Author: Timo Cuoco

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.  … Continued →

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 →

This disbanded Finnish metal band released 1 EP Energystorm & this SOTD on a compilation which also featured HB, Essence of Sorrow, & a few others that I have seen around the Christian circles. Appears the band consisted of siblings & a couple of friends. Check out the live version also.   … Continued →

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 →

Ian Barnett aka ASAP Preach is a Texan Gospel rapper. Per his bio “even when “I get weak myself, God is always using me to reach others, Jesus gave his life for me, so it’s only right I give my life to him.” Check out this gem. … Continued →

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 →

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.   … Continued →

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 →

This Missouri melodic emo/screamo band released one EP back in 2002. One of the members joined a band I saw live called Story of the Year after the band disbanded. This catchy SOTD I found through a site called Freerock1 back in the day which played the first Underoath releases along with numerous artists I found out about. Check out the remnants of the site here:   http://freerock1.faithweb.com/   … Continued →

I missed out on seeing Ilia live, but got the chance to meet & see Zahna (Suzy Martinez) a couple years back. This was always going be one of the hardest SOTDs to pick from a relatively short catalog. Ilia has had so many awesome songs that they are very hard to deem as personal favorites. I chose to go with their earliest incarnation of the band as Ilia changed vocalists 3 times until Zahna came aboard for the final lineup. Check em out if you haven’t already.… Continued →

I was given the Safety in the Sea cd recently from this band I have known about for quite some time. Thank you Eli!  Anyways, this article showcases 2 of my fave songs from them. Captive though hits hard with me especially with the following lyrics. We probably all have felt this way at some point, but now we are not alone with our thoughts and struggles as our Heavenly Father is here to help us through!!! So here I am, waiting with my perfect thoughts  But they’re all dead and wrong  This isn’t what I expected  This isn’t what I had in mind, but still I can’t move on  It’s been so long since I felt loved It’s been so long since I cared  This world has nothing to offer  This world is full of despair  I was full of glass  You can see right through  Push me down I’d break  Until I saw you  It’s easy to believe what you want to  When this world holds captive our hearts  There’s something in the way that binds you  It keeps us torn and apart   I can feel what it’s like  My fellas I won’t lie  I can feel, So here I am, I can feel something inside  But it is not my own, it’s not my own  I wish I could see my future, see how everything unfolds  ‘Cause now I’m not alone, I’m not alone   … Continued →

This Californian modern metal band I personally learned about through the Dead2Self radio site when they had a metal sister site before it combined a few years back. I don’t know too much beyond that on this defunct band, but this song hits hard. They do have a Facebook & ReverbNation page still up though.          … Continued →

This indie experimental rock band is not exactly my cup of tea, but they do have at least 2 things going for them. Their sound features a full band including many different instruments. The 2nd is one of the band members joined the band Fun. which became immensely popular. Anyways, I have always dug this SOTD.     … Continued →

This Netherlands EDM artist is still making music today. I have a few of his older stuff that is very hard to find & have uploaded what I have to YouTube.   … Continued →

I’ve been following this band for several years now. This Beatles cover has found it way onto mainstream charts & as of the time of this writing (24 July 2024) is sitting at 65/100 which isn’t too bad for one of the first concept progressive hard rock “Christian” bands to have made it this far. Check out their whole catalog that goes back to 2001.   … Continued →

This is an innovative band that at least started in the Christian industry & several of their songs found their way onto “Christian” radio/charts/comp cds. Here are 2 of my faves. And isn’t that an awesome snake they are holding!!!     … Continued →

This new oi/street punk band from Thumper Punk records is a great band akin to Hanover Saints & the like. Their lyrics are very anthemic for our Christian faith. HM has a great write up oon them if you want to know more here: https://heavensmetalmagazine.com/index.php/2024/06/17/lambs-and-lions-release-hymns-of-grace/ Check out some of the song’s lyrics below Sola Fide, by faith we stand, Sola Gratia, by His grace, not by human hand. Solus Christus, Christ alone, Soli Deo Gloria, to God be the glory, the cornerstone! No indulgence bought, no penance earned, Just the blood of Christ, the tide has turned.… Continued →

