Tag: song of the day

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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.  … Continued →

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! … Continued →

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 →

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 … Continued →

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.   … Continued →

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. … Continued →

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 →

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 →

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.   … Continued →

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. … Continued →

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 →

Atonement was a nu-metal 3 piece out of Michigan from what I can remember. I have always liked this song & hope you do also.   … Continued →

Hanover Saints were a Californian street punk band with their first LP being released on Facedown Records. They have a lot of good songs so be sure to check them out.   … Continued →

Last Tuesday (pop punk) & The Alarm (new wave) hail from 2 different decades, but have great renditions of The Stand which was inspired by the Stephen King novel of the same name. Mike Peters (frontman for The Alarm) & Dave Sharp wrote the song & had this to say “This song follows the Christian doctrine that The Rapture, when Christ returns to Earth and believers are transported to heaven, will be a time of celebration. ‘I accept The Bible as being the truth,’ Mike Peters told Smash Hits.”… Continued →

Synth-pop is sort of the illegitimate child of alternative rock and disco. Although it’s not obvious, its roots like in experimental forms of music like krautrock and post-punk. As new wave splintered further and further away from punk, and added more and more synthesizers, synth-pop was being birthed. In the mainstream, acts as diverse as Kraftwerk, New Order, and Pet Shop Boys were solidifying the sound. I loved 90s synth-pop, or simply “techno” as we called it then. It was fun and danceable, dark and poppy, all at the same time.… Continued →

The Letter Black is a modern female fronted rock band from Pennsylvania. Originally known as Breaking the Silence, they have released a few LPS at this stage of their career with the latest being on Seventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas’ Rockfest records. Anyways, hope you like this symphonic esque rock song about believing in Jesus even though we cannot see Him. Sometimes I feel like I’m alone Hoping, praying You hear me Screaming inside to ease the pain Save me, keep me alive I’m not afraid anymore Of what I don’t know Believe, in the unknown (I put my faith, in the unknown) Believe, in God alone (I put my hope, in God alone) Have faith in what you don’t know Sometimes I feel like I have to cry Until my emotions have run dry I’m breaking inside to hide the pain Save me, keep me alive I know you’re here I can feel you now I know your love embraces me Give up all your sorrow Have faith in what you don’t know In God alone Have faith in what you don’t know You don’t know … Continued →

Playdough aka Krum is an awesome rapper originally from Texas. He was half the duo known as Ill Harmonics which I loved back in the day with their album An Octave Above the Original. I have most everything he has done in his career & is one of my 3 faves besides Propaganda & NF. This SOTD is a humorous reference of what would you do if you knew you only had one day left on this earth. … Continued →

Steve Camp was & is a fave of mine due to his songwriting & pop rock music. This SOTD means a lot to me per its heartfelt lyrics as seen below. BTW, he is also a pastor! Oh Lord, I feel so barren and ashamed of who I am How I often felt I hid it well, it is a lie I cannot defend So I lean upon Your mercy as I confess my sin to You There is no easy way, no saving face, when I finally see the truth So let my life be filled with only You I know someday I will be free The weight of sin shall be released But for now He covers me And though the trials never end I’ve learned to take them as my friend For each day He covers me Sometimes the pressure builds around me and I feel about to break I suffer painfully from wrongs done to me but vengeance isn’t mine to take So let me glory in my weakness till Your strength’s revealed in me It is Your grace alone that helps me carry on to be the man I long to be So let Your life be perfected, Lord in me Until it’s You they see And though heartache surrounds me I know Your love is around me Nothing can separate me from You And I know it’s true … Continued →

Brace yourself. The Souls Unrest has one of the more complicated histories in all of Christian metal. The roots of the band lie in old school punk band Spudgun, who released one album on Bulletproof Records (a division of Gray Dot). That band got heavier and darker, changing styles so much that a new name was warranted–World Against World. That version of the band also released one album (an amazing album at that) for Bulletproof, before morphing again. A short-lived project called The Orcrist followed, but released no official recordings.… Continued →

