Hello friends. I just wanted to announce that I am hosting a special “fundraising campaign” via our Teeblaster page (Click here). I have two different tshirts designed by Joshua T Design posted for sale and a zippered hoodie. Continued →
It’s a little slow with music news the past few days so I am going to talk about Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That’s right friends, one of my favorite franchise series of films has dropped the brand new trailer to the 8th film in the Skywalker saga for “The Last Jedi”. Watch the trailer below and comment with your love (or disgust) of all things Star Wars. Personally I absolutely can’t wait till this is released on December 15th. In fact, I just bought tickets last night for IMAX 3D once the Fandango site was back up and we are officially going December 15th at 4pm!! Whoo hoo! Now I know there is a small minority of people that didn’t feel satisfied with “The Force Awakens” and I weep for your disconnection to all things good ;) These films are meant as pure entertainment and are used as tools to get your butts in theater seats. George Lucas was always about big budget action films and the connected merchandising over exposure of the Star Wars universe. Nothing has changed and these films still continue to entertain not to mention motivating most people to purchase a ticket for the full theater experience. Now about this trailer, I have a lot of questions as do many of you. So watch it and let’s discuss in the comments. Oh and check out the brand new poster, below.
Yep, the list you’ve all been waiting for (not really) is finally here. Feel free to offer up some laughs and critical remarks for the music I listened to the most 20 years ago. You’ll notice a heavy T&N presence and I just couldn’t help myself. There were a lot of albums and releases I found myself spinning back then and still getting plays today. I think that’s where this list falls in place, it’s the albums that had the longest lasting impact with me and had a catchy sound that I just couldn’t get enough of. I ride more on the commercial, melodic side of the market rather than all that arty ear splitting noise rock ;) I created a special Spotify play list that you can find near the end of the article. Some of these titles are out of print and only available in YouTube form so enjoy those unheard hits within the article. Remember kids, “some” of these releases may not have the best language so if you get queasy at the thought of dirty words from the general market (do we still use the word ‘secular’?) bands, you may want to skip those parts. So check out my faves below and don’t forget to check out “The Best of 2007” list which can be found here. Hop in your time machine and let’s get ready to party like its 1997!
Do you like heavy hitting metalcore? Well take a listen to O, House of Jacob, self proclaimed metalcore for Christ. The band released their debut EP, after forming in June 2016. The EP is titled A Parable Discourse and it also features Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King. Continued →
RIYL: Emery, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Microwave, Kids in the Way, The Classic Crime
In 2001, before anyone in the Tooth & Nail community and crowd realized, one of the most under appreciated bands formed for an 8 year existence. Far-Less put out a total of 2 EPs, 2 full lengths, and one final EP that was never released. Continued →
You’d be surprised how many bands go unnoticed.
In this new segment, we’ll take a look at a classic band and a modern band with a similar style.
Though the article was first published in late February of 2016, Rapzilla linked to it yesterday on Facebook, asking followers the same question. The response from both staff and followers has been pretty diverse and fun to read, and so, I thought it would be apt to continue the conversation here. Continued →
Glasslands is a band formed by former members of Beartooth, Icon For Hire, and Before Their Eyes. They have a hard rock sound with vocals reminiscent of bands like Spoken and Memphis May Fire. Their debut album, “Pariah” was released in September of 2016 and was met with a very positive response by critics and fans alike and features a track with a guest spot by Fit For A King’s Ryan Kirby. Continued →
2007 was definitely a strong year for music. As much as I enjoyed some of the more popular releases of the year, the lesser known albums certainly held a place in my heart. The albums listed below are a mix of independent, underground, and mostly over looked releases from the year 2007. Feel free to dissect and discuss below in the comments. Oh and I left off 2 important 2007 honorary IVM releases because that would be self-promotion am I right? Quick and the Dead “Going Home“, and “Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2” both released in the year 2007 on CD, toward the end of the year. All in all, a very solid year in music but then again, isn’t every year? Playlist for this list follows at end of article.
Hey friends it’s that time again, time for another “list”. Feel free to offer up your big Laugh-Out-Louds and smirks for some “hits” I found appealing 10 years ago. A lot of stuff from that year was enjoyed by me, some I am rediscovering, and others were missed opportunities. Check out my “list” below and feel free to listen to the playlist I created on Spotify for this list found in the article. Remember kids, “some” of these releases may not have the best language so if you get queasy at the thought of dirty words from general market (do we still use the word ‘secular’?) bands, you may want to skip those parts. So check out my faves below and don’t forget to check out “The Best of 1997” list coming at ya soon!
It has been years since A Hope for Home served us an album. I remember when “In Abstraction” dropped my freshman year of college. I got the email my preorder had shipped and it was the highlight of the week. Of course, that’s quickly approaching six years ago now. Continued →
The show this past Saturday night was an incredible experience. It was bittersweet in the fact that they put on a fantastic, entertaining, and emotional show while at the same time effectively ending their more than two decade career as a band. Continued →
I feel the needs to start a new feature here on IVM that spotlights different organizations that I feel are worthy of attention. I will try and make a post weekly but it may turn into a biweekly feature. Please click here to read the story behind YoungLives and our experience dealing with this deeply personal issue.
