Articles

How often have you gone back to listen to an album that was more than 10 years old, only to find it didn’t hold up as well as you thought it would? A sloppy guitar part here, or a bad mixing job there, or even just song ideas that didn’t really work as well in hindsight? I first heard Atlantis in 2007 when I was asked to review it for Uprise Zine (if you remember that publication, give me a shout!) While I definitely remember liking it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds 14 years after its release.… Continued →

Today’s SOTD recollects a simpler time when the Christian metal industry were not overrun with way to many artists to find the time to listen to. I think I bought Released Upon The Earth & Tourniquet’s Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance & Galactic Cowboys’ Space In Your Face the same day at a used record store in my hometown. I have heard of the band’s breakup & all the stories about Roger Martinez & I was one of the one whom he contacted with his play script that he wrote that was very unchristian, but this SOTD lyrics read like a worship song which is what we need to hear.… Continued →

Continuing my top ten lists I started three months ago, I give you my top ten albums of April-June 2021:… Continued →

Formed from the ashes of another Canadian band, Stutterfly, this band released 2 LPs that anyone who is into modern rock should own. Point blank. This band separates itself from the myriad of a modern rock band due its guitar tones & vocalist Charles Finn vocal stylings. Every single song they have done I like so don’t miss this way too short-lived band. … Continued →

A rock song about baptism is what this SOTD is referencing. And you can’t go wrong with that. Between Thieves were on the same record label as Common Children. It was hard to choose between this one & Kindle so hope you like this one. … Continued →

One of the longest-running indie/alternative bands in the Christian scene, The Choir emerged in the 1980s initially as Youth Choir, shortening the name after the release of one album and one EP. The band formed in 1983 and were instrumental in the early 80s Calvary Chapel scene in Southern California, that also included stalwarts like Undercover, Altar Boys, and 4-4-1. Where some of their counterparts flirted with punk and harder alternative sounds, The Choir’s sound rarely ‘rocked’ so much as it created atmospheres and layers that have never been easily pigeonholed into any particular scene or sound and yet have toyed with dream pop, indie pop, and at times even shoegaze.… Continued →

Chris Taylor is a mainstay in the music industry. He started off on vocals for this band that also consisted of Matt Slocum who would go on to work with Sixpence None The Richer. Texan Love Coma was indeed an alternative rock band when the term meant something. They released 2 LPs (Soul Rash & Language Of Fools) in the 90s before Chris went solo. They ended up releasing another back last year in 2020, but I did not see much recognition from the release. If you like this song check out my other faves Heart Wide Open & Entertainment Tonight.… Continued →

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

This is one of my favorite rock songs of the 80s. X-Sinner’s sound was akin to ACDC or Def Leppard soundalike, but that doesn’t mean they were a clone of either mainstream band. They had an area rock sound w/ a blues twist. Check out others by them that are a must have for any classic Christian rock playlist: Medicine, Walking Evil, Don’t Go, Lift Him Up or Accountable. TBH I did not care much for their later stuff after their first 2 LPs. To me this somber SOTD hits with a punch & probably always will.… Continued →

California’s Number One Gun started as a full band, but over the years became a solo project for vocalist Jeff Schneeweis. I remember their songs On & On & You Fail Sometimes back in the day & knew this was good music. Bands like Anberlin & Project 86 ruled the Christian “radio” waves back then. Jeff also does some catchy solo stuff so check him out. This song is so darn catchy & reminds me of a yearning to get back right. Also added a live version.… Continued →

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

Last Day Rising is an actual rock band from LA whose 4 band members released one S/T EP back in 2015. This SOTD is very catchy & IU had the chance to communicate with one of the band members on social media right when this song was released. The lyrics below remind me of a person’s desperate cry to God for help to change from sin & their need for YHWH’s help. Very encouraging at least to me. I’ve fallen apart I’m out of control and I wonder How I lost my mind Feel all of my scars From battles forgotten I am falling down I’ve been here once or twice Or maybe a thousand times before I’m tired of all your lies It’s time to set on fire What’s left of this wasted life And let the fire burn bright I’m no longer blind I’ll open up my eyes and see the light And let it take me away I’m not gonna wait until tomorrow I can leave it all behind And this time around I’m hoping I’m not too far gone Cause I’m barely holding on Buried into the ground Trying to escape the Thoughts that hold me down I’ve come to realize There’s nothing left for me Here to carry on And I’m tired of all your lies It’s time to set on fire What’s left of this wasted life And let the fire burn bright I’m no longer blind I’ll open up my eyes and see the light And let it take me away I’m not gonna wait until tomorrow I can leave it all behind … Continued →

