News
January 18, 2021
Edit: Five Iron Frenzy themselves have posted updated lyrics with corrections made, click here. Also, I left out info on “So We Sing” which is a catchy song in it’s own right but I didn’t mention because it was the first single released a few months back and I assumed most had heard it. Carry on…. Five Iron Frenzy surprised just about everyone by dropping their brand new, electrifying full length album on Friday. It is a complete, total dumpster fire wreck of an album and filled with nothing but pure feces.… Continued →
January 16, 2021
New Releases: January 15, 2021
Rock & Metal
- Amongst Wolves – Voices
- Ben S Dixon – Born Unto Us
- Chase Tremaine – Developments
- Demon Hunter – Demon Hunter – I Will Fail You / Dead Flowers (Resurrected)
- Fire from Heaven – The Evil Wolf Chronicles
- Five Iron Frenzy – Until This Shakes Apart
- Heliocentric – Ishmael
- Seventh Day Slumber – Unseen: The Lion And The Lamb (Deluxe Edition)
- Valleyheart – T.I.K.
- Adam Lamb – It Had to Happen
- Alive City – Lay ‘Em Down (Acoustic Version)
- Armor Amor – Hold My Heart
- Apollo LTD – Acoustic Sessions (EP)
- Audrey Assad – Eden (Live)
- CAIN – Rise Up (Lazarus)
- Crowder – Good God Almighty
- Freedom Heart – Break Through
- Futures – Just So Good
- Haiva Ru – Oh, But Lover
- Joel Vaughn – Details
- Lazuli – HELMET OF HOPE
- Matthew Parker – Anyone
- Sarah Nathalié – 838
- Terrian – Genesis of Terrian (EP)
- Vaughn Owens – In The Middle
- Freeg, Simon Miles, Exxoulls – All the Time
- Jaisua – Hero (EP)
- Ruth Lee Resuello, Bro Justin – Only Reason I’m Alive
- Swedish Revolution, LoudWorship – Ludicrous Mode
- Benjamin Krogh – Ghost That Haunts
- Charlie Peacock – Skin and Wind
- The Dailys – The Dailys (EP)
- Josh Garrels – His Wings
- Teressa Mahoney – Good Good
- Angie Rose– Unstoppable
- Ayomilly – Unstoppable
- Benxiah – Myself Different
- Caleb Gordon – Furnace
- Chris Elijah – Steppin’
- Crowns Down – Who Am I?
January 15, 2021
Song of the Day: The Virgin Birth - Empires of Excrement
Remember when hardcore was still exciting? Fast loud rules! While hardcore can still be interesting, I find the monotony of some in the genre to be irritating. Here’s the formula: melodic leads, heavy use of breakdowns, some clean singing somewhere, and just enough tempo changes to give the appearance of being innovative.
Okay, I’ll stop. I sound as old and jaded as I actually am. I still love the heavy music scene, and hardcore in particular. I just hate the fact that it’s getting harder and harder to tell the bands apart from one another (especially metalcore and deathcore).… Continued →
January 12, 2021
Too Bad Eugene Returns
One of my favorite 00’s pop-punk/melodic punk acts – Too Bad Eugene, returns this year with new music. While we await such a magnificent return by Adam Nigh and company, the band has just put up the now classic year 2000 full length, “At Any Rate”, for download and streaming on all digital networks. For the first time in over 20 years you’ll finally be able to listen to this album I’ve been raving about ever since it’s release on CD 20 years ago.… Continued →
January 11, 2021
Song of the Day: Danen Kane - When Our Time Here Is Over
Danen Kane is one of a handful of local Wisconsin artists I care about, and in terms of local faith-based artists, he’s top-tier. He models humility and humor. He write complex songs that don’t mask his faith one bit.
Today’s song is one of his best, quickly demolishing the singer-songwriter label and quickly moving into anthemic indie. It’s no mystery why he’s become a favorite act in the Fox Valley.
