News

Wolves At The Gate just dropped a brand new song titled “Stop The Bleeding”. It’s classic Wolves At The Gate mixed in with a little new, the perfect combo. Check out “Stop The Bleeding”, below. The song is now available on all digital networks and streaming sites.… Continued →

If you like Christian Rock then make sure to check out Contagion Fest Part 2 April 23rd-24th presented by Christian Rock X and iChristianRock. You can watch/stream it live from YouTube here or here. Watch the trailer for it below. Nate Parrish is one of the many artists playing so you can’t go wrong with that right?… Continued →

Arkansas’ Common Children reminded me plainly of a cross between The Prayer Chain & Skillet. Why, might you ask? Well, CC has some serious ethereal atmospheric music akin to The Prayer Chain. And Skillet due to the obvious grunge influences and the three male band members when they first formed. Skywire came out in 1996 as did Skillet’s S/T. As far as the band’s name, well Jesus Freak Hideout’s site interview vocalist Marc & it is “because we are all common children in the sense that we all live together, in a broken world, in need of grace—beggars attempting to tell other beggars where to get bread.”… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Alex Henry Foster – Standing Under Bright Lights (Live from Festival International De Jazz De Montréal)
• August Burns Red – Guardians Sessions EP

Pop & CCM

• Haiva Ru – Bloom Baby Bloom
• NEEDTOBREATHE – Live From the Woods Vol. 2
• Tauren Wells – Citizen of Heaven (Live)

  Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Andrew Blooms – 987

Hip Hop & R&B

• GOSPEL READY, D4christ – Simplicity  (EP)
• J. Crum, Starlite Drive – STARLITE DRIVE (EP)
• Mitch Darrell – Rap Should Be Fun, Vol.

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Names Without Numbers have dropped what is quite possibly, their BEST song ever and it’s called “Empire On Fire”. The song features backing vocals from Matt Baird of the band Spoken which just adds an extra dose of flavor to an already incredible new song. If you enjoyed their past material and wished they would amp it up a bit and even add in some screaming like the old days, well then you are in for a treat. Give “Empire On Fire” a listen below and make sure to visit their bandcamp page to download and buy other great merch direct from the guys.… Continued →

Last year I shared my top 100 albums and EPs of 2020. This year I thought I’d try and break that list down a little and share my top albums and EPs for each quarter of 2021. So here’s my top 10 album for January-March 2021. You can find my full list of 2021 new releases here. 10. Fight Deck – Signs of Life I love the alt-rock vibes I get from this album. Right up until a song makes turn that makes me cringe.… Continued →

At The Wayside are back and with a vengeance. The band recently entered their studio space and have recorded a brand new EP titled “Somewhere Between”. This surprise EP drops everywhere on April 20th and is sure to be one of the biggest hits of 2021! I mean just listen to the teaser and tell me this isn’t a most anticipated release. Get a taste and learn more at the link below or by visiting them on Facebook here. I’ve heard a tease about a 7″ for these songs so you’ll definitely want to own that when the band puts it up for sale.… Continued →

Peoria, Illinois’ Must Build Jacuzzi are a throwback to 90s era ska music. Having seen them multiple times, I can say they are most def a fun band to catch live. My son had fun the last time back in 2019 when he learned how to crowd surf at 12 years old! They also released a 2018 album right here on our own IVM. Check this SOTD & try to stop you head from bobbin’. … Continued →

Melodic Punk super band, Too Bad Eugene, have reached beyond their goal on Kickstarter and have begun work on their 3rd full length album! So no more EP, just an awesome full length set of songs. There is still time to support the band and help them record more songs, cover the studio costs, and maybe even more merch. Heck, let’s get them some epic special guests. Why not, right? Grab your vinyl, tapes, cds, merch and more right here on Kickstarter.… Continued →

World renown hard rock/metal band P.O.D. from San Diego, CA. have just announced that they are playing a 3 Day Set of Songs in May celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark 2001 album, “Satellite”. The 3 nights will consist of “Satellite” (2001), “Fundamental Elements of Southtown” (1999), and a 3rd day featuring a collection of HITS, Rarities, B-Sides, and Classic Songs from the past. You can get your tickets right here via the special Mandolin website. 9/11 marks the 20th Anniversary of this much loved and celebrated (4th) full length album.… Continued →

Independent solo artist – Arthur Alligood, is back and with a brand new song titled “It’ll Be Alright” featuring Josh and Dean from Toad The Wet Sprocket. It’s a beautiful song and really well done. Showcases Arthur’s immense talent and his ear for making a great song. Having two members from one of my favorite bands, Toad The Wet Sprocket, just makes this new song all the more special. The song is available on all digital networks now. Give it a listen below this post and let us know what you think.… Continued →

