lyrics: “This song is a segment taken from the concept album’s larger fiction story of an evil band of pirates who sets sail on a sinister mission, dismissing the prophetic warnings of an old sailor on the pier who warns of a worse fate for them than the gallows if they keep their course.… Continued →

October 28, 2024

Song of the Day: The Moshketeers - Grease the Duck

This Christian thrash band stemmed from a heavy metal band called Rapture which is a different Rapture band than the hxc band. Anyways, this song references several passages in the Bible, but focuses on bewaring of false teachers & studying the Bible for oneself instead of just listening to sermons. The vocals also sound like Doug Van Pelt’s Lust Control to me. The Downward Spiral was remastered by Roxx in 2010 & featured Rapture tracks as well.
 
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October 23, 2024

October 21, 2024

Song of the Day: Bella Futuro - 70 X 7

I don’t know what to categorize these types of quasi rap artists. They are harder than rock rap & some feature screaming/yelling music. Handsxfeet, Man Ov God, CRXWN, Post Quam, Listener & this project are in this pretty broad category. Bella features MeWithoutYou’s Aaron Weiss & Ray Taddeo whom I both met when MWY was first starting out.
 
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October 16, 2024

Song of the Day: Psalmistry - Drowning vs Come & Take My Hand

Tony Silcock is the brainchild behind the EDM Psalmistry. He leads a British organization called Youth Initiative. I miss the 90s & this musical genre is one of the reasons why. Bands such as the World Wide Message Tribe & Joy Electric were getting airplay & films featured EDM & industrial soundtracks. I would compare this band to mainstream The Chemical Brothers. Listening to this now, the productions seems dated, but is still worth a listen to periodically. There are 4 albums, but check out Armchair Rebellion.… Continued →

October 13, 2024

Song of the Day: Clear Convictions - New Breath vs Welcome to the Last Days

Puerto Rican hxc Clear Convictions is at it again with a brand new single that released a couple days ago. The new album Endure should be released in the next few months. Check out the band’s earlier discography & this excerpt from an early interview “‘Clear Convictions’ comes around because that’s how we see our lifestyle. As Christians, we believe by faith and that faith becomes true and alive , something that you can feel inside, it is like having an ear and true relationship with the Creator.… Continued →

October 9, 2024

October 7, 2024

October 2, 2024

Song of the Day: City of Refuge - FFM

Have you ever wanted to hear more music like Burlap to Cashmere? City of Refuge created music that sounded like a cross between Jars of Clay & Burlap. They started in a college dorm room & created a worship song called Amaze Me & went from there. Appears they did a few more singles & another full length called Clear in 2006 that I did not even know about. Anyways, the band still has a Youtube channel & a Soundclick page if you want to know more about them.… Continued →

September 30, 2024

September 25, 2024

Song of the Day: Protect Your Heart - Fireproof

This LA band has released a plethora of singles over the past few years with the latest at the time of this write up being The devil you know. I’m not sure if the band falls within the “Christian” category anymore as the actual music video depicts mannequins without clothes. I personally like the following lyrics as we as humans fall down & need to strive to get back up on our feet again. I might lose on every single try But I’m not afraid to roll the dice One more time… Continued →

September 23, 2024

Song of the Day: Groms - Ascension

I have always liked this song with its straight to the point lyrics. I remember having a conversation with my friend Ravn Furfjod who was excited as I was when the album got remastered through Nordic Mission Records. GROMS stands for God rules over my soul. Check out the lyrics below. I am the Lord  I am calling you  Death isn’t finished   Rise from your sleep!  Judgement day has come!   You will be delivered  If your name is written in the Book of Life
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September 18, 2024

Song of the Day: The Homeless Gospel Choir - Some People

This controversial acoustic punk artist is a one man band named Derek Zanetti. He can be compared to Destroy Nate Allen which is a fun act to see live. Beware, the song does use the A word towards the song’s end, but it talks about Christians who do not act like Jesus called us to act. The song literally challenges the listener to think about the opposites of who we can be. Most of us interact with people every day. Who do you want to be known as?… Continued →

