Tag: song of the day
April 23, 2022
The Great Commission is another offshoot from hxc band XdeathstarX along with Sleeping Giant. Seen them live & always like these 2 SOTDs per their lyrical content. On a side note, they are featured about halfway thru Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble music video with their song When it Rains it Pours.
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April 22, 2022
Song of the Day: Sixpence None the Richer - Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death
I first heard Sixpence None the Richer while listening to a cassette demo in the Christian bookstore in 1993. They had me from the opening acoustic guitar riffs on “Field of Flowers,” the opening track from The Fatherless and the Widow. That album was fantastic, but even so, it was only a foretaste of what was to come.
While the band are largely known for their romantic pop radio hit, “Kiss Me,” from their self-titled third album, many fans and critics alike are drawn to their sophomore album, This Beautiful Mess.… Continued →
April 20, 2022
Song of the Day: Avery Pkwy - Everything
Avery Parkway has a cool band past. with Joel being the drummer for Olivia (a pop punk band from Hawaii) & Confide & touring bassist for Of Mice & Men. His solo music has debuted on iTunes & surpassed mainstream heavyweights such as Justin Bieber & Adelle. This SOTD is a straight up rock worship song. Per his own words “Everything” is a thank you letter and an offering of worship to Jesus for never leaving me no matter how jacked up and lost I truly was.… Continued →
April 18, 2022
Song of the Day: October Bird of Death -Goons
October Bird of Death is an punk band from Illinois whom I have seen live. Vocalist Wiley Willis has been busy these past few years with several bands including 2 Minute Minor which have numerous releases. I have their sticker for this album cover on my bass cab.
You can read the whole album review here https://www.indievisionmusic.com/reviews/october-bird-death-death-made-offer/
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April 16, 2022
Song of the Day: Crux - Circle
Crux is a hxc crust punk band that released albums on Tooth & Nail and Boot 2 Head Records. They had a music video for Wasted Day that can easily be found. This song I remember being on a Christian loud music chart back in the day. Be prepared to headbang!
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April 15, 2022
Song of the Day: MxPx - Want Ad
Y’all better to get ready to put your boxing gloves on. You ready for this? Pokinatcha is the best MxPx (Magnified Plaid) album. Why? It was melodic, but still very much punk–bordering even on old school hardcore at times. It’s by far their most unique record, before they settled into the more polished pop-punk sound that everyone remembers.
To be clear, I have no problem with the direction they later took (except for maybe moving further away from Christian spirituality and theology as the years went by, but that’s another post altogether).… Continued →
April 13, 2022
Song of the Day: Krystal Meyers -Make Some Noise
Krystal Meyers reminded me of a Christian marketed Avril Lavigne & I’m pretty sure that’s the image she was going for if one see the music video for anticonformity. This song has always struck me as my fave & apparently there are 3 other versions with the vocals being such in Indonesian, Mandarin and Thai!
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April 11, 2022
Song of the Day: Blenderhead -Cesspool
Blenderhead was a weird band to me back in the day: I had their t-shirt w/ the logo for Prime Candidate in high school. MXPX was my fave punk band & this song I heard on an indie Christian terrestrial radio show & then Haven came out on a T&N comp. The bass is what drew this song to me.… Continued →
April 9, 2022
Song of the Day: Gideon - Leif Erickson
Gideon is a melodic hxc band from Alabama. I saw them in their early incarnation when they just switched vocalists to Daniel Mcwhorter. Actually interviewed Timothy Naugher back in college. This specific song was chosen due to the show I just got through Vikings Valhalla which is set 100 years after the original series. Leif is heavily portrayed in the show. Lift your hands in worship to this one!
MY GOD IS LOVE!!!!
Pour out your Grace
Rain down your love
You are the Joy,
That floods my heart
NEVER AGAIN!!… Continued →
April 8, 2022
Song of the Day: Altars - Eternity
This hardcore band hailed from Colorado Springs. They infused their heavy chugga chugga rhythms with melodic parts without ever getting whiny. This led some fans and writers to dub them post-hardcore, which isn’t fully accurate, but I can see why they said that.
What strikes me about this song is the passion behind both the music and the clear-cutting lyrics:
Where is the hope?
Where is the love?
Without these your system will self-destruct
While it might seem that the song was aimed at society in general, it is actually pointed at the failures of the Church to stay true to the pure message of the Gospel.… Continued →
April 6, 2022
Song of the Day: Falling Up - Moonlit
Falling Up is a band even mothers can like lol! My mom actually likes this band for real. They were quite different as they played a experimental variety of alt-rock as they continued in their discography. They have many good ones but this is my fave. It was co-written with Family Force 5 & try not to sing along with “Let Go Now!”