After months of bated silence, the indie super-group Lo Tom have released a debut song and launched album pre-orders. The self-titled record will be released July 14th, and it can be pre-ordered through Undertow Music. The first single, “Overboard”, is the only title that has been released from the 8-song track list. Continued →
Well it’s been awhile since I’ve wrote one of these. So I hope you all enjoy and I hope you check these amazing bands out! Go headbang!
10. Every Knee Shall Bow
Every Knee Shall Bow is a death metal band that started in 2002, with brothers Drew and DJ Wibblesman, but didn’t get going until 2008, when their two younger brothers came of age: Cole and Shane. Continued →
Punk Never Dies, no really it doesn’t. We are led to believe that the flavor of the month is heavy metalcore/djent/hardcore/etc. and we know every little “Christian” label is pushing that stuff. I do love a lot of those bands but my passion has always been on the punk rock side of things. I never understand why the punk purists were so slow to embrace the poppier side and how come no independent (or major) labels have signed bands like this in the past decade. I call it fear of the commercial sound wrecking punk cred and for that I say, who cares? Now the genre alone is filled with a lot of sub-genres and spin offs, enough to make fans scratch their heads in disbelief (really, it’s okay folks, don’t be afraid). There are the hardcore “punk” fans that trash the poppier stuff and the poppier fans that snub their nose at the tough guys. Me, I’m somewhat in the middle of it all. There is wide range of bands out there many of which play without any “Faith” ties meaning it’s “general market” stuff (yeah you know what I mean). I’ve found myself listening to a majority of those bands over the past several years and always wondered why there isn’t a variety of “Christian” artists making stuff comparable if not better than their peers. Mixing my love of independent music with the onset of the coming punk rock storm, I’ve devised a top secret plan to take over the world. Okay, not really and I’m only dreaming (wishful thinking), but really, isn’t it time for a comeback of sorts? In terms of fan appreciation, the genre never died. Much like “Ska” in the late 90’s/00’s, it didn’t die, it just went underground to be consumed by the fans who truly understood the music for what it is. As much as I appreciate the heavier music bands, there is a place and time for pop-punk/punk rock and that time is now. So what exactly am I getting at? Well the purpose of this little write up is to share with you some of the bands I enjoy that are in the independent realm playing punk rock (and all associated sub-genres), plus all those “classics”. Read more, below.
I am always on the lookout for new bands to listen to. Sometimes it feels like an eternity passes between finding one new band and the next, but then again, that could also be because I can be a little picky about my music. Continued →
A really great article on the current explosion of the digital streaming marketplace and it’s subsequent takeover of standard music purchases can be read here (Billboard Article). It is interesting how much things have changed in the past decade and half. Continued →
It’s that time of the week – Throwback Thursday! Today’s band showed a lot of promise but personal differences, growing up, and moving apart ultimately was the band’s demise. Well-Wisher stands as a great nod to what could have been.
History
Counselor was a melodic hardcore band with pop-punk and indie elements based out of Muskegon, MI. Continued →
New Jersey isn’t one of the biggest states in the country, in fact it’s one of the smaller ones. Despite that, it’s still large enough, in it’s own right, to inspire surprise that there aren’t more Christian musicians here who are willing and able to take their gifting beyond the four walls of the church. Continued →
Terminal 1998-2006
RIYL – old school Anberlin, Dead Poetic, Jimmy Eat World, Number One Gun
In this new series, we will be bringing to light many bands that showed us a brief but bright gem of music before disbanding. This entry is about the Tooth & Nail band – Terminal. Continued →
Idealist was a North Carolina post-hardcore band that mixed elements of Norma Jean and Defeater, along with guest contributions from Attalus.
Welcome back to our throwback series. This week’s feature is more recent than our previous throwbacks, but after going on an indefinite hiatus, this band never got much exposure.
History
My Mantle might be considered a forerunner of the strange blend of indie and post-hardcore we find from bands like My Epic, Wolves & Machines, and sosaveme. Continued →
Welcome to our third edition of throwback reviews. I know it has been a couple weeks since the last one, so I hope you’re ready for a good one. Today’s feature is The Dawn Retreat, who have recently reunited with a new single. Continued →
One IVM author burns the midnight oil while listening to what he feels may be the best heavy album of all time.
It’s been ten years since Anberlin released their third record, Cities, on February 20th, 2007 through Tooth & Nail Records. Cities is widely regarded as the Florida band’s finest release and for good reason. Their first two records offered a strong start for the group and showcased an increasing realization of their potential. Continued →
Hey everyone. In case you missed last week’s introductory review (about Good Luck Varsity, which you should definitely read), I’m doing a throwback review series – mostly pertaining to bands who new made it into the spotlight before breaking up but who I think deserve a listen. Continued →
Back in 2014 we told you about 10 bands YOU needed to listen to as a fan of heavy music. Just over two years later, here are ten more.
Every once in awhile, an album falls through the cracks; IVM’s hiatus, bands breaking up, or even just the simple discovery of “old gold” years later results in plenty of great music that hasn’t gotten much coverage but certainly deserves to be revisited. Continued →