… Continued →
January 9, 2021
New Releases: January 8, 2021
Rock & Metal
- 4th Point – Right Wrong
- Chase Tremaine – Q2FN
- Fallstar – The Prism Glass
- Light45 – The Medic
- Love and Death – White Flag
- Pantokrator – We the People
- Reclaimers – Say What You Will
- Amanda Danziger – Intercede
- Andrew Ripp – Jericho (Acoustic)
- Chris Renzema – Let The Ground Rest B-Sides (EP)
- The Colour Negative – Good Year
- Cristabelle Braden – Growing (Pop Version)
- Danny Gokey – New Day (Radio Version)
- Eleni Baker – More Than a Million (EP)
- Ginny Owens – Shine Again (Stripped Mix)
- Jared Marc – What I’m Good At
- Joel Vaughn – Louder Than The Lies
- Josh Sellers – The Way It Seems
- Petey Martin, Lauren Daigle – Come Back Home
- Philip Shibata – Sad World
- Nathan Kitner, Lily Grant – I’d Follow You Anywhere
- Scott Riggan – Don’t You Lose Heart (Beautiful and Terrible)
- Trampolines – No One Loves Like You
- Twilight Meadow – Dust
- We The Kingdom – Holy Water (Deluxe)
January 8, 2021
Song of the Day: Rage of Angels - Don't Give Up
Glam metal gets a bad rap. Especially in punk/indie/hardcore circles. Except for the occasional semi-ironic nod to the genre, it doesn’t get much love outside of 40- and 50-something dads who like to show off old photos of their teenage mullets. Whether the cheesyness or the sleaziness is to blame, folks seem to have a love-hate relationship with it.
Occasionally, however, there are some real gems. Rage of Angels released one fantastic album in 1989 through Regency Records. Shortly thereafter, the Connecticut-based band split up, leaving 2 members to join the newly-formed mainstream pop metal outfit Steelheart, who had huge radio hits with “She’s Gone” and “I’ll Never Let You Go.”… Continued →
January 4, 2021
The August Guns - Be Not Burned Up (New Song)
Indie-Emo-Punk band, The August Guns, return with their best song yet. This too has just been released in the new year. I think many of you are going to dig this. Check out the song below and follow the band here.
… Continued →
At The Wayside - My Denial (New Song)
At The Wayside return after a long 3 year wait with BRAND NEW MUSIC! That’s right, the band just dropped their new single titled “My Denial” which will be the first song released from their upcoming independent EP that is due out this winter. Check out the song below and make sure to follow the band on social media.
… Continued →
January 3, 2021
New Releases: January 1, 2021
Rock & Metal
- Arson – In too deep
- At The Wayside – My Denial
- Atlas and the Attic – Gold
- The August Guns – Be Not Burned Up
- Convent Bonfires – Shaky Hands
- Remedy Drive – Dragons
- WeAreGeneration – Photographic Memory
- Zahna – Look What You Made Me Do
- Allan Scott – Hold It All
- Anna Waters – Walkin on the Water
- Apollo LTD, Social Club Misfits – Good Day (feat. Social Club Misfits)
- Bre Reed – From the Start
- Brian Weaver – Bulletproof
- Charlie Peacock – When You Move Me
- The Colour Negative – Good Year
- Courtnie Ramirez – The Blackbird Sessions (EP)
- for KING & COUNTRY, Hannah Ellis, Jackson Michelson – TOGETHER (The Country Collaboration)
- DC Talk – Jesus Freak (Owl City Remix)
- Grace Graber – In My Head (EP)
- JJ Heller – I Believe in You
- Jon Webster – Lovesick
- Mandisa – Breakthrough
- Nfgn – Year 2020
- Xander Sallows, Sam Bowman – Daydream
- Tauren Wells – All God’s Children
- The Altar Billies – The Ballad of Ol’ Luce
- The Altar Billies – Great Big Rollin’ Big Boy
- The Altar Billies – Virginia Truckee Line
- The Bowery – Mountains & Valleys
- Brooks Ritter – Ghosts Come to Life (EP)
- Charlie Peacock – Holding On and Letting Go
- More Than Rubies – Walking Through Fire
- Nathan Kitner, Lily Grant – Nothing Sweeter, Nothing Stronger
- Stephanie Quick – Redwood
- Zan Fiskum – You Are The Light
- AyeItsAron – Strt Frsh
- Bold Noize – Goslow
- B-Shock, Roy Nova – Confetti (EP)
- Daniel Wayne – As I Am
- Joey Vantes – Legend (EP)
- Josiah Lowe, Xay Hill – DRIP.