EDL (Everyday Life) is one of my fave bands of all time. I remember hearing this demo CD along with Gryp’s Indecision back in the day & buying them. I was amazed at both & have followed them since those days. I have a few of the band members on social media & have spoken to a couple. This first album by EDL was raw & has always been my favorite. Other songs such as Bystander, Perseverance & Dis are awesome. … Continued →

Eli used to be know as Paul Falzone. He has a great biography on Christian Music Archive if you want to do a deep dive & is a role model for a Christian coming from a negative start. Jesus worked with him & he said “In life it takes a lot of manure to grow a beautiful rosebush. God has the ability to transform our lives and purify us through what happens to us everyday and though it’s rough at times, it’s incredible to feel and notice the change that is taking place in my life.… Continued →

At the Wayside used to be called Alakrity before they changed their name. I actually worked with a company called Alacrity! They are still current & releasing new music. I saw them do this tune live & it is so darn catchy. … Continued →

This band was the epitome of one of those all-too-common scenarios in 90s Christian music: the frustratingly great one-album wonder. Driver Eight released Watermelon via Tooth and Nail Records in 1996, to high acclaim from fans and critics alike, and then disappeared into the . . . well, that’s just it–we don’t know what happened! The album featured a highly-effective mix of alternative rock styles including Britpop (even though the band was American), quasi-shoegaze, and jangle pop. It seemed that they were channeling equally such disparate influences as Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine Wheel, R.E.M.,… Continued →

The Dwelling is an incarnation of the band Die To Yourself, another metalcore act. This SOTD is basically a metalcore worship song that seems put of place as track #11. I love this one as it reminds of a spirit filled hxc song maybe akin to Sleeping Giant or Context.   … Continued →

Joy Electric aka Ronnie Martin is Jason’s brother from Starflyer 59. The 2 brothers have released several albums from their various monikers of The Brothers Martin, The Foxhole Hunt, Dancehouse Children. Ronnie is also a pastor in Ohio. I just happen to like spiders & if you do also, check out the following songs/albums that feature our favorite 8 legged God created creatures! I have 2 tarantulas myself: a Mexican Red-Knee & a Pink Toe. WILDERNESS OF TEKOA-SPIDERS, WHITE COLLAR SIDESHOW-LIKE SPIDERS WEAVE, GO FISH-ITSY BITSY SPIDER, DEAR EPHESUS-DEAR SPIDER, LEPER-SPIDER WEBS, JOE ROMERO-ITSY BITSY SPIDER, WONROWE VISION-RESIDENT SPIDER, ALICE COOPER-ALONG CAME A SPIDER CD, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE-FLATLAND SPIDER, MELLOWDRAMATIC WALLFLOWERS-SPY DER SPIDER, SHILOHTRANCE-THE SPIDER, MEWITHOUTYOU, BROWNISH, ORANCE, YELLOW SPIDER, TEMPLAR-SKY SPIDER 2, SECRET & WHISPER-SPIDER BESIDER, SEVEN SYSTEM-KILL THE SPIDER, LOVEDRUG-SPIDERS,LIL RASKULL-AMAZING (UNOFFICIAL AMAZING SPIDERMAN THEME), KANSAS-THE SPIDER, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA-SPIDERHEADS, UNTILWEDIE!-MOUTHFUL… Continued →

Believer is a Pennsylvanian 4 piece technical thrash metal band. Forming in 1985 they changed their name from Deceiver. I remember buying their Sanity Obscure LP in my hometown of Normal, Illinois & then later getting a cassette tape of Dimensions. A few years back they released 3 2-song singles & I haven’t seen anything from them since. This SOTD I have seen as one the origins of the symphonic metal scene. Below are the Latin lyrics along with their meaning & a live video also.… Continued →