News

May 17, 2023

Names Without Numbers "Winter Wars" May 19th

Names Without Numbers are releasing another new song and this one is titled “Winter Wars”. Song drops this Friday May 19th on all digital networks and streaming sites. Is there a reason you haven’t listening to NWN yet? Yeah I’m talking to you, the person reading this post right now. Drop what you’re doing and head over to your favorite streaming network or youtube and give these songs by one of our scene’s best kept secrets, a listen right now! “Winter Wars” out this Friday.… Continued →

Shawn Browning Releases New Songs and "Burning Bridges" Out May 26th

Shawn Browning of Grave Robber fame has embarked on a solo effort of sorts but in an entirely different direction from the horror punk stuff. It’s a really great sound and draws upon a vast landscape of late 80’s-90’s era alternative rock while keeping it modern and aggressive at points. You can’t help but be feel drawn into Shawn’s songs especially “Let Go, Hold On”. Check out the 3 new songs below (Plus he also released a song on Valentine’s Day). “Burning Bridges” out May 26th!… Continued →

Song of the Day: Siloam - Apathy

I first heard this song probably circa 1995 & was immediately intrigued. This Canadian band takes their name from John 9:7 where it talks about the pool of Siloam. Their drummer has a story of where he came to Jesus after almost dying of a drug overdose. This SOTD contains the following lyrics that still make sense to this day: Let’s blame the world’s demise on God’s design, Apathy.  
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May 15, 2023

May 14, 2023

Pop Punk Moms - The Playlist

In honor of a special day that serves as a tribute to mothers across the world, I present a little IVM Playlist called “Pop Punk Moms“. Now mind you, not every song is cheery BUT, they are female fronted, angsty, and yet some happiness shines through on quite a few 😉 So head over here on Spotify (for those that use the service) and give it a listen. I have also embedded the playlist below this post if you want to sample it. Any other suggestions in this realm of tunes can do so in the comments below.… Continued →

May 13, 2023

May 12, 2023

Song of the Day: Twothirtyeight - Songs Will Write the Words

Early 2000s emo, you gotta love it! One of the best, and painfully one of the most obscure in the genre was twothirtyeight (or sometimes 238). The band hailed from Pensacola, FL in the state’s panhandle. Florida seemed to be a haven for emo and hardcore during that era, and many of those bands ended up on Birmingham, AL’s Takehold Records, and then eventually on Tooth & Nail when they bought Takehold’s roster and much of its back-catalogue. Twothirtyeight played a style of emo that minimized the hardcore influence and instead delved into a deeply emotional form of indie rock, like secular counterparts in Braid, Cursive, or Christie Front Drive.… Continued →

May 10, 2023

Song of the Day: Olivia the Band - 39

This pop punk band made waves back in the mid 2000s. This SOTD has always been my fave per its catchy music & lyrics.  Check em out. Every time it came He took the pain, He took away, And in our place He stands, Everyday, all day, He lived to die, He died to pay, And in our place He stands, Forty minus one, Sin caused undone, Black eye and spit, Innocence they hit,  
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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 7, 2023

Orion Walsh Drops 'Melt With The Snow (Acoustic)"

Orion Walsh just dropped a beautiful acoustic version of his classic song “Melt With The Snow” which is one of my favorite songs by him. It’s a haunting track that attaches to your soul and fills you with a multitude of emotions. Check out the song below and stream it on all digital networks now. Purchase his new collection of songs assembled as “Rambling Heart Vol. 2” right here on CD from Steadfast Records.… Continued →

May 6, 2023

REVIEW : Craig's Brother - Easily Won, Rarely Deserved

I’ve been sitting on this review since last November and since I tend to move slower these days with my writing contributions, it’s better later than never. Let me start off by saying that Craig’s Brother have been a favorite of mine since I first heard “Homecoming” all those years ago (25!). Their blend of melody, aggression, and thought provoking lyrics set them apart from the rest of the pack. I once had a label spinoff of Indie Vision Music and in 2019 I put out their “Devils in the Details” EP, one of the best accomplishments in all my years of running IVM.… Continued →

May 5, 2023

Song of the Day: Dodgin' Bullets - Knife To Your Heart

Since the genre first emerged in the early 1980s, hardcore (originally hardcore punk) has splintered into dozens of sub-sub-subgenres including melodic hardcore, beatdown, old school hardcore, new school/chugga chugga, d-beat, crust punk/crustcore, metalcore, emocore, and so forth. By and large my favorite artists have generally been those who kept closest to the genre’s origins, even if they took those beginnings in new directions. The old slogan (which I’ve often quoted here on this site) “loud, fast rules!” is apropos here. In the late 90s/early 00s a revival of the style emerged, sometimes referred to as “tough guy hardcore.”… Continued →

May 3, 2023

May 2, 2023

Furnace Fest Band Reunions FINAL Round Up, 2023

In honor of the greatness of a Festival that brings much joy to so many, I’m compiling a short longer list of recent band reunions announced for Furnace Fest 2023. This Fest has had a tumultuous past couple of years in light of the horrors and inconveniences Covid has brought to so many and yet they’ve persevered to cobble together an insane experience with an ongoing commitment to quality and fan adoration. While I haven’t been able to attend in either the past or more recently, I’m there in spirit.… Continued →

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 →

New Releases: April 2023

Rock & Metal Pop & CCM Folk & Singer/Songwriter Continued →

April 28, 2023

Introducing: Binder of Light (Feat. Members of Stairwell, Bloodshed, Unashamed, Rainy Days)

A new band I’d like to introduce is called Binder of Light. Its a new band featuring members of Stairwell, Bloodshed, Unashamed, Rainy Days, and more. The band just got picked up by The Charon Collective which is a newer label started by one of of the founders of Pluto Records. Check out the little write up below and make sure to visit them on Instagram @binderoflight and their label – The Charon Collective right here. “The Charon Collective is excited to welcome Binder Of Light to the family!Continued →

Switchfoot Announce The Beautiful Letdown 20th Anniversary Tour and Celebration

World renown San Diego, CA. based rock band – Switchfoot, will embark on a 20th Anniversary Tour celebrating a much loved, landmark album not just in “alternative rock” but in the realm of Christian music as well called “The Beautiful Letdown”. This fan loved and adored album racked up several hits back in the day that still get radio/satellite plays even now. For dates and locations of this tour click here. How many of you got tickets and who is most excited about this momentous celebration?… Continued →

Song of the Day: Delta Haymax - Tidal Wave

Gosh, this song . . . this band . . . has a way of evoking memories of a certain period of my life. Lo-fi indie rock with only 2 members. One on guitar and vocals, and the other on drums. They released a very short–only 3 songs–but brilliant self-titled EP on Tooth & Nail in 1997. T&N had a fantastic run of EPs around that time (Pedro the Lion, Warlord, Inner Means, Training for Utopia, etc.) and this was certainly one of them. The songs were lo-fi, but not noisy.… 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 23, 2023

The Insyderz are Back in Action

Michigan based Ska-Core legends known around the world as The Insyderz, are back in 2023! The band last released “The Sinner’s Songbook” back in 2012. While no news about “new” music has surfaced I am certainly not against hearing a full band sound on a new track with that hard hitting, classic sound. The band recently played a local show last week which is leading up to their big set at Furnace Fest this year. What’s your favorite Insyderz song and what are you most looking forward to hearing at Furnace Fest?… Continued →