First things first: I must apologize for missing a couple of weeks on my Song of the Day features. We’ve been in the middle of an international move. Yes, after 13 years of life in the UK, my family and I have returned to the United States! And we’ve been living out of suitcases while we finalize our housing. So do please forgive me for missing a few posts. However, I hope a new song from Starflyer 59 this week can make up for it. The first thing I noticed from the track was the eerie new wave keyboard sounds and quasi-goth guitar leads.… Continued →

Cloud Merchants fall in the same 90s alternative art rock category fare along with bands suck as Choo Choo Pye, Midnight Oil, The Ocean Blue, etc… The band hails from San Diego, Cali & appears to have done 2 LPS. It was hard to narrow down between this catchy SOTD & another called It’s Dark Outside. Chose this one as YouTube did not have this one uploaded & due to feeling frustrated sometimes just like we all do & wanting to shout out loud. … Continued →

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

FM Static was a pop punk side project of Canadian Thousand Foot Krutch. The SOTD has made a lasting impact on me & falls within a category of songs that I am planning a writeup on.  Its fun music contains lyrics that entail a very depressing subject of a guy who does not practice monogamy. … Continued →

Beware, this song can cause massive headbanging with the pummeling sound from your speakers! Sweden’s Crimson Moonlight is one of the bands that I first heard of back in the day when I was stationed in the army. Met this guy named The Bat wearing a These 5 Down shirt & we became fast friends 20 some years ago. Check out his music on Reverb nation if you like industrial & hard trance here: https://www.reverbnation.com/thebatdjnuklier  I mean how many Christian metalheads do you meet in your everyday life right? … Continued →

Mike Stand has been mighty busy over the years with the ground breaking “punk” The Altar Boys, rockabilly Altar Billies, modern rock The Stand & Clash Of Symbols. I remember 7Ball magazine having this article featuring indie bands that included them, Raspberry Jam & the little known Sixpence None The Richer. I have always liked this SOTD best by them & I totally had it on cassette tape back in the day. Lol! Also, check out Give, Free, Absurd, Save Me & I Don’t Hear The Question.… Continued →

Pennsylvania’s Witness Protection Program bring to mind music that falls between the space where arena & modern rock meet. There a few bands with the same name, but the obscure 2003 release Fire Ready Aim is chalk full of hard rocking songs & is the reason why I wanted to write for IVM in the first place. Christian bands that have come & gone & not left much of a trace as one cannot easily find a lot of music in my collection. Today’s SOTD lyrics speak of being humble.… Continued →

I owned both the bands’ LP WBTF & EP back when I was in high school. I consider the band as thinking man’s music set to alt rock music & they had some minor hits back on Christian modern rock charts with Mudhouse, Ryan’s Driveway & Justified. The band would eventually reform as Model Engine. These lyrics always got me thinking & eludes to the yearning for Christian unity. The 5 Minute Walk record label (which I always thought was an outstanding label name) released the 2 albums along with music by Dime Store Prophets (whom I saw live), Mortal, The Electrics, amongst many others.… Continued →

Soulstice is a very obscure band that released one S/T LP in 2003 on Faithrunner Records. That’s about as much as I know about the band. They seem to be a blues tinged hard rock band. Finally was able to obtain a copy via Ebay after looking for many years. I saw them pop up on 2 online Christian indie rock radio shows back in the day playing the song Away & this rocking SOTD. … Continued →

