Tag: song of the day

Grand Prize hailed from the Calvary Chapel location in Idaho. They eventually changed their name to Esterlyn & do a more AC/worshipful vibe. This SOTD has a special meaning to me & is a lot of what I personally struggle with. : You say that you love Him with your life  But your going your own way  You need to let Him have your rights   Let Him take control of your life.” So come on over feel His Grace shining bright It’s not over you still need to fight You say that it can’t be done You just can’t live what’s right Well that’s not right He will heal you tonight You say that you love Him with your life But your going your own way You need to let Him have your rights Let Him take control of your life He’ll set you free, Tonight, yea yea tonight Some come on over let His love draw you near It’s not over He wipe away every tear You say that it can’t be done You just can’t live what’s right Well that’s not right He will heal you tonight Oh how He loves You- How He longs to forgive You Won’t you let Him take your hand Won’t you let Him show you His Plan He will change you, He will change you, He will change you … Continued →

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sin Disease is one of the greatest albums ever to emerge from our scene. Romald Domkus (born Allan Aguirre) and company unleashed a wonderfully chaotic debut album, with production from Terry Taylor (DA/Daniel Amos/Swirling Eddies/Lost Dogs) that set CCM on its head! Think I’m overstating things? Not possible. Here’s why: have you ever tried to pigeonhole the album, or this band, into a single genre? Good luck. Take equal parts hardcore punk, reggae, goth, glam rock, and heavy metal, and then top the whole thing off with a weird experimental noise track lasting over 7 minutes long.… Continued →

Fono was an awesome band that had a really outstanding debut, but seemed to fail into obscurity shortly thereafter a follow-up. They originally came from the United Kingdom under the name Seven, but moved to California for their American tenure. Their vocalist actually played in other bands I have releases from called Split Level & Tribe of Dan. They actually opened for Bon Jovi before changing their name to Fono. Goesaroundcomesaround is a great release and there are no duds on it.   … Continued →

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

Blo0odlined Calligraphy was a hardcore/metalcore band hailing from Michigan that featured a female vocalist> They went from Selah to Strike First to Facedown Records in a matter of 3 years. Vocalist Ally also plays piano, but this SOTD is straight up heavy. I remember Jaddeus from RadioU’s hxc show playing this son on his show & I have dug it all these years. Also check out Isaac is the Champ. … Continued →

Nine Lashes is a modern rock band from Alabama that always seemed to be a band (at least in their first few releases) that should have been huge in the mainstream. Check out this catchy song, but also the ballad Surrender. And yes, they are still going having released a single in 2021. … Continued →

The one, the only, the legendary hardcore band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Bishop’s Fist only released one 3-song demo, and had 2 compilation appearances, before they broke up and moved to the Pacific Northwest. So why include the band here when they made such a small impact? Well, despite their limited output, the band actually had an incredible impact. First, because the songs were so good, so brutal, so raw and real, fans and collectors to this day still talk about the band. Second, members of the band wound up in a number of other bands that were equally influential.… Continued →

One Bad Apple was a short lived death/groove metal/crossover thrash band that released a few indies & full length in the 90s before disbanding, but reuniting & releasing another full length in 2018. I’ve always liked this SOTD & hope you do also. … Continued →

The W’s were a short lived swing revival/ska band whose 2 full lengths garnered a lot of airplay on Christian rock stations back in the day. They are well known for their first hit The Devil is Bad but also check out the superb Moses. I did not know, but 2 members of the band formed a band BenDixon that I have been starting to follow lately. Today’s SOTD though is in homage to one of my fave songs to play on bass guitar. … Continued →

Dorean Lives has an a interesting background in that the band was created as a way of dealing with loss. Hailing from Alabama, the band created a several music videos out of their one & only release that I know of. & this awesome catchy SOTD is one of them … Continued →

