Month: December 2021

I don’t know why it took me so long, but recently a very simple thought has helped me out immensely in my spirituality and my walk with Christ. It’s simply this: choose love. That’s it. When I am tempted to sin, choose love instead. When I want to be selfish, choose love. When I want to do something that would only please or elevate myself and not others, choose love. Mike Stand was singing about it decades ago. And of course, the ultimate trump card here is Jesus himself.… Continued →

LikeDavid released 2 full lengths & a few indie singles. I sill speak with vocalist Marc Haley a few times a year. The band helped me through some difficult times in the past. Also check out Suffer To Reach. … Continued →

Manufraqture is reminiscent of Disengage Circle of Dust era. Hailing from Chicago, this industrial band has an interesting stage presence. Check out the live video also I have included. Christian industrial label Flaming Fish picked up the band for one of its comps also. … Continued →

This band consistently releases quality pop-punk that rivals just about anything the general market scene throws our way. Check out At The Wayside’s brand new music video for the song “Lie to Me” which appears on their 2021 EP, “Somewhere Between”, available right now!… Continued →

Following up last year’s big 20 I thought it was only appropriate to continue on with these “anniversary” look back at the past type posts. These are my 20 favorite albums from the year 2001, in the Christian Music realm. Read on to see what albums made the list.… Continued →

Just like that fabulous 1983 Star Wars sequel that people pretend not to enjoy because of a cute bundle of Ewoks, Nate Parrish will return but without cuddly little ewoks of course, in fact I don’t think there are any real Star Wars parallels to be drawn. I mean he is a wreck in the most loving reference but space action is kind not punk rock, or is it? Anyway, in 2022 Nate is returning with some of his best music yet. He was gracious enough to let me listen to a couple unmixed/unmastered songs and from what I heard, my fandom has increased by more than 1% (which is quite telling because it was already at 99.99 %).… Continued →

That most excellent pizza loving, video game playing, pop-punk giving, easy-core teasing band – HOMEPLATE, are back with a brand new EP titled “Welcome to Breitenstein” which will release via their new label home, Small Step Records. The EP drops on January 4th (a Tuesday like old times!) and is a rollicking good time for those that have the insatiable appetite for quality pop-punk music without all the nonsense and politics. When the scene becomes devoid of FUN, Homeplate bring it just like a steaming hot plate of pizza pie!… Continued →

This quirky alternative rock band released one independent EP and one full-length for Broken Records (also home to Undercover, The Holidays, Adam Again, etc.). While their normal material was interesting, to my ears the most compelling thing they recorded was a song for the Broken Christmas project, called “Born in a Stable.” While technically a Christmas song, it does a great job of pointing to Jesus’ purpose for coming to save us, by tracing the story of Jesus’ life and ministry all the way up to the empty tomb.… Continued →

Day of Fire was a Tennessee post grunge band. Vocalist Josh Brown has a quasi similar story to Head from Korn. Both realized they had a drug problem & let it go when they came to Jesus. This song is so powerful & I have to turn it up every time I hear it. Jesus will never leave us. Can I get an Amen! … Continued →

Freeto Boat was an awesome punk rock band mixed with ska. Like my previous SOTD for Sick of Change, this one is also a love song. Today I’ll let the sun set, There’s no anger in my heart. Tonight just let the moon rise, Our time won’t be spent apart. Starlight and confessions Of what you mean to me, These twilight conversations they’re helping me to see… What you are in God’s eyes, what you are in mine not a hair too shy of perfect and always just in time.… Continued →

Harvest Bloom is a Christian modern rock band that I interviewed during my college days. I love this song & a few others including Devil’s Poison & hope you do also. … Continued →

One of the very few true “screamo” bands in the Christian scene (not just melodic hardcore/emo-core), Fable only released 6 songs in their entire career–4 on their 7″ Give Us the Night (through the legendary Takehold Records), 1 on the hardcore compilation A Testament to Broken Walls, and 1 on a split with secular screamo band Mara’akate. Band members were only 15 when they started playing together in their hometown of Holland, MI, but they quickly made a huge impact in the underground scene. Unfortunately they fizzled out too quickly and left us with only these 6 songs.… Continued →

Lacey Sturm just posted a deeply poetic, and incredibly powerful new song titled, “Awaken Love” which can be heard below this post via YouTube. What are your thoughts? I could listen to this on any day, through any mood, and in practically any season.… Continued →

Los Angeles, CA. based pop-punk band – Protect Your Heart, have returned with not just a new song but also a NEW Music video to accompany the track. This one is on FIRE so give it a listen and spread the word. So dang catchy, am I right? Anyone else getting a Cove era Saosin vibe with a splash of State Champs in here?… Continued →

Insane new thrash/groove metal inspired band – Testimony of Apocalypse, have dropped their new song “Truth Vs. Lies” that you can listen to right below this post. I also placed the recent lyric video for their first official song, “Redemption”, that now has a lyric video. Be sure to follow the band here and pick up more music from the band and label here.… Continued →

