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.

May 8, 2023

Song of the Day: (Un)Worthy - Heavy Worship

This metal band has a no holds barred evangelism message & do not waver the Christian label. This tune is like a lyrical theme song to every Christian band’s message. Check out these lyrics & the reason behind the song. What better place than here What better time than now Every tongue will confess And every knee shall Bow We preach a message of love They shake their fists in the air Our light shines in the darkness It’s no wonder they’re scared I can hear them curse His name I feel spit hit my face Religion shoved down their throats They never experienced grace This crowd is our congregation And this stage is our pulpit Others think this is noise We’re praising God with heavy worship Other Christians can’t seem to get it They’ve shut themselves off from the truth They won’t reach out to the least of these But this is what I was called to do Let them feel Your love See Your face Hear Your Word Know Your name
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May 6, 2023

May 3, 2023

May 1, 2023

April 29, 2023

Song of the Day: Exiting The Fall - Lazarus

Some members of this metalcore band are actually in a recent band on Tooth & Nail records that’s been releasing new music called Valleyheart. And you gotta love every band that defines themselves as spirit filled hardcore! Check out these lyrics You’ve created a gap only searching for what you cannot see, yet you still lack the balance of faith and reality. Hear Him speak: “I Am what is and what will always be! I Am the I Am. I fill the gap in between. I Am the I Am.… Continued →

April 27, 2023

Song of the Day: Beautiful Eulogy - Exit Dial Tone

This Christian hip hop group is comprised of seasoned rappers: producer Courtland Urbano, Braille, & Odd Thomas. Check out these thought provoking lyrics We are in this world not of it, not to be scared and run from it We shine light in the darkness, that’s why He left us here Calling out to all the exiles, the Lord will not forsake you His kingdom can’t be shaken, hold strong the end is near We are the light of the world, so, shine on Hey, I thought we won the battle but it really looks like we losing it What we do seems insignificant, so limited in our influence They don’t listen to our message, we scream and yell it, they say it’s irrelevant It’s the greatest story ever told but a television ain’t telling it So often they just mock our faith and it makes me wanna hide my face Why we sitting on our hands with no plans like we got time to waste?… Continued →

April 25, 2023

April 22, 2023

April 20, 2023

Song of the Day: Global Warning - Chasm

This band has put out some decent music over the years. They are one of the few bands that has been around since the late 90s whose website is still active (although it doesn’t appear to have been updated in a while). They even have a page dedicated to their songs that charted on Christian rock radio. Check em out If you like the hard rock sound.
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April 18, 2023

Song of the Day: Lordchain: In This Place vs Life Aside

Lordchain is a hard rock band that has released tons of music over the years, but formed in 1990.  Their latest released in 2022. In This Place was the first I heard from them, but Life Aside is my fave. Check out the lyrics & maybe you can relate also. No matter how dark this life may get, Jesus is always there waiting for us to return to HIM with open arms. Sitting in this darkness I think about my wasted life Every time I’ve failed you I sit around and cry How could I let you down?… Continued →

April 15, 2023

April 13, 2023

April 11, 2023

Song of the Day: Nouveaux - All That Glitters

This Michigander band seemed to span the bridge between grunge, 80s metal & modern rock. They only released 2 LPs, but their music actually found its way onto CCM radio back in the early 90s. Check out all the songs in their discogs as they are all good. Their vocalist Paul Alan also released a pop rock solo album. Also, check out the YouTube instrumental for this SOTD so you can sing it at your local karaoke bar!  
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April 8, 2023

April 6, 2023

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April 1, 2023

March 29, 2023

Song of the Day: Gary Chapman - Heal Me

Pulling from my childhood, Gary’s The Light Inside was a constant in my CD player. I know he’s country, but he also rocks w/ Floodgates & other tracks Finally, Sweet Glow of Mercy & album opener Where are the Broken Hearts? are 90s staples. He was formerly married to Amy Grant which was pretty big news back in the day. Check him out as he has done multiple endeavors over the years. And, he is NOT the Gary Chapman who wrote the Five Love Languages.
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March 27, 2023

Song of the Day: Narcissus - The Commons

This early Christian metalcore band has roots in a few other musical endeavors. including (Inhale Exhale whom I saw live), Not Beneath (which did a Living Sacrifice cover) & Symphony in Peril. I did see Narcissus live also & this song is a rarity from them that came from the rerelease of Becoming Leviathan. They did play Furnace Fest 2021 & from what I gather might be releasing some new music at some point. Enjoy from the archives!
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March 22, 2023

