Tag: song of the day

The 90s was such an interesting decade for music in general, but for the Christian scene in particular. There was such a diversity of sounds and multiple genres exploding in all different directions from alternative to metal to punk to hardcore to hip-hop and electronica. Then even within each of these there was a multiplicity of subgenres all moving in different trajectories at the same time. It wasn’t uncommon to go to a gig in the 90s and see a ska band opening a show that also included indie rock and hardcore.… Continued →

Let the debate be finished, and let this be the final word: Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the first Christian rock artist ever. Decades before Larry Norman, or even his English predecessors like The Crossbeats or The Pilgrims, Tharpe was writing and performing a new take on Gospel music, utilizing skillful guitar playing and innovating techniques that were used by hundreds of others after her. In fact, it is likely that Tharpe is not only the first Gospel rocker, but the first rock-and-roll artist period, with her early material being created as early as the late 1930s, more than a full decade before Bill Haley and the Comets released “Rock Around the Clock” or Chuck Berry was instructing Johnny on how to B.… Continued →

We continue our series in February of focusing on contributions to the Christian independent music scene from our black brothers and sisters for Black History Month. While heavy metal, and especially this form of ‘glam metal’ was dominated by people whose skin color resembles mine, Seventh Seal stood out from the crowd. They were a commercial metal band from Palmdale, California whose 5 members were all African American. Seventh Seal was truly an anomaly in this regard. While there are other heavy metal bands with black members, I can’t think of any others where the entire band was made up of black members *and* who played in this particular style.… Continued →

For the remaining weeks of February, I’ll be focusing on African-American contributions to independent Christian music, in celebration of Black History Month. Both rock and roll in general, and Christian rock/indie/whatever music owe a huge debt to the African-American experience. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to overstate this. Andrae Crouch is one of the most influential Gospel artists of all time. In fact, he has often been known as the “father of modern gospel music.” And while the connection between traditional Gospel music and Christian indie/punk rock might not be obvious, it’s not as distinct as one might think.… Continued →

This Ukrainian band started out as a semi-melodic black metal band, who later morphed into a thrash/death metal band, with a sound that worked a little better overall. After forming in 2003, in their hometown of Kremenchuk, they released a full-length album in 2007 in their native tongue. In 2008 Sullen Records issued an English language version of the album, which was entitled Evangelion. This pressing was on limited edition, hand-numbered CDr. The label re-issued the album yet again in 2010. In 2010, Australian label Soundmass (known for top-quality extreme metal releases) issued a follow-up release, the mini-album Death is Dead.… Continued →

It’s been a while since we’ve covered some grindcore here, so it seems like the right time. One of the most–if not the most–intense genres of metal and/or hardcore and/or noise (depending on which angle is taken), grindcore is generally an acquired taste and is more often than not a ‘love it or hate it’ genre with very little room for bystanders. Having emerged in the 1980s as an ever-increasingly intense subgenre of hardcore punk, it is generally characterized by ridiculously fast, and very short songs.… Continued →

This SOTD is the latest (at the time of this article) from the Michigander band. There are several bands currently releasing music that are devout Christians & that is so awesome to see imho; No Treaty, Context and HolyName just to name a few. They are working on the EP The Redemption Script. Take a listen & hear the lyrics of this powerful song. Feel free to follow the www.castingsuchathinshadow.comn site. Al genres of “Christian” music plays along with punk/ska from 1-3 pm CST.… Continued →

This is one of the funniest songs I have ever heard. It is a parody obviously of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s hit mainstream song. Basically the song is about a guy who likes a girl who is a Bible Believing Christian. The crazy thing is the Christian Broadcast Network featured it! https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/dan-smith-ode-women-big-bibles https://whiteboydj.com/   Feel free to follow the www.castingsuchathinshadow.comn site. Al genres of “Christian” music plays along with punk/ska from 1-3 pm CST.… Continued →

The Remnants (not to be confused with Remnant, The Remnant, nor Remnant Militia) was a punk band originally formed in Alabama in the late 90s, but then transplanted to Chicago sometime in the 2000s, where they had a connection to JPUSA and Grrrr Records. The band was a part of a sort of hardcore punk revival that was taking place in the late 90s/early 00s, a movement that included bands like Headnoise, The Discarded, Combat Junkies and a handful of others. The band’s early material featured tried and true punk sounds (no pop-punk here) mixed with a raw rock and roll influence, drawing influences from the L.A.… Continued →