I’m sure a few of you have been wondering when I was going to eventually get around to covering this important band. Well, wait no longer. Mortal’s roots were in a similarly-named synth-pop project called Mortal Wish. While that version of the band showed promise, it only hinted at the greatness that was to come after a minor name change and a huge change in direction. (FYI: downloads of 2 different Mortal Wish demos are available online if you know where to look for them!) The mysteriously-titled (Lusis means “freedom”), dark and brooding debut hit stores in 1992 via Intense Records, the first in the industrial genre for the otherwise exclusively metal label.… Continued →

Ronnie Winter-Defoe is the vocalist for The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus which became well known on mainstream radio for their song Face Down. A few years ago, their music found its way onto “Christian” radio shows. This beautiful SOTD was re-recorded for TRJA, but I have always liked this version better & love its lyrical content.. For all the times you told me not to jump ’cause I might fall I said ‘Thank you, thank you’ But I’m the kind of guy that has to fall to learn to fly Still, I say ‘Thank you, thank you.’… Continued →

Afewloosescrews was an obscure punk rawk band from the mid 90’s era. I have been looking for some very rare songs of theirs from a couple Dwarf Records compilations-Sunshine Nomad & Confidence for years. I have always liked their LP & this cover from Rez Band & hope you do also. … Continued →

Dead Awake Dreaming was a metalcore band that hailed from California. Their Facebook has not been updated since 2016, but their mission was to love the unloved & I feel we all understand that. Jesus does hear our cries & will be there for us no matter what even when we don’t understand ourselves. Another day with no one to hold you or feel your pain It’s tough when no one is around to say, “Everything is okay” Don’t stop, push on You wanna lie when someone asks if you have been alright Trying to paint a portrait of something that you are not at all What Happens Behind Closed Doors Where have you gone to so far away?… Continued →

Among the plethora of pop-punk bands in the Christian scene, Slick Shoes were one of the best, probably top 5 out of hundreds. Formed in 1994 in Southern California (like most Christian pop-punk bands), they released their debut EP for Tooth & Nail in 1997, then proceeded to release 6 full-lengths, a split with mainstream band Autopilot Off (FKA Cooter) and a live album. The band won a lot of points with me by taking their name from one of my favorite movies of all time, The Goonies.… Continued →

Eisley, from Tyler TX, is an awesome band that I wish to have seen live. To me, they kinda reminded me of Chasing Furies, but with a lot longer discography. This song has always struck a chord with me for its lyrical content. … Continued →

Mat Kearney is who I’ve been listening to most the past few years. hailing from Oregon. He has so many songs that I relate to. This love song is dedicated to my girlfriend Mindy whom I had been waiting for my entire life. Also check out One Black Sheep, Heartbeat & Moving On, etc…! When you stopped me in my tracks The very first time Had me going The very first night Waved goodbye, your keys locked inside I knew you were the only one With your crazy voice mail, seen your spotted toes Way funnier than anyone knows With your daddy’s eyes and your grandma’s gun You’re the only one That little crook in your teeth and your 5 inch feet When you tie your hair up in the bun Whatever the weather, we’ll stick together forever ‘Cause you’re the only one Seven billion in the world baby I only wanna be with you I don’t want another girl baby I only wanna be with you Waiting for you all my life I can’t wait another night Seven billion in the world And you’re the only I want, it’s true Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah I only wanna be with Only wanna be with Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah Only wanna be with you You put too much salt on everything you eat Wake up freezing ’cause I stole the sheets And you talk to the wall, pop your gum in your sleep You’re the only one And you worry about your dad on his motorbike The way your voice cracks when you wanna fight And you never wanna sleep so I talk all night To the only one Turn out the lights and hold me tonight We don’t need the sun Whatever the weather, we’ll stick together forever ‘Cause you’re the only one … Continued →

Ruby Joe was an awesome rocka/pscychobill band from California. They changed things up on their 2nd album which dabbled in swing. The original band that 2 members were in was named Strugglefish which is in reference I’m pretty sure to one of my all time faves 1st LP DigHayZoose which was actually my first review for one of their songs. Anyways, this SOTD is catchy & related to one of my friends’ cat lol! Anyways, hope you have fun listening to this one. … Continued →

