Author: Timo Cuoco

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 →

There is really such a thing as a heavy trap subgenre. Artists which have elements include Autumnboy, Man Ov God aka Brook from Impending Doom, Bella Futuro (members of MewithoutYou & The Operation) and Arizona artist HandsXFeet. Check out these thought provoking lyrics from HandsXFeet. Oh my God What have I done what have I done Oh my God I killed Your son, killed Your son The devil he entered my body All of that money it got me Our time spent it meant nothing An army of demons surround me I betrayed who set me free It should be me up on that tree Weight’s too much, fall to my knees Kiss of death was on my breath Take it back, I don’t want it All this blood money is haunted I just let the devil taunt me Shut your ears to sins confessed Broke that bread, passed that cup Flesh torn apart, You gave that up No salvation, out of luck Innocence now laid to rest [MAN OV GOD:] Lost, can’t believe I forgot Lost, can’t believe I forgot All alone in my sin Betrayed the Son of Man Guillotine, that’s the plan Hanging from a tree Flesh, the heart of man Save me from my grave My soul is strong, but my flesh is weak    … Continued →

This pop punk band from California reminds me of ska elements at the same time without the horns which is probably since the band are big fans of Fire Iron Frenzy. If you like the band, check out their S/T on IVM’s Bandcamp page.     … Continued →

Hailing from Leopoldshöhe, Germany, this rare melodic thrash band released 1 EP & 1 LP before disbanding. Their music is very hard to find so I uploaded most to Youtube for your listening pleasure. Instead of thinking thrashy Vengeance Rising, think of newer music that falls within part thrash/part metalcore & you will get a feeling of how this band sounds. The Spirit of Metal site still has them listed as active. but they haven’t released anything since 2005 from what I have found. Also their lyrics are definitely Christian as each of their songs comes directly from different parts of the Bible.… Continued →

This melodic death metal band is another rarity from my archives. Hailing from Duluth Minnesota, their lyrics are definitely Godly. The only other place I have found about them is the Spirit of Metal site. Their cd even references myspace if that tells you anything. Anyways, check ’em out. https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/album/Vox_Dei/114308 … Continued →

This southern tinged metal band from Tennessee (not to be confused with the spirit filled hxc band of the same name from Texas) is one of my faves in the genre. Their LP dominated my cd player back in 2006. Their only LP was released on Strike First Records which was a sublabel of Fasedown’s. Check out our own IVM review of the album also. … Continued →

So today is my birthday and I have been recollecting my life these past 46 years & how it relates to the music I have grown to enjoy. I originated from the quad cities in Illinois. I accepted Jesus into my heart at around 5 years old from a lady who ended up being a missionary to Europe. My earliest music memory was calling in for Farrell & Farrell’s People in a Box to be played on my birthday for a couple years on local CCM radio.… Continued →

This LA hip hop band was awesome back in the day. They were formed by vocalist Ahmad who actually released his first song back in ’93 when he was only 17. They have worked with mainstream artists Black Eyed Peas & KRS-One amongst others. This catchy track features turntables & a very cool synth line. … Continued →

This crossover band’s sound totally reminds me of Wage War. I really like them as their vocalist is actually the creative director at his church. Check out these lyrics from another of their earlier songs. Follow this band as they are doing big things. I’ll shout Your name, for You alone are King. And I’ll sing Your praise, ’cause You reign in me. Though I stumble and stray from the path, You never cease to love me with open hands. Though I may falter, You never alter.… Continued →

I have listened to many instrumentals over the years. There are not too many that land on radio. Prog’s Fourth Estate’s song here did back a long time ago If I can recall through the 7Ball Magazine’s charts. I still think Whitecross’s guitar solos are so talented. But, alas I wanted to share this band as their member Dave Beegle is still going strong all these years later. Check him out on Bandcamp. And Everdown’s track is just plain awesome!   … Continued →

This “metal/hxc core” band hits hard. I first heard about them through a darn good comp called Battle of the Bands released by Rugged Records back in ’99. Appears they were from Nebraska & disbanded in 2003. They stood out from other bands as the bass guitar stands out & you can understand the vocalist mostly. Check em out.  I have also added live distorted footage from another great song of theirs called All Is Silent. … Continued →

Female vocalist led Arkport released their only LP back in 2000. Most who have heard of them would know them from the 2nd Ronnie Martin’s (Joy Electric) label Plastiq Music 2nd compilation that featured great synthpop bands such as Norway or Fine China. Arkport isn’t really a synthpop band though. They create dreamy atmospheric pop music. This  SOTD was played on a really great online station ran by Dan Preston called Freerock1 whose site is still accessible. Enjoy & take a breather with this one. http://freerock1.faithweb.com/… Continued →

This British band completely flew under my huge “Christian” music radar. I discovered them through a British website/radio station called CrossRhythms that basically houses tons of Christian artists bios. Anyways, the band reminds me of quirky music akin to Canada’s Hokus Pick or even Believable Picnic or Rhubarb. Great band names I know :). Anyways, the first SOTD was released as a single from their 2nd LP & the 2nd is the first song of their 1st LP. They released a 2nd LP before changing their name to Audiogene.… Continued →

