News

Punk Meets Metal Band, Living Fire, just dropped a brand new ep titled “Mercy Between Love & Hate” and it is quite a diverse set of songs. Fans of the Dogwood meets Good Riddance sound of the past might be a little disappointed but fans of the heavy music realm who are looking for a talented band to follow will be pleasantly surprised. I would say there is a heavy nu-metal type sound mixed with the punk underground spirit and a rock back bone. Imagine Disturbed mixed with P.O.D.,… Continued →

Emery just dropped a new song titled “Concussion”. Listen below or on your digital network of choice. The song will appear on the band’s upcoming album, “Rub Some Dirt On It!” Pre-Order here.… Continued →

San Diego-based rock band Robert Vaughn & the Shadows released their classic album Love & War in 1987. As fate would have it, it was the final release on Exit Records (home of Seventy Sevens, Vector and Charlie Peacock), and its partnership with Island Records. Due to the unfortunate demise of the label, the album never saw a CD release (only LP and cassette). While the master tapes were tied up in red tape for decades, Randy Layton of Alternative Records recently worked out a deal to obtain the original masters.… Continued →

Point of Recognition was a metalcore/spirit filled hardcore band that changed their sound after their Admiration of a Son LP.  The band came onto the scene when Underoath was still in their early days & No Innocent Victim was huge. TBH I never did care for their muddy hardcore sound after Admiration. This SOTD was chosen due to its sound & great lyrics, but also check out Return to Strength, A Path Unknown & Unlawful Burden. I thank you Lord for the grace you’ve shown me sometimes I just don’t know why, because there’s no creature ever so more wretched than I, and I will bow down with my face to the floor from all those times that I’ve searched for something more, but I will dry those tears and hold my head up high, cause I stand a conqueror in Jesus name.… Continued →

Hey, I get it. 80s metal is a love or hate thing. Many IVM readers are fans primarily of pop-punk and related genres. The thought of dudes in make-up, hairspray and spandex just seems like a bad joke. But for those of us who were there, it comes with a heap of nostalgia, and occasionally some good tunes too! It’s a shame, but Watchmen never quite got the level of attention that some of their peers received (Whitecross, Guardian, Holy Soldier), perhaps because of the brevity of their career.… Continued →

Longtime IVM supporter and friend Ben Kunz, performing as Benjamin Daniel, has unveiled the first single off his forthcoming 15-track album. Shelterheart was recorded with Asher Peterson (son of Andrew Peterson) in Nashville. This release sees a powerful marriage of Kunz’s lyric-driven songwriting and the quiet confidence of other Peterson projects. Check out the first single below … Continued →

The band Luxury are returning to the stage for a special one night only concert event in Atlanta, GA. The concert takes place on September 23rd with Unwed Sailor and NRCSSST joining them. You can buy tickets and find out more info right here.… Continued →

The super group of sorts known as “The Lost Chorus“, return with a brand new song titled “Ring The Mission Bell”. Check out the exceptional new song below to get a taste for what’s to come. Featuring members of this band and that band, maybe another band or two, too. Come on, do some digging and you’ll figure it out. This is going to be one of the best things of 2021. Check out the song via YouTube below and listen to the song as intended.… Continued →

The punk rawk family duo known as The Prettybads, just released a brand new song titled “The Watch”. Check out the song below and make sure to buy some merch/digital music right here.… Continued →

Starflyer 59 are returning next month with a brand new album tiled “Vanity” that will be released through Velvet Blue Music. Jason Martin & Co. have been very active the past few years with loads of new music and if the 3 singles off this album are any indication of the quality present in this record then we are all in for a real treat. Pre-order the album in several different options via the Velvet Blue site right here. I was able to order my super bundle this morning so if you act fast, some of these options might still be available.… Continued →

Anberlin are back after a long hiatus and are presenting their first new song since 2014 titled “Two Graves”. It is a definite “heavy” song in the realm of Anberlin music and I’m sure many will come to love this song as well as the band. They’ve certainly been missed and just hearing new music after all this time is a refreshing dose of nostalgia. Check out the song below and the band at a show near you this fall.… Continued →