Righteous Vendetta are returning in a big way with their new song/ep/album (which will it be?). Current title is “No Vacancy” and the release date is January 7th 2022. Who else has been wanting this band to return in a big way?… Continued →

Socialburn are a post grunge band that reminds me of Day of Fire or Puddle of Mudd. I first heard the band on a Christian indie station. Hope you like this song as it is catchy & can get stuck in your head. … Continued →

Harp & Lyre remind me of an emo metalcore band from Oklahoma. I have always liked this song for the keys & the song name. There is a decent IVM interview from the band here: https://www.indievisionmusic.com/interviews/harp-lyre-2/ … Continued →

I remember when I first heard this song. It was on the Tooth & Nail Songs from the Penalty Box compilation, amidst other songs ranging from pop-punk to hardcore and everything in-between. But Blindside was hard to peg. It was heavy and raw, and kind of hardcore, but not really. There was a mild rap influence in the delivery, but it wasn’t really rapcore either. Post-hardcore hadn’t really occurred to me as a category yet. The band put the song on their debut, self-titled, full-length album and a year later released a second–both albums on Tooth & Nail/Solid State.… Continued →

Big news for those into extreme metal. There is a new collaborative band in the war metal/bestial black metal style by the name of Cataclysmic Warfare. Vocals will be handled by Nocturnal Servant (of Goatscorge, Shekinah), and music by E.O.S. (of Marble Tomb, Antiviper). They are currently recording an EP, which they hope to release by mid-2022. The band will release a lyric video in the very near future, but for now they’ve offered this brief teaser. If this sample is any indication of the full EP, then black metal fans definitely have something to look forward to in the new year.… Continued →

Ghoti Hook was a fun Virginian punk band that came out the same time Value Pac did from what I remember. My friend from high school & I had certain faves. I liked The Insyderz & he liked the O.C. Supertones while I liked Ghoti Hook & he liked Value Pac. I always liked this song of the day & thought of it as a good one for this primarily punk website.   … Continued →

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

3rd Root is a band that reminds me of a cross between the Deftones, Helmet & old school P.O.D. They were short lived, but their full length A Sign of Things To Come is a mainstay in my metal collection.     … Continued →

Broken Yoke formed as a rap rock hybrid from Ohio & have released 4 albums. Besides this one check out Beautiful, another fave of mine from the band. Also check out these thought provoking lyrics. Anytime, anywhere There’s a place that I can go Where I can know Your truthful love’s Revealed It’s only in this place that I feel Your presence move inside of me My eyes desire to see beyond the door My soul slowly crying out To know you more My flesh growing weaker with time but I Regain my strength in you I spent time on the other side Crossing the line Swallowed by pride, and wondering why All my tendencies Are giving up so easily And so I surrendered my life to you I can’t go where others go And i can’t know What some other knows My life will show That I’ve been change by the person Who willingly Gave up his life for me Dying just to set me free Fearless eyes Timeless times I see forever fall from you Patient hands Pull me in It begins and ends with you I’ll never know again What it might be like To go again One second Without a touch from you I found the way I’m gonna stay Forever I need to say More that I’ve ever known You help me Realize who I am You help me See the man living within You help me Shine the light so I Find my way back to you … Continued →

Wisdom and Wages which is the new project from Jason Wisdom who is quite the musician and prolific songwriter, are releasing new music which includes and instrumental “Christmas” EP. Check out two songs, below. More to come from this project in 2022. Love this progressive metal Christmas music and it’s what we need right now. Can I get a righteous headbang of a yes?… Continued →

My friends in At The Wayside just dropped a really cool “Live” music video for the song “Wait Up Part II” that you can view below. The pop-punk band dropped their most recent “Somewhere Between” EP this year so make sure you pull them up on your favorite digital networks and give it a listen.… Continued →

Ronnie Martin (Joy Electric, Brothers Martin, Dance House Children) just dropped his 2nd single titled “Snow Like Wool” which you can take a listen to right here (or below). Pick up a CD Deluxe Version of the song along with 2 bonus tracks right here from VBM. The new full length album will be out sometime in 2022 via Velvet Blue Music.… Continued →

San Francisco-based goth band BATZZ in the Belfry are relatively unknown in the mainstream, but that is a real shame. They combine “unashamed traditional old school goth” with ethereal dream pop, and even hints at shoegaze at times. I suppose this puts them in the realm of darkwave. Take “Touch the Stars” for instance. The song would easily be at home on a Metropolis or Projekt Records compilation alongside Sisters of Mercy, Love and Rockets, or Love Spirals Downwards. The song could almost fit on the Twin Peaks soundtrack as well.… Continued →

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of a little known melodic punk rock band’s debut album called “Sumo Surprise” (that band being GHOTI HOOK) UnoriginalVinyl and Tooth & Nail Records are putting out a limited Vinyl Pressing. UnoriginalVinyl has carefully and tastefully recreated the artwork, packaged it together with some thoughtful elements, remastering handled by Troy Glessner of Spectre Studios, and available in 2 different variants. One variant will have 500 copies and the other one, believe it or not, will have just 50 limited copies available!… Continued →