New Releases: December 25, 2020
Rock & Metal
- A Secret Ending – Deliverance (EP)
- Evans and Stokes – Diary of the Damned
- Killdevil Theory – Brotherhood
- Charlie Peacock – Faith, Hope & Love
- Charlie Peacock – Freedom Come Tonight
- hadassa morais – homesick for somewhere i’ve never been
- CS LIT – Deleted 4
- Davis Absolute, Oh-So – Still Snowing
- Living Scars – O Holy Night
- Mouthpi3ce – No Delay (EP)
- Mr Del – MD 2020: Soulside
- Paradox, ReFlex the Architect – Freedom (EP)
- Saint Jones – I’d Rather Be Hot (EP)
- Tylynn – Sown
- Uknowfro – Street Preacher 3
- Iwan & Rebekka Sahertian – Your Kingdom come
- Poor Bishop Hooper – Psalm 53
- Ramp Worship – I See an Open Door
- Relion – Gospel (Our God Be Praised)
- Theunis Pretorius – Only One Thing
- Charlie Peacock – See for Miles
- Charlie Peacock – Surprised Me Too
- Charlie Peacock – Your Stardust Kiss
- C3 NYC – A Christmas Story (Live) (EP)
- The Crossing Music – Light in the Night
- DaySpring Worship – Our Emmanuel
- Emmanuel Worship – Angels
- Former Ruins – Fruit of Winter (EP)
- Hope Music – O Holy Night
- I.AM
January 2, 2021
Vanessa From Maine - I Still Have Faith (Ex-One Star Story)
Going way back into the vaults of IVM history a few of you might recall a female led indie pop-rock band called One Star Story. They had news and reviews on this site as well as appeared on multiple compilations. I just got a blast from the past when Vanessa (Rose) emailed me about her new project after more than 6 years away from making music. She was vocalist for One Star Story and now goes by the name of “Vanessa From Maine” on digital networks/streaming sites.… Continued →
January 1, 2021
Best of 2020: Brandon Jones
Despite all the despair, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, death, destruction, and uncertainty that 2020 has thrown at us, we have all taken solace in our music and found hope through it. We are carried through the pain with messages of inspiration, songs of motivation, and songs that just plain electrified our souls. The following is a collection of albums, eps, and songs that were meaningful to me in 2020. Not all of the releases listed below are “Christian” but most of them rocked me to my core!… Continued →
Song of the Day: Champion Birdwatchers - Resolution . . . in C
So, it’s New Year’s Day. 2020 is a recently faded memory, but with the obvious enduring repercussions. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Or affirmations, or commitments, or whatever else people are calling them nowadays? My wife (who is an artist) loves the New Year holiday. She sees it as a blank slate. A new chance to start over. Erase all the marks from the chalkboard (remember those?) or the whiteboard, or your Zoom screen and go again, taking all you’ve learned to try and do it better next time.… Continued →
December 31, 2020
Best of 2020: Rob Jensen
I was going to write a little intro to this list of mine, but in the end I figured I’d just let it speak for itself. Alot of great music dropped despite all the year brought us and these are my top 20. Let me know what you think!
20. Everything In Slow Motion – “Influence”. (Rock/Hard Rock) Released 10/16/20 on Facedown Records. Influence was the band’s first release since the 2016 ep, Laid Low. While it didn’t feel like a whole lot of new ground was covered, that is a good thing, especially considering their sound.… Continued →
December 27, 2020
Song of the Day: Abel - Fifteen Years
Abel had a good run on both Come & Live and Facedown’s indie imprint before releasing Make It Right independently. It was a fitting final album, seeing the band in their rawest form. “Fifteen Years” is a highlight track, one of urgency, pain, and longing paired with fear and remorse as seen through the eyes of a beggar. In its simplest form, it’s a reality for the urban homeless; in its deepest sentiments, it’s a parable akin to the woman at the well.
… Continued →
December 25, 2020
Merry Christmas - A 2020 and 20th Like No Other
Merry Christmas friends and readers. We made it! Can you believe that after all the chaos, death and destruction, and utter disappointment that 2020 is now classified as, that somehow we made it to a beautiful day like Christmas? We are reminded of our Savior’s Birth and the promise of redemption that would come through his death and resurrection. 2020 may suck royally but at least we all have each other, our families, our love, and God up above. Despite what has happened this year, it has been a teachable moment in time and we are reminded of not only our importance as believers living here on this Earth, but the whole reason for the season (sorry for the cliche reference, it is important).… Continued →
One More Christmas Album, Please - Former Ruins Releases 'Fruit of Winter'
Former Ruins has released a surprise Christmas EP (technically some brief notice was given). Noah has covered a lot of Christmas releases already, so you might feel a bit overwhelmed. Further, the timing may seem inopportune. After all, today is Christmas, isn’t it? You’ve got better things to do than listen to music, and then you’ll shelve this for next year.