So I’ve been on an industrial kick lately. The following site is a great tool to find out more on the subject complete with tons of artists who have delved into the sub-genres: https://web.archive.org/web/20110915162856/http://automatapedia.com/index.php?title=All_Bands .  Anyways, Judean Radiostatic is my pick this time around. I personally found out about the project through the defunct website FreeRock1. Check out their other songs The Horsemen Ride & Valley of Bones. They (Melinda & Carlos) also do a cover of Rich Mullin’s Awesome God. Also, check out Richard’s Youtube channel as he is well versed in all things Christian industrial.… Continued →

Industrial project Bridgeshadows is composed of KL (Kenneth Lemery) who has also been in a few different projects over the years. He has finally signed with Broken Curfew Records that has put out tons of heavy bands ie Abated Mass of Flesh amongst many others. He has recently released several songs like Hidden in the Rust & Razor, but here is his latest & a live goodie from the past.   … Continued →

So I just saw this band last night, June 28th 2024. I know this band isn’t “Christian” at all, but I remember this song being on “Christian” metal playlists back in the day. I also see that they played Furnacefest. They are a great reminder of 2000s metalcore which I always have had a fond taste for. And they did say they will be releasing new music here soon. … Continued →

Clonek aka Cleiton Ferreira is an EDM artist from Brazil. Check out this catchy dance track. … Continued →

Saw this band on the Scream the Prayer tour many years ago. I have always dug their metalcore sound which was very prevalent at the time. Unfortunately, the sound oversaturated the scene and its hard to find many decent metalcore bands these days. Check these 2 gems out. … Continued →

Pop punk Cities & Saints released 2 catchy EPs in 2010 & 2012. They were from Michigan. Check this SOTD out & Again Again if you like this one. … Continued →

This track is off the Osmotic Fusion compilation released by LowRoof Records. I have always had a special place in my heart for dance music and have accumulated tons of it over the years. This artist is from the Netherlands and released a 2005 LP Influence. “My Savior my Healer My Friend”   … Continued →

This singer/songwriter wrote a lot of worship songs that also talked about missionary work. He released his 1st LP in 1974. Read his Wikipedia page to find out more. He has an extensive discography, but here are 2 of my faves. Thank mom for introducing me to these songs so many years ago. … Continued →

I found this hardcore band at a Christian bookstore right after they had released No Compromise. They created some great music over the years including these 2 heavy hitters. My Beliefs is about standing up for Jesus in the hxc scene and Raping the Mind is about the cold hard truth of what lust can do to your mind.   … Continued →

This deathcore band is comprised of 2 friends from high school. Hailing from Indiana, I have had the privilege to talk with Ryan Miller for the show I produce on Ripper Radio. This song also reminds me of the metalcore band Context whom I saw live a couple years ago. Listen to this song loud and follow this band as they are working on releasing the full length Over Goshen. Some of the lyrics reference 1 John 1:9. … Continued →

This is Mike Musick’s band.  If you want to more on him specifically, check out his bio on the indie on the move site. Mike’s solo career had some songs chart including Funk#5 & This Town. Also looks like he wrote a bunch of song for mainstream country artists. This modern rock song is pretty catchy so check it out. … Continued →

The Ohio band Pits are a band whose roots started in Panama. They are a hard band to list genre-wise, but I would say emo-pop punk-alternative esque. Appears they only released 1 full length & an 8 song EP on Angryson Records. This was the same label who released music from Neshamah & Aftertaste. The short lived Mono vs Stereo label picked up this SOTD for their The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye 2nd comp. Check this catchy song out & try not to sing along the 2nd time!… Continued →

This band delved into a rare subgenre of heavier surf rock. The tollboth.org site has an interview with the band if you want to read all about the theory behinds the bands’ name. Also, vocalist John used to be in the old skool hxc band Clay. The live version if of their song The Arsenal which is their interesting take on the armor of God. Check this one of a kind band out. … Continued →