The Sprinkle brothers are very talented & have been very busy in the music world. Just think about all the bands the 2 of them have played in: Poor Old Lu, Demon Hunter, Rose Blossom Punch, Fair, Blank Books, The World Inside, The Wrong Mind, Serene, A Cold Vein & Transparent, amongst many others. Although most projects Aaron has worked on lean to the alt-rock genres, 2017’s Escaping Light had a synthpop indie flair. Elle Puckett from Poema & Eisley guest vocals on this SOTD.   … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• 4th Point – New Horizons

Pop & CCM

• Matthew West – Brand New (Deluxe Edition)

Electronic & Dance

• Adam LaVerdiere – This Is Revival (Instrumental)
• Andy Hunter – Presence, Vol. 5
• God’s Warrior – The Blood of Jesus

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Paul Demer – On the Way Back Down
• Wilder Woods – the work tapes ep

Hip Hop & R&B

• Bumps Inf – Perception
• Hulvey – Christopher
• Hyper Fenton, Moflo Music – 2080
• Krum – Black Lung
• MSCMKRS – Cinematic Hits 2
• MvkeyyJ – young underdog
• Whosoever South – Riverbank

Worship & Gospel

• Becca VanDerbeck – Sacred
• Circuit Rider Music – Jesus People (Live)
• Clay Collective Music – Living Stones
• Enterline – Colors Bright
• Here Be Lions – Still God, Still Good (Live)
• Kierra Sheard – KIERRA (Deluxe)
• IFGF Praise – For God So Loved: Instrumental Worship
• Merry Clayton – Beautiful Scars
• Michael Hughes Watson – Feeling
• planetboom – JC Squad (Live With The Squad)
• Soul City Worship – No.

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Celtic punk-now that’s a genre one doesn’t hear much of!  But, Chi-town’s Ballydowse does it well. along with other genres such as oi, folk, klezmer & aboriginal. The band rose from the ashes of one of the best hard punk bands ever Crashdog & released 2 LPS produced by Steve Albini. Their lyrics dealt with many social issues that were taboo in the “Christian” music industry. They used many instruments besides the normal guitar, bass, drums including the mandolin, didgeridoo, moorhen, bodhran, whirligig, concertina, fiddle, bagpipes & bullroarer.… Continued →

In the mid- to late-90s when all of the other Christian hardcore bands were doing new school/chugga chugga style hardcore with increasingly metallic influences, Bakersfield’s Chasm were drawing on earlier inspiration. These influences came mostly from the 80s British hardcore punk/d-beat sound (Discharge, Conflict, etc.), although somewhat ironically this track has elements of early black metal in the guitar riffs (a la Venom or Bathory). Nonetheless it’s still filtered through a hardcore punk sound. The band released one 7″ (Squander, Squander the Bright New Dawn) and one full-length (Gye Nyame, from whence our featured song is taken).… Continued →

L.S.U. has been around since the mid 80’s & have had several monikers including Lifesavers, Lifesavers Underground & L.S. Underground. They have also attacked several genres including, alternative, new wave, indie rock, surf rock & a tad being goth tinged with Michael Knott being the mainstay. Freedom is the first I heard from them from 1994’s Grace Shaker & the lyrics portray an homage to the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus. Hopefully you will like this song as much as I have over the years.… Continued →

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

Rising from the ashes of 2 other bands (one of which A Past Unknown has been played on a few Christian radio shows, including Ohio’s RadioU), Iowa’s Then It Ends is a metalcore band that has some great melodic stuff. Besides their most awesome energetic Kingdom which has profound lyrics (Someone else already beat me to a quasi review on July 3, 2014!), their rendition of Bethel’s It Is Well is worship music with a metalcore twist. Be prepared to raise your hands in worship to our Saviour Jesus with this one.… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• I Am Spartacus – Trigger Happy

Pop & CCM

• Mike Lee – Another Step
• Morgan J – II: Angelpop Vol

Electronic & Dance Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Scott Mulvahill – Surrounded (EP)

Hip Hop & R&B

• Anaviel The Servant – Almost Time (EP)
• Anaviel The Servant – Torah 1
• Beyond Hymn – Based on a True Story
• Caleb Gordon – Before the Garden Vol.1
• Coby James – Mixtape: Side A (EP)
• Krum – Black Lung
• Paparzyi – Grey Ave
• Propaganda, DJ Mal-Ski – Terraform: The People
• Scootie Wop – WOPTAVIUS PORTER: VOL 1
• Tony Tubera – Out the Dark

Worship & Gospel

• All That Is – Home
• Andrew Laparra – Doxology
• Ben Tankard – Shine!