Hangnail is a pop punk band hailing from Wisconsin. I did have a chance to see them at Carowinds which is a theme park in the Carolinas along with several other artists such as KJ-52 & Beanbag. Forming in the early 90s, it appears they rebanded in 2020 & working on new material. This SOTD has always been my favorite due to its lyrical content & catchy sound. I have indeed felt the way that this song talks about. It does not make sense to us broken humans how God will forgive us they way He does & will.… Continued →

Luther-N was an industrial side project from a band I saw with Disciple many years ago called Junker Jorg. This song got stuck in my head when it came out & is a mix of rapcore & industrial which works in this song IMHO. Hope you like it as well. Their only release to my knowledge was on Youngside records which is the label that released music by my fave goth band The Awakening. … Continued →

This City Awaits is comprised of Phillip Ivey & Darah Hubbard. They are a rock band with metal influences & have released a few albums. The band even did a livestream back In February. I love their song White Ambulance, but chose Hold Still as the song lyrics relate to what I am currently going through- “Will I pass this test with dignity?” I also added the livestream. … Continued →

Havalina Rail Co. was a delightfully quirky, eccentric, genre-fusing and genre-bending experimental band from California. Across their 10-year career (give or take), the band dabbled in folk, ska, jazz, ragtime, blues, Americana, surf, and multiple internationally-themed genres. No two albums in their canon treads the same ground, and yet each successive opus is clearly recognizable as Havalina. The band stopped recording as HRC somewhere in the early 00s, but members have turned up elsewhere. Most notably are Matt Wignall who is a renowned photographer and is perhaps now best known as the producer for several Cold War Kids albums.… Continued →

Moral Support were an Irish new wave band that brought the genre to Christian rock in a more open manner around the world. This song is a bit quirky to me (imagine that when we’re listening to new wave!). Hope ya like it … Continued →

Cry Mercy was a groove metal band hailing from Australia signed to Steve Rowe’s record label. I remember hearing them on a compilation put out by Rowe Productions & loved this song. The album didn’t fare well, but might have done a lot better if it came out back in the early 90s instead of 1996 like it did.  Also check out D.A.M. … Continued →

Shade was a post grunge band in the same vein as 12 Stones, Day of Fire, etc… I can’t find much about them, but also check out their amazing song Case from their first LP Middle of Somewhere. … Continued →

Wonderfully noisy, and delightfully obscure, The Lonely Now only released 3 full-length recordings in their short career: —Captive, 1986, Narrowpath Records (cassette only) —Original Intention, 1987, Narrowpath Records (cassette, LP) —Honest Tear, 1990, Narrowpath/Refuge (cassette only) While all of their releases are somewhat difficult to obtain, ironically their final album–the only one with national distribution through Refuge–is the most difficult. It was released through the same agreement as debuts by The Crucified, Breakfast with Amy, and The Swoon. In fact, founding member Greg Sostrom (AKA Greg Strange) was the owner of Narrowpath Records.… Continued →

Beekin was a rap/modern rock hybrid that hailed from Tennessee. They released one full length 2009’s All That’s Left Behind which sported the single Take Everything, but also has a decent cover of Mister Mister’s Broken Wings. … Continued →

Kronicles was a nu-metal/modern rock band that changed their style to dubstep rock. I dig the change & hope you like this one also. As far as I can see, no one knows me like you do. And no one knows where the wind blows, Where it comes and where it goes, but I just need you here. I need you. Anxious, I confess Break it down and I’m 46ed And when it all comes down I need you Mad stressed, I digress Feelin down and I need my fix And when it all comes down I need you.… Continued →

Swiss band Morgarten are back with a new full-length album, this time on Inner Wound Recordings. The album is called Cry of the Lost and was released in June. While the band still plays in the folk metal genre overall, the new material is heavier than their debut, and features more prominently the elements of black metal and some of the fantasy/epic battle elements of power metal, as evidenced by the accompanying music video. Slight warning: while the band’s lyrics clearly use battle stories to paint an allegorical picture of spiritual warfare and Christian spirituality, there are some moderately graphic fight scenes in the video.… 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 →