Articles

Another holy SOTD that belongs in my top 20 worship releases! Formerly known as Clearview, this hard rock band had some great songs such as Disaster, Wineskin & We’re Not Keeping This Quiet. Also check out the video for Searchlight which features American Sign Language. Hailing from Maryland, the 3 Willet brothers have since disbanded circa 2019. Members are still in the industry leading worship & filing & editing music videos. Check out these worshipful lyrics & the live video. As long as I live, there will be praises upon my lips And all my days will be spent loving You, You are worthy to be praised As long as I live, I will sing to you with endless praise Every knee will bow and tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord Just when I thought that this world was enough You were, you are, and you are to come!!… Continued →

Canadian’s hard rock Daniel Band found its way to my collection via a local pawn shop in my hometown in Illinois back in the early 90s I would guesstimate. My mother used to buy these old totally illegal rips of bands on cassette tape. It seems so weird now that these arena rock bands we thought of as heavy metal back then! My fave bands back then was Petra, Harvest & White Heart & Whitecross & so this band made sense. Between the lyrics & the rocking music, this song has a special place in my top songs ever.… Continued →

Addison Road is a pop/rock Texan band that had a 10 year span of releases. I was drawn to their singer’s (Jenny Chisholm) vocals that stood out among many female fronted bands. The rockier flair is not present though on today’s SOTD which is the last track to their 2008 S/T release. This is in my top 20 worship songs of all time. Check out these worshipful lyrics. I made You promises a thousand times I’d try to hear from heaven But I’d talk the whole time I think I made You too small I’ve never feared You at all, no If You touched my face Would I know You?… Continued →

4•4•1 burst onto the SoCal new wave scene in 1984, releasing their debut album on Royal Commandment Records (soon to be re-named Blue Collar Records). The band formed in 1983 in Los Angeles County, diligently rehearsing in the garage of bassist/keyboardist Glenn Holland’s parents. They recorded a 4-song demo and subsequently sent out copies to area youth pastors. The unconventional move proved successful as they caught the attention of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, a large church that hosted lots of concerts for Christian new wave and early alternative bands.… Continued →

Today’s Song of the Day post (by me, Brandon) is none other than Value Pac, a short lived and mostly “90’s” exclusive, pop-punk act. The band got their humble beginnings in 1995 here in Orange County, CA. I first heard of the band with a demo tape under their original name, One by One at a show I went to in Tustin, CA. circa 1995. The band played raw (sometimes rough) pop-punk that would please punk purists and pop fans at heart. It was the perfect blend of poppy melodies over a garage-y like sound mixed with the sun soaked beaches and concrete jungle of Southern California.… Continued →

Doom Metallers Trouble’s debut Psalm 9 release has been out for 30+ years. Imagine that!  Signed by Metal Blade Records, the 1984 album is commonly known as one of, if not the first doom metal releases. They were given the “white metal” moniker because of the obvious Biblical references.  I had a friend who passed recently who hung out with the band back in the day & it was nice to actually meet someone who listened to my “Christian music.” Guitarist Bruce Franklin would go on & join Supershine w/ Dug from King’s X & also release an outstanding industrial album generation-Brutal Reality.… Continued →

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

Everdown is one of those bands that I heard back in the 90s that quickly rose to the top of my bands that never got old. Their sounds closest mainstream counterpart would be Helmet. The vocalist did not growl or give any guttural sounds & in essence the lyrics are easily understood. Forming in 1992, 1995’s Sicken’s grunge/sludge sound housed personal faves such as Sufferman, Crush & Nation while 1996’s Straining sounded much cleaner w/ greats Unleaded, Flown, One Knuckle Shy, & Seasons In Doubt. This is in the days before Solid State Records when punk, hardcore & alternative bands where thrown in under the Tooth & Nail Records label.… Continued →

This review is in response to a Facebook post I had made a month or so ago on a review I had done on here. The gentleman I had spoke with & I have a lot in common, including our passion for Christian EDM.  Joey Belville & company IMHO brought the fledgling Christian electronic/synthpop rock genre to fruition. Several other artists involved in the genre ie Painted Orange, Code of Ethics, Sheltershed, LZ7, Capital Kings & World Wide Message Tribe, etc… I remember owning Scott Blackwell’s Myx Records release Defend Your Joy back in the mid 90s & I was ecstatic.… Continued →

Welcome to what is probably the most underrated album in Christian alternative music history. The problem is largely that it just wasn’t heard by enough people. This Pennsylvania band comprised one third of the ‘holy trinity’ of Christian jangle pop, rounded out by Virginia’s The Throes and Minnesota’s The Swoon (coincidentally all band names beginning with the definite article). They released their one and only album, not counting their independent demo cassettes, through Talkingtown (also home of metal band Armageddon) and co-released through R.E.X. Indianland is a real slow-burner of an album.… Continued →

Shiloh is my absolutely fave dance/DJ band of all time. Forming under Shilotrance probably in the late 90’s, the Canadian Moreh brothers have an extensive catalog which a good chunk of it can be found on Beatport’s website. Their music can mostly be found as MP3 singles/vinyl, but they ended up releasing 2 physical LPs:  Bleed & Elements which are very worth checking out if you are into this musical genre. I have had the privilege of conversing with Justin over the years through social media & he sent me Shilohtrance’s whole back extremely rare back catalog which had been released on the old mp3.com… Continued →

This is an impromptu review in homage of Carman’s passing. For those who may not know who he is, he was a singer/songwriter/performer whose music was all over contemporary Christian radio in the 80’s & 90’s. He did many ballads, but also dabbled with rock & rap & even kids music. Many of his songs were stories put to music. To get a good overview of his more upbeat stuff from his extensive discography, check out the following songs & today’s SOTD: A Witch’s Invitation, The Champion, God’s Got an Army, Addicted to Jesus w/ DC Talk, Great God, Who’s in the House & Sunday School Rock.… Continued →