From 2004’s release Broken, this song has always reminded me of the story of Saul with the scales that fell off his eyes. He realized his past mistakes & changed his name to Paul & the rest is history. Check this band out along w/ their song Picture Painted. … Continued →

This band from Florida released a few CDs over the years. A few of their songs were on CCM radio, but this SOTD has always my fave. Our God is incredible no doubt. Sometimes it does not feel like He would love us at our worst, but yet He does. Praise be to him forever & always. This is the type of worship song I wish was on CCM radio currently.   … Continued →

This band was pretty cool back in high school. One of those you like their sound or hate em. Here is a couple of their songs from 2 different albums they released under the Elder name. Instead of giving y’all tons of info on them-check their background here at this sire.  https://downthelinezine.com/cue/four_living_creatures  And, they totally are from this town I moved to recently I just found out!!!  … Continued →

Here is another deep cut from 90s alt shoegaze female led Morella’s Forest. Maybe someone knows if this one became known by another name? The other is my 2nd fave song song from them following their superb cover of ‘Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry. Enjoy!    … Continued →

Starting off the year with another Afewloosescrews deep cut. This one’s production isn’t all that decent, though, so beware. It does, however, show how far one of my original favorite punk bands had come by the time there were signed by Alarma! Records. Anyways, enjoy!   … Continued →

So I have been listening to gospel hip hop for many years. I remember having this rap group Pullin’ No Punches as a kid. It sported the marvelous collab w/ Bride & the reworking of the God Gave Rock & Roll 2U song. DOC was an abbreviation for Disciples of Christ. There were several 90s hip hop artists that abbreviated their names such as ETW’s End Time Warriors, SFC’s Soldiers for Christ, PID’s Preachas in Disguise, CROW’s Constantly Right Overcomes Wrong, etc… Anyway’s fast forward to 2016 & w/a name change released Welcome to Nimisilla Park.… Continued →

The Bell Jar is comprised of 3 friends, 2 of whom were in the original Showbread line up. You can definitely hear Showbread’s influence on TBJ’s sound. Josh Porter aka Josh Dies is a music genius imho. Check out his Church of Agony project as well & his site. This SOTD is a reminder that hurting people hurt people so try & be kind as Jesus would. https://www.joshuasporter.com/ … Continued →

This band is a supergroup with members of P.O.D, Demon Hunter, Disciple, Attack Attack & Inhale/Exhale. I have seen all bands except for Attack & Beartooth is on my bucket list. This song has been on various Christian/Mainstream music charts for the past 6 months or so. This song is so darn catchy dont’cha think so? & Merry Christmas! … Continued →

Let’s mix it up with some Celtic folk punk music akin to The Crossing or a toned down Ballydowse. They are like Jesus People USA to a degree in that they are a Christian community. I ran into another community like their in Charlotte NC when I lived down there several years ago. Anyways, this pretty song is obviously worship & I love what vocalist Scott Krueger’s view that “our Christian walk is supposed to affect every aspect of our lives. So as artists, we want to have that shape our art.”… Continued →

California’s nu metal band Prone released one 2006 EP. They also have a girl drummer which is different. Check em out & good luck with finding the full EP as I have tried to track it down for years. Also, here is a great site that I use & this link has a bunch of verses that deal with hypocrisy. My fave verse on the subject is 1 Peter 2:16. https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-hypocrisy/ … Continued →

Hope for the Dying is a symphonic metal band which had its roots in metalcore. They formed under the moniker Convicted in 2003 & released 3 EPs/demos until 2007 when they changed their name. Seriously, If you haven’t heard their stuff check em out.  I haven’t heard anything new since their awesome 2016 release Legacy so here’s to hoping they release new music at some point. … Continued →

This band released one demo in 2008. Appears they were labeled as spirit filled hardcore & were from Sacremento, Cali. Check this rarity out.  … Continued →

Pop punk Freshmen 15 was an early incarnation of the modern rock Wavorly. Freshmen’s music is very hard to come by, but Wavorly had a pretty good run on Christian rock radio. Check out how much their sound changed.     … Continued →

Spirit Filled Hardcore was a label put on early Christian metal micro genres. Saved by Grace fell into the metalcore portion. Members also played in Hopesfall & Eighteen Visions, both of whom I’ve seen live. … Continued →

This Christian modern rock band started in Washington state & relocated to Texas. They created 4 LPs & got their start on True Tunes record label. Here is also a live recording of the same SOTD, but also check out the title track to Bigger Than Ourselves & Misfits from their Thread album.   … Continued →

AKFJ is a post hardcore/metalcore band that hasn’t released much new music since 2014 until now! You might remember them for Oh, Infamous City or II that I saw working their way around “Christian” metal radio shows back in the day. A video was also made for War from their 2014 release New Bodies. Check out this new one & also their prior discography along with their reimagined work. … Continued →

Remember when punk & ska music collided in the 90s? There were all these comps & tons of labels had a punk or ska band or both on their labels. N’ Soul was primarily a dance label & this L.A. band also included a member of Pax217. The demo appears to have been released in ’98 the same year as the N’Soul one. Check it out. … Continued →