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April 4, 2022
Song of the Day: Shmunks for You - You Don't Need a Death Certificate To Die
Shmunks For You were a post punk hxc band from Texas. Apparently this specific album was inspired by George Orwell’s 1984. Also check out The Known Is Ended.
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April 2, 2022
Song of the Day: Sleeping Giant - Preachcore Lives vs Tithemi
Sleeping Giant is an awesome band nuff said! They are what I like to consider a spirit filled hxc band due to their performance & unabashed way they present Jesus. They split off from another hxc band along with The Great Commission, both of whom I have seen live. I totally miss the Scream the Prayer Tours! Here are 2 of my faves that will get you on fire for God!
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April 1, 2022
Song of the Day: The Israelites - Israelite Train
The 1990s saw a huge revival of ska music–that funky fusion of reggae and punk, or so it seemed at the time. The real history of ska was much deeper than that. Unbeknownst to the general populace, ska actually pre-dates reggae, going back to at least the 1960s. It fused traditional calypso beats with horns and sounds gleaned from New Orleans jazz. Reggae emerged in the 70s, as tempos slowed down and the overall feel became more relaxed. In the 1980s, amidst emigration from the Caribbean to England, ska mixed with punk and/or new wave to create the “Two-tone” scene, a sign of racial integration amongst working class punks and skinheads represented with the ever-present black and white checkerboard imagery.… Continued →
March 30, 2022
Song of the Day: Makeshift 3 - Hiyayda Martian 3
Makeshift 3 is a metal tinged pop punk band which has been around for a while. This song seems to have been redone a few times, but I like it & hope you do also.
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March 28, 2022
Song of the Day: Tourniquet - Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance
Tourniquet-What am I to say about one of my top 5 bands ever? Besides some outstanding songwriting & metal music, the band has stood the test of time. They have been going since the 90s. I remember You Get What You Pray For on an Intense Records comp & I was hooked. Pathogenic was one of the first cds I bought (first was Rich Mullins’ Winds of Heaven & Paul Smith’s Human Touch) & I got it the same day as Galactic Cowboys Space in Your Face.… Continued →
March 26, 2022
Song of the Day: Mumsdollar - The Wedding Song
Mumsdollar has an interesting way they chose their name. Their vocalist was at a Hillsong conference & only had a dollar to give for the offering, his mum’s dollar. So the name stuck & they ended up being one of the biggest kiwi (music from New Zealand) bands. This SOTD has always stood out w/ its melody & lyrics.
Since I met you
I’ve known there’s no-one else who could ever come close
And the day that you said
That you would be mine
Meant now I’d be happy till the end of time
I love you more than words could say
And I pray to God everyday
I thank Him for showing me the way to find you
Now there is nothing but blue sky.… Continued →
March 25, 2022
Song of the Day: Apostle - The Sword
One of the most beloved and respected bands in the traditional heavy metal scene, Apostle was a slight anomaly in that they never released an album on a record label. Formed in 1983 in Jacksonville, FL, the band released a total of 5 independent full-length albums (not to mention EPs and compilations) all while remaining an unsigned band.
Apostle opened for Christian metal stalwarts Whitecross on a national tour, and also had a song featured on East Coast Metal for Regency Records, in 1988, where I first heard the band.… Continued →
March 23, 2022
Song of the Day: Zao - Savannah
Zao is a metalcore band that formed from the spirit filled hxc scene back in the 90s. Seen them a few times & hung out with them back in the day. When they were in Myrtle Beach, I yelled & they ended up playing my song Lies of Serpents River of Tears & then the crowd wanted Skin Like Winter. A good video to watch is their documentary The Lesser Lights of Heaven. Anyways, if I had a daughter I wanted to name her Savannah. The song, though, eludes to sin & its devastating effects that can lead to suicide.… Continued →
March 21, 2022
Song of the Day: Over The Rhine - Happy With Myself?
Over the Rhine has been around for a long time since 1989. Hailing from Ohio, their genre consists of mostly folk, but back in the day they were considered “alternative” by the standards we had back then. They reminded of a softer Fleming & John. It’s crazy, but they have even shared the stage with Bob Dylan! I have always liked this SOTD along w/ Jacksie.
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March 19, 2022
Song of the Day: Curbsquirrels - OIC
Curbsquirrels were a band whose first release was on a 3 song EP w/ fellow pop punkers Last Tuesday. This SOTD has 2 different versions, one where he doesn’t & when he does get the girl! Have fun!