This artist played an experimental eclectic mix of various electronic/hip hop music. The people/person behind the project that released 2 full lengths are anonymous. This song seems to be a remix of a song Sackcloth Fashion released called Jungle on an N’Soul compilation .   Feel free to follow the www.castingsuchathinshadow.comn site. Al genres of “Christian” music plays along with punk/ska from 1-3 pm CST.… Continued →

Here is a relatively unknown band. They a cross of pop punk/rock music whom I heard on an indie Christian rock show at some point.. They released their first LP in 2009 & their most recent in 2022. This SOTD was also featured on their 2016 release Ghost of My Past. Feel free to follow the www.castingsuchathinshadow.comn site. Al genres of “Christian” music plays along with punk/ska from 1-3 pm CST.… Continued →

This is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard.  The band hailed from Wyoming & did a cross between worship & rock music. Wikiepedia claims they are still a band, but I haven’t heard anything from them in a few years. Check em these lyrics. There was a time that I Felt so alone I felt so alone My heart without a home In that time I thought That I was gone That I was gone From Your love Oh you find me when I fall You say, Oh son you are MY own When I doubt your love, when I doubt my worth You show me every time, that I am loved There was a time that I thought “I’m the worst” I thought the worst things About my life In that time I thought That I could draw Draw all the lines between the world And where I fall Speak what I’m worth.… Continued →

Canadian Connie Scott is a singer from the 80s/90s whose music I didn’t discover until this song from a  cassette tape I bought from a local Christian bookstore ( remember when there was such a thing!) It’s music & lyrical content was powerful to my 12 year old ears/mind. Attached is a site that gives more of her career & the music video from back in the day. Check out her back catalog if interested. Feel free to follow the www.castingsuchathinshadow.comn site. Al genres of “Christian” music plays along with punk/ska from 1-3 pm CST.… Continued →

In the decade of the 2000s, there was an explosion of Christian metal bands in Brazil. For quite a while, it looked like that country, and the whole of South America, was set to completely take over Christian metal. And there were quality bands in all subgenres too from melodic metal to the extreme styles of thrash, black, and death metal. Skymetal formed in 1996 in Uberlandia, in the region of Minas Gerais, not too far away from fellow death metallers Krig, from Belo Horizonte in the same region.… Continued →

This synth-pop powerhouse hailed from New Mexico, and was spearheaded by Joey Belville. They debuted in 1994 with a light, upbeat, joyful and relatively simplistic take on synth-pop with the aptly-titled Defend Your Joy. Produced by Ronnie Martin (Joy Electric, etc.), the album oozed of positivity and an almost naive optimism. And yet, it never came off as cheesy, disingenuous, or otherwise off-putting. In fact, I think the title track is a great song to kick off a new year with. I don’t know what your 2024 was like–joyful, sorrowful, challenging, rewarding, or something else–but a focus on the joy of the Lord is always appropriate.… Continued →

This year’s last SOTD post from me is from a project that can be very hard to determine which genre it falls into. Helmed by Mick Rowe, brother of Jamie from Guardian/Kalamity Kills and who also worked with the arena rock band Tempest, Mick wanted to work a project that would be different than all else. Both LPs Land of Nod & Digital Saviour have elements of goth, hip hop, rock and pop. CCM rock & rhythmic radio shows picked up a few songs including God, I’m a Lie, War Dance & The Cage.… Continued →

When Applehead surfaced, sole member Greg Minier had already cut his teeth as axe-slinger in highly respected crossover thrash outfit The Crucified, and put out a one-off EP (as a solo project) of more straight-forward thrash under the simply-named Minier. Just as The Crucified was ending, the guitarist changed directions considerably and recorded a full-length album of grunge/alternative metal under the band name Applehead. In fact, the project’s debut album Meaning was one of the most authentic attempts at grunge in the Christian market. The album hit hard not only musically but lyrically as well, tackling subjects like alcohol abuse, struggles with sin, devotional inconsistency, and as the album title suggested, the search for meaning in life found via hope in the Creator.… Continued →

This Texan band takes their name from Genesis 1:4 I found about them from RadioU in Ohio with their song Remnants. Since then, I have followed them & they just released their latest single King of the the Undertow recently. Starting in church worship, they changed styles in 2010. I personally am not a fan of acoustic covers, but I love this one.  Also, included a fave of mine from them. … Continued →