Broomtree is a modern rock band from a small record labelled called Rustproof that brought us Polarboy, Send the Beggar & a few others. Vocalist Kylie has a distinct voice that sill reminds of a few 90s female fronted bands. Reckless is from their 2nd LP which has a more polished sound to it & contains some thought provoking lyrics. I see what you want, I know who you are The latest big shock won’t get you too far You live in the dreams of how your life seems But you never care for the reality Your personality is not be coming to me You won’t drag me down into this world You know the truth but won’t live the life You make the rules, the rhythm and rhyme Behind the wheel, don’t know how to drive You travel still, through your reckless life I hear the excuse blamed on the abuse You give out your heart and you claim that you’re used You know how it feels but you welcome it still As you tear at the whole when there’s nothing to fill It’s temporarily hiding the fact that you’re in need Then you’re sinking down into this world… … Continued →

Jeff Elbel has been around the block a few times. Active in one form or another since the 1980s, first via Farewell to Juliet, then Sunny Day Roses, and then Ping. He’s played with members of mainstream new wave/prog band The Fixx and also new age instrumentalists Mannheim Steamroller. He’s even had songs featured on Dr Demento! His latest project The Threefinger Opera is almost at its goal of $5,000 and boasts a wide variety of packages from downloads to CDs, vinyl, and other merchandise! With only 22 days left in the campaign, you won’t want to wait on this one.… Continued →

Hope Kills Fear hails from New York City & started in the mainstream when a few members came from another band. The band’s name comes from a fan of the band when their vocalist saw the phrase on the fan’s Myspace page. Although they have shared the stages with mainstream artists, the band is most definitely Christian based. Besides this inspirational SOTD about surrendering to YHWH & to “destroy the thing you’re running after”, check out Save Me. … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Earth Groans – The Body (EP)
• Huntingtons – Back to Ramonia
• Make Sure – Ninjutsu
• Meadows – In Those Days & Also After
• Weapons of God – The War Within Us

Pop & CCM

• Aryn Michelle – Pariah, Pt. 1 (EP)
• Chris Renzema – Get Out of the Way of Your Own Heart
• Kevin Jones – Simple as That

Electronic & EDM

• God’s Warrior – Light Is Greater

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Cory Breth – Wide Awake: Live at the Warehouse
• Strategic – Strangers (EP)

Hip Hop & R&B

• DanMar26 – Armor (EP)
• Derek Minor – Highlight Tapes, Vol.

… Continued →

I first found Meadows in 2014 with their debut EP. Since that time, I lost pulse on the band – that is, until their signing with Facedown Records. Stylistically, the band follows an emotional hardcore style similar to Touché Amoré, Defeater, or older La Dispute. In some ways, they’re more reminiscent of older melodic hardcore acts like Life In Your Way. While Facedown Records has shifted a bit with the addition of more “rock” flavored acts in recent years Meadows feels like a perfect bridge between the old and the new, melding some of the artistic nuance of DENS with the straightforward aggression of Take It Back!… Continued →

Fight the Fade is a modern rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma that remind me of a harder edge 7eventh Time Down for some reason.  The band has released 5 albums thus far & several catchy singles including some amazing songs including Rise, Seasons, Lanterns, Falling & some great covers from Adella, Linkin Park & this SOTD from Echosmith. … Continued →

Today P.O.D. dropped the 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition of their highly acclaimed 2001 release, “Satellite”. The album contains 27 tracks, including a few rarities, remixes, and 4 unreleased demos. Available now wherever you buy/stream music or 2 disc cd.… Continued →

Contemporary Celtic band Iona have been making music since their eponymous debut released in 1990. Fusing traditional Celtic folk instruments (flutes, whistles, bodhran drums, etc.) with jazz and progressive elements caused them to stand out from their other contemporary Celtic peers. Albums from the band commonly featured worshipful tunes (“Treasure” for instance, from their third album Beyond These Shores or “Revelation” from the second one, Book of Kells), traditional Scots-Irish tunes, as well as lengthy instrumental songs, or instrumental sections within songs. One of the most stunning examples of the latter is “Bi-Se I Mo Shuil” (Irish Gaelic for “She is My Eye”), from their fourth album Journey into the Morn.… Continued →

Empty, who had a rather impressive debut release, “Hope & The Loss Of It” on Solid State Records in Sept of 2019, have announced a followup will be released thjs Fall, again, with Solid State. The album, “Made Of Fire” is set to drop October 22nd.… Continued →

Is there something that you’re holding onto that you need to let go?  I think we all have felt that from time to time as Christians as YHWH continuously works on us. White Heart was an amazing rock band that had a plethora of members & albums. I actually worked with Rick Florian’s son a few years ago! Anyways, today’s SOTD was chosen as a reminder of the joy of letting go of what hurts us/holds us back from the potential that YHWH wants for us.… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