Dakoda Motor Company was an awesome surf modern rock band that brought surf music to the 90s Christian rock scene imho. Guitarist Peter King even had a brief stint on MTV with its show Sandblast. The band had toured with several artists including Petra which I always thought was a weird matchup. This SOTD has always been my fave, but also check out Sondancer, Trip To Pain, All Good Generals & Railroad. I also included a live video of them performing Sondancer just because it’s cool to reminisce & wonder if they will come out with new music as they seem to be still playing shows.… Continued →

Undercover went through a ton of style changes during their extensive tenure as a band. Labeled as new wave, punk, rock & even gothic, the band had its humble beginnings as a 2nd generation Jesus music band (which I briefly mentioned in another SOTD review) associated with Calvary Chapel in the early 80s. Bandmates included a wide variety of musicians including Ojo Taylor, Ric Alba, Chuck Cummings whom all 3 would go on to other projects. I remember picking up the gothic tinged Balance Of Power at my local library back in the day & was amazed at what I heard.… Continued →

So I saw a video recently on an Christian punk rawk Facebook group of Crashdog on Jerry Springer where they sang their The Pursuit Of Happiness song & vocalist Spike Nard had to defend it to some church looking guy whom was talking smack about Spike being a Christian & playing that genre of music. This totally made me want to do a SOTD on them so check it out sometime as is great if you can find it. Gotta love the bagpipes in this song which is why I specifically chose this one.… Continued →

Brazilian Doomsday Hymn remind me of Sepultara or Soulfly for some reason with their 2015 Rottweiler Records release. This post is in anticipation of an upcoming possible new release as they teased 3 newer songs back in 2018/2019 respectively. Today’s SOTD & album name is a play on MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN from the book Of Daniel when the handwriting on the wall doomed Belshazzar’s kingdom that was about to be conquered by the Medes & Persians which also eludes to the band’s name. … Continued →

The amazing thing about “Martha” from Bloodshed’s 1995 self-titled EP isn’t just how complex it is. Yes, it hits that sweet spot, distinctive of top-notch emo-core where the perfect balance of harsh and soft, noisy and melodic come together. It’s also not how mature the lyrics are. They’re inspired by a poem written by a young girl (the song’s namesake) during World War 2. It’s also not how proficient on the instruments the members were. The track features complex, angular riffing that wasn’t all that common in mid-90s hardcore, a mixture of clean singing and hardcore screaming.… Continued →

So this post marks my 100th for the site! Today’s SOTD features the newer band Lightworker from California & is great metalcore ballad that falls in the lines of TDWP: Louder Than Thunder, Underoath: Too Bright To See Too Loud to Hear & Fit For A king Skin & Bones. The song features the regular vocalist & also Laura McElroy who also sings for Comrades (a band that I’ve seen live). What if I faded away with no trace left behind? You’d only hear fading words to let you know I’m fine There’s no expectations, I’ll let go It’s all said and done with nothing left to show There’s nothing left to show Now this is all I have to give of myself With my hopes wearing thin Now this is all I have left in pieces But just enough to begin again Here I find myself retracing the steps of what could have been And I find myself reflecting on the moments I failed in I’m only unwanted, disconnected, bruised and jaded I’m only spare parts but this heart will revive and beat again Now that you’ve faded away there’s no trace left behind What’s left of these memories are frozen still in time … Continued →

Today’s SOTD was one of my top 10 songs of all time growing up. I have this song hundreds of times & it has never gotten old. The lyrics deal with YHWH being there for us & is patiently waiting for us to come to HIM or return home. Hailing from New Zealand, the band dabbled in roots, funk & modern rock, but Jenny Gullen’s voice set the band apart from any other. I remember actually playing this song in a setlist I was djing in Columbia, SC at an outdoor festival.  … Continued →

Another quirky 90s alternative rock fun band, Hokus Pick (Maneuver) hailed from Canada. The band focused on writing sarcastic silly lyrics that portrayed a deeper message of Christian truths such as revealed in this SOTD – that  Jesus will hold true to His promise that He will return. Now that is an optimistic feeling. I chose this SOTD for a few reasons, with one being to make my son laugh. Listen to the guy yell at the beginning lol!  Also included a live show from them.… Continued →