With Christmas being right around the corner, you know what time it is! It’s time for our annual Christmas-oriented Song of the Day entry. With a plethora of punk, indie, and even metal Christmas tunes (seriously, there’s way more than you might expect!) to choose from, it can be a daunting task. I like to choose tunes that are thoughtful, yet playful. Fun, yet reverent. I can’t think of a Christmas tune that fits that description much better than the ska/pop-punk stylings of Flight 180’s “O Come All Ye Faithful” (incidentally also my favorite Christmas song).… Continued →

Pulling from the Christian music rarities again, today features a Greenville Illinois band. They played a mashup of alternative/screamo. Their Soundclick page still has one song, but of course all their stuff is gone from Myspace. Check ’em out. I uploaded the 4 songs I have from this band .   … Continued →

This pop punk band were from Michigan. They appear to have been comprised of 3 brothers & disbanded in 2022. … Continued →

After vocalist Bill Walden left 4th Watch in 1987, he had no plans to pursue any other music. (For context, the recognizable crooner had also been the early singer for Undercover.) So, when The Mirrors (formerly Malcolm & the Mirrors) came asking Bill to join them, and then asked again, he was reluctant and uninterested. However, providence prevailed and it turned out to be a great move both for the band and for Walden himself. The band was definitely on the ministry side of things. In fact, three of the band members became pastors.… Continued →

Pulling from the archives with this rare pop punk band, they were from Rochester, New York. Their LastFM bio is hilarious. This is from the last paragraph:  “LastPageFirst is definitely a band to watch in 2005. With their passion for touring, their amazing hooks and melodies, and an album and live show that is nothing short of stellar, LPF will soon have arenas full of young girls chanting their name.” Jeremy Call, their vocalist/guitarist also says this “Our goal is to build relationships with people. I want to show people that I’m just like them.… Continued →

Here is another Christian rock rarity. Do you remember Rustproof Records which put out great releases from Broomtree & Polarboy. Well, this band had a song called This Confusion included on a compilation from the label. Unsure on much else from the band because there isn’t much information on the www. As the discogs site doesn’t list the band beyond the comp, my best guess is the cd was released independently.  Here is a track listing from the cd though.  https://www.cylist.com/List/406381538/superstar-broken-record-cd-track-listing … Continued →

Screaming Giant Records is one of my fave labels of all time. They released so many good bands/projects. This pop punk band was one of them. Hailing from Atlanta, this is a short lived band but man o’ man do I like this catchy song.… Continued →

Elgibbor began as a solo project of Jarek (AKA “Fire,” also of Fire Throne) from Poland in 1999. Other band members have come and gone, and Jarek has since relocated to the United States. The outfit is incredibly prolific, having released 15 full-length albums since its inception, not to mention singles, EPs and other releases. The band’s name is taken from a Hebrew name for God, meaning “God Almighty.” An interesting approach is taken by the band in that each album features a slightly different take on the black metal genre.… Continued →

This pop punk band is from LA. Their latest EP released back in January and proved that this band still has their chops intact. This catchy SOTD features Fire Iron’s Frenzy Leanor aka Jeff the Girl. Check it out and their discography of 44 songs. … Continued →

So here is another rarity band that I have pulled from the archives. The Terminal Generation considered themselves the world’s scariest band. Based out of California, they melded distorted guitars & vocals. Most would know them if they followed 90s Christian industrial movement when R.E.X. records released an industrial compilation called Electro Shock Therapy in 1995, but they actually got their start in LA in 1989.     … Continued →

I wasn’t sure what to make of this band the first time I heard them. It was heavy, metallic hardcore, created in the era just before full-blown metalcore had become a thing. And the vocals were unlike anything I’d ever heard in hardcore before. The band hailed from southern California and were only active for a couple of years in the late 90s. They released a pair of demos, before releasing a devastating 4-song EP for fledgling Solid State Records, then-brand new sub-label of Tooth & Nail focusing exclusively on hardcore and metal.… Continued →

Benjamin is the only son of Christian music legends Bill & Gloria Gaither. I have always liked this song & The Narrow Road. Rain Down a Fire was big on CCM radio also. I love the lyrics to the chorus of this song. Don’t tell Him you love Him, Don’t tell Him you need Him til you’re ready to fall down on your knees & ready to serve Him. Don’t tell Him you’re sorry, Don’t tell Him what you’re never going to do until you let Him stand & follow through.… Continued →