AsFireFalls formed as a electronicore band with a softer edge. Hailing from Idaho, the 3 piece (which apparently started out as 4 members) has released an EP & numerous singles that have aired on Christian rock radio stations/shows. Branson is so darn catchy that it was just itching to be a SOTD. Also included is a live video & their website. https://www.asfirefalls.com/about … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Phinehas – The Fire Itself
• The Protest – Death Stare (EP)
• Theody – Smoke And Mirrors

Pop & CCM

• The Consolation – Roll a Stone (EP)
• Matthew Parker – Dragonfly
• Mike Donehey – Flourish
• Nicole Serrano – all alone all together (EP)
• Panther City Riots – You Gotta Say Something

Electronic & EDM Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Paul Whitacre – Paul Whitacre on Audiotree Live (EP)
• Teressa Mahoney – Disillusions

Hip Hop & R&B

• Christon Gray – School of Roses 2
• Kieran the Light – Storms
• Lamar Riddick, Eli Williams – Nothing to Prove
• Paul the Messenger – Paul (EP)
• Sean Frazier – Gunz N Rozez 2
• Wilfredo – Bloomed in the Moonlight

Worship & Gospel

• All Nations Music – Sanctuary
• Antioch Music – Desertland
• Austin Stone Worship – Jesus Is Greater (Live From The Gospel Coalition)
• Bethany Barnard – All My Questions
• BT Worship – Above | Beyond (EP)
• Dan Goodwright – These Three Remain (EP)
• Eddie James Presents – Intimate Worship, Vol.1
• Journey Worship Co.

… Continued →

Eight28 is the band that formed after the modern rock Human disbanded. From what I understand, their original singer Randy sang vocals on many of the songs that would become the full length Systems Down released on Cul De Sac Records in 2001, but left the band shortly thereafter. Another singer whom I have spoken to a few times on social media, Marshall Mcluhan, ended up singing for a short time & the N.A.G song is on his 2017 album. It also seemed appropriate to run this SOTD on August 28 (catch my drift lol)!… Continued →

Fluffy’s debut, Fluffy Luvs You, was a fun punk rock record, even if it was a little predictable. Featuring 3 chord thrash goodness, and nonsensical lyrics, it stood out in the Christian punk scene for its lack of preaching. So fans and critics alike were a little puzzled when the band dropped their sophomore effort, Go, Fluffy, Go! In place of the fast, simple riffs, were long, slow songs that juxtaposed indie rock, sludge metal, and noise rock–something that wouldn’t be seen in CCM by another artist for another 5 years (yes, I’m thinking of Warlord’s EP, from 1997).… Continued →

Jason Martin is back at it, never ceasing to create and release new music. The new single is called “Sunrise” and is decidedly more upbeat than the recent “Life in Bed.” Perhaps the two work as companion pieces? The 80s post-punk and new wave influences are here again, but filtered through Jason’s shoegaze and indie rock background. Check out the song on your streaming platform of choice. Be sure to download and support the artist where possible. https://starflyer59.bandcamp.com/album/sunrise https://soundcloud.com/velvetblue/starflyer-59-sunrise https://open.spotify.com/track/4o5hLF6WnULrPXFCMzmLH5?si=5ee0b792c04143d1… Continued →

Officer Negative is hxc punk at its finest imho. The Californian band even recently re-released some stuff last year from my recollection& I was able to buy a JCHC t-shirt! I am still stoked lol!. Anyways JCHC stands for Jesus Christ Hardcore & is an in your face about such. After the band disbanded, they formed a couple of other bands including hxc Hit the Deck metalcore The Death Campaign Project & cowpunk Zippy Josh. Below are its lyrics as well as a live video: Living for Christ is what we do That’s the definition of our hardcore We don’t need drugs or booz Christian punks we won’t loose Jesus Christ Hardcore Kick satan in the face With our steel toe boots We are in the army of God With salvation as our roots We all stand together Unified by Jesus Christ Defeating Satan spew With the word of Jesus Christ Sick and tired of worldly views Sick and tired of satans abuse Sick and tired of compromise Sick and tired of all his lies     … Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

Altar Boys are a long running (formed in 1982) (punk) band whose very existence is a huge force in how our Christian punk subgenre has come to be. Mike Stand & company have done a wide variety of genres including modern rock (see my Clash of Symbols review) & rockabilly. There is a plethora of AB’s songs that I could have done for this SOTD, but 1000 Miles is about how Jesus loves us & is patiently waiting for us to turn to Him no matter how far we feel or seem to have gotten from Him.… Continued →