Song of the Day: Toxic Church - The Keeper

This techno industrial one man band released music in the early 90s. Delvin Cavalier (aka Dalvin on some sites) almost released his LP w/ Michael Knott’s Blonde Vinyl Records before the label folded. The good news is that the knottheads site is still up & running for us music investigators to review. I have spoken w/ Delvin a long time ago on social media, but I don’t believe he is doing anything in music recently. Enjoy this tune that appears to sample the film The War of the Worlds.… Continued →

March 20, 2023

March 18, 2023

Song of the Day: Pete Stewart - Spinning

Pete has been in the CCM music industry for years. Most know him from grunge band Grammatrain whose Lonely House LP is one of my fave. He also sang for The Accident Experiment which was a side project of Payable on Death’s Marcos when he temporarily left the band. Pete also worked with Mike Tait’s solo work. This SOTD comes from Pete’s first solo album which garnered several CCM radio airplay. He also served as the engineer/mixer for Mackelmore’s The Heist LP which had the annoying Thrift Store rap song.… Continued →

March 15, 2023

Song of the Day: Illuminandi - The 40th Day

This cool band has appeared on a few compilations & have released a couple LPS since 1998. Appears they changed their name recently. Their style of music tends to lean to the gothic/folk genres, but they are all over the place reaching from extreme metal to prog rock. Just listen to their drum rolls & cello in their discography. Czterdziesta Doba is the Polish name of this song btw.
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March 13, 2023

Song of the Day: Don't Know - Helium

Early Tooth & Nail bands were awesome-what the heck happened? The label has a wide variety of artists back in the day whose sounds were not heard of really in the CCM industry. Hence we have Don’t know: a hybrid of funk, punk & metal that sounds akin to Primus or Mr. Bungle. Members of this band have a very long discography with other bands such as Blenderhead, 90 Lb Wuss, Roadside Monument, etc… Check em out & their reviews on Amazon!  
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March 11, 2023

Song of the Day: Reality Check - Plastic

Reality Check was considered alt rock back in the day, but would probably just fall under the wide net of modern rock by today’s standards. They had a different sound than most & used rap as part of their music, but they didn’t sound rapcore. They disbanded after their 2nd LP before changing their name to Luna Halo which I saw live during that phase. The band had 8 members at 1 time also which doesn’t sound like it. Vocalist Nathan Barlowe has continued in the music industry & has even written songs for Taylor Swift & invented an instrument called The Phantom & tours with Keith Urban.… Continued →

March 8, 2023

March 6, 2023

Song of the Day: Eowyn - Beautiful Ashes

Yep, Eowyn is part of her real name. I almost had the chance to interview her back in my college days (I did speak with her husband, but ended up graduating before I could schedule it.) She has a very unique voice which can be compared as a cross between Amy Lee & Lacey Sturm & maybe even Tiffany Arbuckle. Anyways, check these lyrics out & her whole catalog. Here’s to hoping we hear more from her. You’re beautiful Though you’re ashes you’ll not waste away So beautiful Let your eyes see life with scars not decay When the darkness overwhelms you And you feel like no one cares Do not fear There is a god who loves you And he is taking your hands  
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March 4, 2023

Song of the Day: Vigilantes of Love - Struggleville

Bill Mallonee has been making music for many years. V.O.L first LP Jugular released in 1990. Their music is a cross between “alternative rock” & Americana & their name came from a New Order song. Like several bands in the Christian market, they caused controversy for the lyrics for the Love Cocoon song which caused them to be dropped from the Christian bookstores which held on until only circa 2005 anyways. The funny thing is that the song was actually first released on their Jugular record!… Continued →

March 1, 2023

Song of the Day: Ledger - Into My Arms

In case y’all didn’t know, Jennifer Carole Ledger is the English  girl drumming for longtime band Skillet who became a US citizen in 2021. She has a very distinct voice & released an EP a few yeas back. I have always thought this is her best song as it showcases her vocal range & has some very encouraging lyrics as seen below. When did the scars over your heart Become your hiding place When did the stars become so dark You couldn’t find your way The light inside your eyes Is fading out But I’m not gonna Give up on ya now Don’t be afraid I know you think You’re on your own But you’ll be okay You don’t have to Go through it alone Fall into My arms Fall into My arms So let me see the hurt underneath I’m not a stranger to pain ‘Cause I believe in what you can be I’ll never turn away
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