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

Does anyone remember the swing revival back in the early 2000s? Bands such as The Deluxtone Rockets, The Dingees & Denver & the Mile High Orchestra were very common on alternative/rock Christian radio stations. Flight 180 was one such band who went by a couple name derivatives including several lineup changes over the years they were in existence. I think this is another genre that Tooth & Nail innovated in the Christian music industry.  I’m pretty sure they took their name from the Final Destination first film.… Continued →

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

This review is in response to a Facebook post that I was following on Christian bands that others may have not heard of. This is one of those rare hard to find any info on the web bands that I bring to the IVM table. They seem to have been a side project of former Deliverance members Jim Calvert & Justin DeTie which makes sense considering the release date & Jimmy P Brown producing. I waited for many years before dishing out the funds to buy the Hybrid release on Hour House Records (which from memory was one that dealt with dance music).… Continued →

Long before Scott Stapp was crooning about going higher and breaking out of his own prison, there was this Creed, a traditional heavy metal band from Germany. The band released only one full-length album through Pias Music in Europe (and Pure Metal in North America), after releasing an obscure EP. The band played an intensely melodic brand of heavy metal without ever crossing into glam. And although a couple of the tracks approached breakneck speeds, they weren’t speed metal either. This style of metal was prominent in continental Europe at the time, but never garnered a major audience in the United States beyond the mid 80s.… Continued →

This review is in response to one of my fave metalcore bands that I just noticed having reached enough popularity to find themselves on Radio & Records Mainstream Rock chart. Other bands who have started in the Christian arena & found their way on the same chart are Underoath, Beartooth, Wolves At The Gate, Love & Death, Chevelle & Skillet to name a few. There are many valid arguments on Christian vs mainstream routes, but my take & honest opinion is that I like the exposure.… Continued →

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

Children of the Consuming Fire appear to have risen from the southern California Vineyard ministry with their record label housing alt-rock bands such as Asight Unseen & The Violet Burning. This SOTD has a live video you can find on Youtube as well, but was hard to catch the music atmosphere. The band did not catch much airplay that I remember, but with the cool bass line and the driving music, I really dig the band & song name. I think the band had a fun time on this track.… Continued →

We are hosting a Spotify playlist series and this week I am combining #3 (Click Here) and #4 (Click Here). The overall goal of these is to increase exposure for some great independent talent and hopefully, get some hefty plays. I think with enough attention we can increase plays while also drawing attention to great independent talent who have something positive to say. These plays will not only help independent bands who own their music but also independent labels who rely on streams and purchases across digital networks (yes, including Indie Vision Music).… Continued →

Choo Choo Pye (a la The Wait) may have a funny sounding band & album name, but their music reminisces this reviewer of greats such as Midnight Oil, The Call, or Cloud Merchants. Composed of 3 members, the band seems to have hailed from California. The early 90s vibes are definitely there & they achieved Christian radio history by having the highest debut entry by an unsigned artist on the most awesome Pure Rock Report Multi-Format chart. They have a music video for their song U.S.… Continued →

I’m really hesitant to do this, but I’m gonna lay it on you. I’ve been a fan of music for well over 40 years. Narrowing down a favorite anything is really difficult. My list of favorite songs probably numbers near 1,000, and that’s just favorites, not all the songs I ‘just like.’ But, most days, if you ask me my favorite song of all time, it’s this one. The Seventy Sevens have had an extremely long career, with roots going as back as the late 70s/early 80s in a Sacramento church-based band called the Scratch Band.… Continued →

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

Cowpunk (punk music w/ acoustic guitars instead of electric) is such a thing & Calibretto 13 did it well if I might say so. Green Day was probably the most popular band that dabbled in the genre, but MxPx & Officer Negative’s side project Zippy Josh & the Ragtag Band also played it in the quasi-Christian arena. Tooth & Nail Records’ Calibretto has some great songs with their most famous being High Five which featured quirky lyrics about being friends even if people do not agree.… Continued →

"Called to be His soldiers. Stand strong as warriors. By His hand we carry on. By His stripes, we are healed."

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

South Africa’s Forfeit Thee Untrue is a metalcore hybrid with clean & unclean vocals that have their own unique sound. I like many South African bands including The Awakening, Neshamah & Tree63, but FTU (as opposed to TFU-Training for Utopia-catch the reference?!) has quickly risen to my top 5 for that country. Originally started as a 2 piece, they have evolved into 3 as 4 others have come & gone. They are currently signed to Rottweiler Records & this review is in hopes that their new album will be released soon  I was going to review the Pantera-esque Halo Crippled (released in October 2019), but looks like one was already done last year.… Continued →

I got this idea from the whole Gamestop / AMC Theaters / Silver concept being run through Wall Street by savvy investors and reddit users. In this case we are hosting a Spotify playlist to increase exposure for some great independent talent. The goal is to get these songs to 100,000 plays. It’s a hefty goal but I think with enough attention we can get it done. These plays will not only help independent bands who own their music but also independent labels who rely on streams and purchases across digital networks (yes, including Indie Vision Music).… Continued →

I am enabling the PayPal donation button here on Indie Vision Music. Since this is a self-run hobby inspired website run in my off hours away from work, the financial burden can sometimes outweigh the positive outcomes of this site. There are costs involved in operating IVM, little things but unfortunately they add up. There are still bills to pay. If there is anything IVM can offer in return, please let me know in the comments and I’ll gladly support the best I can. Even just $5 can go a long way.… Continued →