Month: May 2025

Rivulets and Violets was a short-lived project spearheaded by Masaki Liu. Liu is a producer and engineer whose name appears in literally dozens (actually over a hundred!) of albums from Christian alternative and metal bands, especially in the 90s. He also owns his own studio, and has been a member of post-punks The Lonely Now and roots rockers Dimestore Prophets. But R&V was a unique project. Their first album was released in 1993, and featured mostly instrumental songs. While there were no lyrics, there were occasional vocal parts, mostly in the form of la’s and other non-verbal vocal sounds.… Continued →

Jonathan Emanuel Gremyr aka Jonathan Vrålstad under the moniker Coretex is an early Christian EDM trance artist from Sweden. This SOTD was featured on a couple compilations from N Soul & 3 Cell. He released a lot more music just like many EDM artists so check him out. And be sure to check out my website www.castingsuchathinshadow.com and my pre-recorded radio show on Ripper Radio aired on Sundays 5-6 pm EST. … Continued →

I’ve been a big fan of Eric Tuffendsam’s Sower project since connecting inadvertently last year over Instagram. Our initial conversations were around around the theological distress of the so-called Christian music industry and the need for greater clarity Gospel; in retrospect, I shouldn’t be surprised that all of these conversations were building toward Sower’s most complete work to date. Before we get into the details of the music, I feel it necessary to explain this truly is a one-man show. Tuffendsam not only played all instruments and did all vocals (apart from a few noted guests, including the likes of No Treaty), but he also did all production, mixing, AND mastering.… Continued →

Zion was a melodic/glam heavy metal band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After releasing a pair of self-released cassette demos in 1982 (Roll the Rock/Less of Me) and 1984 (Rock for Eternity), they signed with Image Records out of New York. The band’s full-length debut Thunder from the Mountain seemed to be a huge success for the label, getting rave reviews from critics and fans alike. “It It a Crime?” spent several weeks on Christian rock radio charts. For my money, Thunder is a top-5 album in the glam metal genre, a list that also includes Angelica’s self-titled debut, Holy Soldier’s self-titled debut, Guardian’s Fire and Love, and just about any album from Stryper’s early years.… Continued →

This is an early nu metal/metalcore/screamo band that released one full length on Rescue records and some other songs on compilations. Unfortunately, I don’t have much insight on the band itself or where they were from. And be sure to check out my website www.castingsuchathinshadow.com and my pre-recorded radio show on Ripper Radio aired on Sundays 5-6 pm EST. … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Confessions of a Traitor – This Pain Will Serve You
• Seventh Day Slumber – Fractured Paradise: Garden of Shadows

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Rock & Metal

• Disciple – Skeleton Psalms (Deluxe Edition)

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Oh my! After a 20-year hiatus, post-punk/hardcore darlings Crash Rickshaw are back! The band, comprised of members of Project 86, Innermeans, Rainy Days, Starflyer 59, and more, will release a brand-new EP, entitled Big Sir. The new project will release via Velvet Blue Music on August 1st, and will be the label’s 250th release! In addition to digital downloads, physical media will include blue & yellow haze vinyl, and compact disc. Pre-orders are now live at Velvet Blue Music… Continued →

True Liberty is a true-school punk rock band from Richmond, VA. The band was active for roughly 10 years, from the mid-2000s through the mid-2010s. In that period, they released an impressive collection of four full-length albums, all in the old school punk rock style. “Lost” is the opening track from their sophomore album Brotherhood, released in 2008 via Raging Storm Records. The band also released albums through Wounded Records and Thumper Punk Records. They also contributed tracks to several different Christian punk compilations via labels like Indie Vision Music, Rottweiler Records, Caustic Fallout, SkyBurnsBlack Records, in addition to the aforementioned Thumper Punk.… Continued →

This North Carolina band formed in 1999 & released a couple albums before going dormant. They ended up releasing more music in 2021. One of the original band members Joe Musten has been in a few bands including drumming for The Almost, and was the vocalist for Torn & The Advent which I saw live a few years back. They play what is called post hardcore. Check out this catchy song out. And be sure to check out my website www.castingsuchathinshadow.com and my pre-recorded radio show on Ripper Radio aired on Sundays 5-6 pm EST.… Continued →

Denison Witmer is a guitarist and vocalist. A classic singer-songwriter in the indie folk style. Witmer grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania attending Lancaster Mennonite School, representing the faith tradition in which he was raised. At some point during his youth, Witmer began taking guitar lessons from Don Peris (The Innocence Mission), and recorded his first album while he was in high school. The project was not marketed to the public, so his true debut came a few years later in 1998, in the form of Safe Away.… Continued →

The Julies was a barely-known indie pop band from Pennsylvania who released one highly-regarded EP for Flying Tart Records in 1996 and then disappeared for roughly 27 years. I caught up with the band recently to discuss their origins, their revival, and their connection to the Christian indie scene. IVM: I’ve been a huge fan since Lovelife. It’s one of my favorite EPs. You guys had some clear influences, but at the same time didn’t sound like anyone in particular. You must have been pretty young when you recorded that.… Continued →

Here is a catchy southern rock song that is currently running through Christian radio. Emerson had her first stint on Christian radio when she sung on Micah Tyler’s People Like Me. Her background is a lacrosse player and a degree in Homeland Security per the New Release Today bio on her. She reminds me of a singer whom I worked her mech booth a year ago now called Anne Wilson. And be sure to check out my website www.castingsuchathinshadow.com and my pre-recorded radio show on Ripper Radio aired on Sundays 5-6 pm EST.… Continued →

In completely unexpected news, Noise Ratchet have returned with a NEW (demo) song called “Who We Are” and it sounds darn near perfect song wise for 2025 but also rides on that classic 00’s emo/pop-punk train alongside other classic bands like Saosin, Thrice, Story of the Year, The Used, and Letter Kills. I hope more music like this is on the way soon. Welcome back! Listen to the song below.… Continued →

Long running metal band DEMON HUNTER, surprises the world with the perfect new song for summer titled “I’m Done”. This song from the legendary head bangers is classic Demon Hunter in action and just sounds incredible. Check out the music video below here on our website. Put those love sign hands up and bang those heads to the metal goodness.… Continued →

Rock & Metal 

• Various Artists – Ted Bond Benefit Comp

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I recently had the chance to video chat with Rob Withem, of indie pop outfit Fine China. The band has been active since the late 90s, and recently released the beautiful, sophisticated, elaborate I Felt Called (available on Double LP and CD, as well as digital formats via www.velvetbluemusic.com. IVM: Let’s start on a light note. Cloud has informed me that you’re an aficionado of dad jokes . . . RW: You know, that’s funny. I think he’s making that up to be funny, because I don’t think I’ve ever told a dad joke in my like.… Continued →

The music community lost a great one this week. Sadly for us, Mike Peters of The Alarm has passed from this life and into the next. The Welsh singer/guitarist was 66. Peters had first been diagnosed with cancer in 1995, and fought throughout the better part of 10 years before being diagnosed with yet another form of cancer in 2005. All throughout this time, Peters continued to perform, sometimes with The Alarm, sometimes solo, and at other times collaborating with others. He briefly fronted a version of Big Country, and also collaborated with Billy Duffy of The Cult in a project called Colorsound.… Continued →