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Bam-this is hands down one of my fave songs of all time from a band that hails from the same town as another great (softer) band Eisley. This ballad just has some type of energy with its musical prowess & soaring vocals & provocative lyrics that makes me contemplate my life & relationship with YHWH. FFAK also still keeps releasing more music it seems like very year & vocalist Ryan has recently joined forces with Chris Wiseman from Currents on the metalcore project Our Eternity (see my review on that January 27, 2021).… Continued →

Santa Cruz, CA. based melodic punk rock band, Too Bad Eugene, have emerged after nearly 20 years in hibernation to drop brand new music on our heads. That’s right, the band is back in action and have put up a rad new Kickstarter campaign to help them reach their new music goal. Let’s fund this thing and help create the best melodic punk rock release (well one of them because so many awesome ones this year) of 2021. Click here for the campaign and grab some awesome merch including vinyl, cds, and even tapes.… Continued →

Is it a bit pompous to call your band “God”? Maybe. But what’s particularly interesting about this band is we know nothing about them. Band members are completely anonymous. Is it even a band, or a solo project? Where are they from? No idea. Because the project is completely designed to “Challenge you to consider Him as well as your life & death through the power of music,” they figured the best way to do that was anonymously. And you know what? I can respect that.… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:  Shut up. Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube… Continued →

Now here is a rarety from a Texan industrial rock artist known as Laing. His given name is Trevor (Laing) & his music falls somewhere in between Circle Of Dust & Mortal or even Skillet’s Hey You, I Love Your Soul release. He released 2 LPs 2001’s Groove & 2005’s Ashes. If you like this SOTD, check out my other fave from him the similar The Finish Line. … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• 2 Minute Minor – Back In Our Day
• ’68 – Give One Take One
• Anberlin – More to Living Than Being Alive
• Andrew Stanton – Black & Blue (EP)
• Awaken – Monsters & Machines
• Brotality – Worldwide Desolation
• Captain the Sky – Butterfly Effect
• Chase Tremaine – Development & Compromise
• Colony House – Colony House Live, Vol. 1
• Crowned in Sorrow – In Memoriam
• Defying Death – Blinded by Sorrow (EP)
• Demon Hunter – Songs of Death and Resurrection
• Detritus – Myths
• Faith Head – Born Again
• Falcone Rising – Tableturner
• Fallstar – Sunbreather
• Fire from Heaven – The Evil Wolf Chronicles
• Flight Deck – Signs of Life
• Five Iron Frenzy – Until This Shakes Apart
• Gable Price and Friends – Awestruck Revival [Reimagined] (EP)
• Haunted No More – Domom (EP)
• Heliocentric – Ishmael
• James Franchise – Patreon EP I
• Last Chance Marie – This Is Just Sound
• Love and Death – Perfectly Preserved
• Luxury – One-Sided EP
• The Midnight Wedding – Anthem for the Outcast
• Reflection of Glory – Escape the Dream
• Pastor Brad – Down and Dirty
• Pantokrator – Marching Out of Babylon
• Remedy Drive – Imago Amor
• Sight Received – Odyssey
• Shadows of Paragon – Amendment
• Seventh Day Slumber – Unseen: The Lion And The Lamb (Deluxe Edition)
• They Came Running – Movement 2: Dream (EP)
• This Surrender – Rebirth
• Valleyheart – Scenery (EP)
• Various Artists – Electric Jesus (Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture)
• Yours For Mine – Yours For Mine: How Dark the Night
• xDOULOSxHC – The Middleman (EP)

Pop & CCM

• Adam Lamb – 46 (EP)
• Amy Sullivan – Amy Sullivan (EP)
• Apollo LTD – Acoustic Sessions (EP)
• Apollo LTD – Nothing is Ordinary.

… Continued →

So our family discovered this cute little Netflix film called “A Week Away”, which conveys a strong, hopeful message, and plenty of sing-a-long moments (think The Greatest Showman meets High School Musical meets Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist). The film takes cues from familiar Christian stories and uplifting films without getting too overly cheesy. Yes, it’s a family sing-a-long film but kids can stay connected to the story regardless of age(s) and find something meaningful to absorb. I found the film not only brings families together but can also be a great teaching tool for sharing Faith with those that are maybe seeking out greater meaning in this chaotic life we share.… Continued →

David Meece is a classic singer/songwriter hands down. Known primarily for his piano skills & his many Christian contemporary radio hits, he was also a subtle rocker. I think I remember seeing him on Trinity Broadcast Network’s Fire By Night hosted by Blaine Bartel back in the day.  Today’s SOTD is a bittersweet story of his life growing up & how Jesus was there all along. I think we all can understand that still small voice of Jesus calling for us while we were yet sinners.… Continued →