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March 18, 2022
Song of the Day: Antivenom - Sacred Funeral
There is an absolute plethora of underground black metal bands in the Christian scene. While this is a fact to be celebrated, at times it is difficult to judge the quality of releases, when there are so many. Antivenom actually managed to escape my attention until recently.
This band, like many in the scene, is fairly mysterious. I don’t know where they are from, although one member (whose name will be recognized by Christian bm aficionados) is Armath Sargon (Armath Sargon, Elgibbor, Katumus, Light to Dead, others), who is from Finland.… Continued →
March 16, 2022
Song of the Day: Speck - Do You Think I'm Cool
Speck is a fun band whose lyrics are most definitely of the “not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ” type. Which is a very good thing imho. They were signed to Gray Dot Records which is the same label that brought us Third Day & a few punk rawk bands. This SOTD is just good clean fun. What cha think? Leave your comments
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March 14, 2022
Song of the Day: Manic Drive - Aimlessly
Manic Drive began as One Cross. Hailing from Canada, they have branched a few genres including modern rock, power pop & dance. They have several good songs & have even toured with Winter Jam. This SOTD has always been my fave & its lyrics elude to how sin has taken a part of him & he wants to be back with Jesus.
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March 12, 2022
Song of the Day: Old Man Shattered - Crash And Burn
Old Man Shattered is a Christian rock band from New Mexico. They have released 3 LPS & several of their songs have gone to radio. This SOTD is catchy & has stuck out as one of my faves these many years.
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March 11, 2022
Song of the Day: Eden Burning - My Senses Fly
The 90s comprised an amazing decade for alternative Christian music. We had metal, punk rock, emo, industrial, and out of left field we also had an amazing run of alternative-tinged folk rock. I was primarily a metalhead/hard alternative guy when I got hit by this amazing run of folk acts like Lost Dogs, Nicolas Giaconia, Acoustic Shack, and the UK’s own Eden Burning.
While Eden Burning had been going in their native England for several years prior, their first US release was Vinegar and Brown Paper, for Storyville Records, a folk imprint of R.E.X.… Continued →
March 9, 2022
Song of the Day: Few Left Standing - Wishing You
Few Left Standing was a spirit filled late 90s hxc band from Tennessee. Their stuff was primarily released by Takehold Records which actually housed Underoath in their early days (my fave from the band). The band reformed & played a show recently at Furnace Fest. This SOTD always reminded me of another song by Zao called A Fall Farewell as the lyrics relate to wishing a friend would find Jesus. I also put some of the footage from the Furnace Fest show for your enjoyment.
A moment whispered
A fleeting thought
A lifetime lived
In one short breath
I sit alone in a quiet place
Remembering a smile
A smile that in one instant
Drowns out the sorrows of the world
A smile from the face of innocence
I sit and watch
As the seasons change
Falling like dying leaves
I sit and watch as the cold hands
Choke at my existence
You’re not the only one
You’re hurting
You stare expressionless
As our worlds are torn apart
I reach for your hand
Why don’t you reach back?… Continued →
March 7, 2022
Song of the Day: Wolves at the Gate - Asleep
Wolves at the Gate-where do I begin! This is the epitome of what one would call melodic metalcore. I have had the joy of seeing them live once & hanging with the main vocalist. Chase Tremaine has a decent cover if you want to check it out also. Some of their songs have found their way onto mainstream radio along with Skillet & of course Underoath. Their new release Eulogies is gearing up for release in a few days on March 11.
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March 5, 2022
Song of the Day: Drew Yount - Unexpired
Drew Yount is a Maryland rock artist who has an interesting musical background comprising of not 1, but 2 musician parents. He has toured with many artists playing guitar or teching for Sebastian Bach, Sevendust, 10 Years, Daughtry, amongst others. I have always loved this songs lyrics & sound crescendo.
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March 4, 2022
Song of the Day: Brainwash Projects - Want for Nada
If anyone asked me to name my favorite Christian hip-hop project of all time, it is without a doubt Brainwash Projects, and their sole album The Rise and Fall of . . . . Perhaps the album title was a hint at how long the project would last, and we all just missed it at the time.
Rise and Fall had everything: lyrical witticisms, dope beats, funky rhymes, and humor by the bucketloads. While the whole album is worth listening to straight through without skipping any tracks, one of the strongest singles is “Want for Nada,” a testimony to God’s faithfulness.… Continued →