September 16, 2024

September 11, 2024

Song of the Day: Vardoger - Call Your Name

“Unblack” metal can be hard to classify. Many do not like the term, but Vardoger could fall under that style of music. The band has gone over numerous personnel changes since its start in 1994. Check out the song lyrics which elude to the struggle of pressing on for the prize that Philippians 3:14 talks about. And by the way, let us remember those affected by the 9/11 attacks. Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to work on all of our hearts that we may call on Jesus when we struggle with the various sins that can take their toll on our relationship with YHWH.… Continued →

September 9, 2024

Song of the Day: Eva O- Panting For Love vs Audio Paradox -Grace One

Controversial deathrock artist Eva Ortiz has a complicated past & present, but decided to become a Christian for a few years. Panting for Love was the first song I heard from her on a “Christian” show from the college I was attending at the time while I was still in the military in Columbia, South Carolina. Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) produced the album & the industrial rock band Audio Paradox provided the instrumentation. Both these releases were from 1999 also. AP are probably known most for this song’s appearance on the Flaming Fish Records compilation Electro Shock Therapy.… Continued →

September 4, 2024

Song of the Day: Abandoned Pools - Sublime Currency

Most know Tommy Walter aka Abandoned Pools from the Tooth & Nail release. However, he released lots of music beforehand with the mainstream band Eels & the moniker actually stemmed from 2 other names before it involved into AP. This SOTD was actually the 3rd single released from the album of the same name. Abandoned Pools is currently working on their 6th release & their Kickstarter project started August 6th, 2024.
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September 2, 2024

Song of the Day: Isaiah Robin - Dear Atheist

This sure to be controversial song is from a rapper who has released a lot of tunes over the past few years. Per the Holy Culture site, “Isaiah Robin is an artist whose heart is solely for God. He makes music to lift you Spiritually and bring you closer to the Lord. Lyrics filled with revelation he writes as he is led, a true disciple of our Lord & savior Yeshua Hamashiach.” Check out these thought provoking lyrics below & also his media including his podcast.… Continued →

August 28, 2024

August 26, 2024

Song of the Day: Kingdom Cowboy - He's Enough

Yep, this SOTD is a country gospel song on a punk/metal website.  But, the message in this song is exactly what we need to hear. God is there always including when we sin & mess up. He is quick to forgive & is always wanting us to come back to Him. Listen to the song lyrics as they are straight to the point. Also here is a great Bible verse. Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.… Continued →

August 21, 2024

August 19, 2024

Song of the Day: Memphis May Fire: That's Just Life vs Need To Be

MMF is a crossover catchy metalcore band from the mainstream into the “Christian” scene. Usually you see vice versa. They have been working on new material & have seen lots of radio play in recent years. Also, Matty Mullins released 2 worship albums & also has stepped up to replace long time Anberlin vocalist Stephen Christian. Their latest release Necessary Evil is heavy, but these 2 songs of the day elude to our Christian faith. Check out the following lyrics &  their whole catalog. I know how it feels to feel alone  The king of my own fears, I never leave the throne   And I’ve been searching for a place inside my soul   Where all my demons can’t find me when I go   “Pull it together, ” they say   So I keep hoping for better days    I’d be lying if I said that I was fine   Cause I feel pain sometimes that I cannot describe   So do I raise my fist and curse up at the sky    Or do I close my eyes and realize, that’s just life? … Continued →

August 14, 2024

Song of the Day: Northlander - Heavy Fruit

Oregon’s Northlander is an offshoot off one of my fave metalcore bands Fallstar. In fact, think of Fallstar if they did a rock ballad & you have this band, which is not a bad thing at all. Chris’ voice is so unique that you can easily pick him out of the tons of metalcore bands out there. Fallstar is also releasing singles & working on a new release to be put out this fall. Check out their new songs Watermelon Blood & Rooftops.  
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August 10, 2024

Song of the Day: The Faith - Outshined

This rarity hit Christian rock charts in 1996 per an e-book I recently bought that covers Christian rock radio from 1983 until 2002 when the chart first started. It has become my pastime to review all the music that has evolved into what we have today. I had never heard of this band and the music imho is unmemorable. From my search, it looks like the record label only released 2 projects with the other being an AC artist. This SOTD is the one that went to radio & reminds of the quirky bands that Christian rock had to offer in the late 90s/early 2000s.… Continued →