But these are not your typical Christmas songs – they speak to the season of Christmas on the church calendar. They’re for today and beyond.… Continued →
Song of the Day: Adam Again - Angels We Have Heard on High
First things first–merry Christmas everyone! It’s been a challenging year, and many of us are ready to see the back of it. I always post my Song of the Day picks on Friday, so I was pleased to the lucky draw for Christmas Day! Of course, it had to be a Christmas song, and there are lots of good ones to choose from, even from our niche scene.
For those unfamiliar with Adam Again, they have deep roots in the Christian music scene. They started out in the California scene of the 1980s through Broken Records and later Brainstorm Artists.… Continued →
December 24, 2020
Wind Words Releases 'Minor Prophets' (FFO: Levi the Poet)
Florida-based Wind Words has returned with his newest project, Minor Prophets, a collection of spoken word meditations. These Scripture-driven pieces recount the narratives of both popular and overlooked biblical accounts. This is a bit of a diversion from his debut, Digging Up Earth, but it carries the same level of passion.
Minor Prophets by Wind Words… Continued →
December 19, 2020
Song of the Day: Wade Walker - Your Ways
Initially, this was one of my least-favorite tracks on the albums – but it’s a beautiful, Gospel-tinged track full of Scripture under a veneer of soulful piano.
… Continued →
New Releases: December 18, 2020
Rock & Metal
- Bride – Here Is Your God
- Chase Tremaine – Fear Not Want
- Fallstar – Waiting
- Messenger – In to Win
- Northern Flame – Twisted Reality
- Steve Taylor & the Danielson Foil – Ecstatic Delight
- Then It Ends – Kingdom (Alternative Version)
- Words – Trees (Live) (EP)
- Chris August – Ghost
- Conrad – Hidden Places
- Crossroads Music – Come In From The Cold
- Darla Baltazar – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
- Eniola Abioye – MARBLED MOSAIC.
- John Ward – Graves and Graces
- Jordan Feliz – Say It
- Josh Sellers – Far Away
- Lovelite – Mmxx (EP)
- Mike Donehey – Better
- Stephen Stanley – No Hopeless Soul
- walk in love.
December 18, 2020
Yours For Mine release new song!
Indie rock/Post hardcore act Yours For Mine release new song! FFO: Meadows, Eaves, and Idle Threat.
Song of the Day: Dead Artist Syndrome - Dance With Me
The year was 1990. I’d heard lots of buzz about this new “goth rock” band Dead Artist Syndrome. Even Roger Martinez from Vengeance Rising had been sporting their t-shirt at gigs. For those who don’t know, DAS was the first goth band to release an album on a Christian label. While being the first is always a good thing, it wasn’t the fact that they were an early representative of the subgenre that made them interesting. It was that they were so darn good at it.… Continued →
December 16, 2020
Best of 2020 - Casey G.
Here are my favorite releases of the year by category.
December 13, 2020
New Releases: December 11, 2020
Rock & Metal
- Anberlin – Tear Us Apart
- Ben S Dixon – Psalm 46 Lord of Hosts
- The Chariot – Long Live (10 Year Anniversary)
- Heliocentric – Antithesis
- Living Scars – Hallelujah
- Signum Regis – Flag of Hope (EP)
- Adam Lamb – For Me
- Altared – Awakened
- Amng Wlvs – Voice of Hope
- Anae – You Can Find Me
- Cody Johns – Relentless (EP)
- Connor Flanagan – Fire of My Father
- Doobie Powell – Heartbeat
- Edgar Sandoval Jr – last few months
- Haiva Ru – Wildflowers
- Judah & the Lion – Pep Talks Live
- Jon Webster – Selah
- NEEDTOBREATHE – Who Am I (Acoustic)
- Tauren Wells – Famous For (I Believe) – Collection
- UNSECRET – No Sanctuary
- Charlie Peacock – Skin and Wind is a Mind Bend
- Future Divine – Nightmare Into Day
- Jon Foreman – Fear (EP)
- Thomas Toole – Time and Space
- Whale Bones – The Doors Are Locked, the Blinds Are Closed, I Am Not Home
- Angie Rose – Not A Monster
- Jesse Francis – Frontier
- JSteph – Phase II: The Remixes (EP)
- King Chai – Godmix 2
- LZ7 – Gettin Wild
- Tru-Serva – Blessings on the Way (Remix)
- Tobe Nwigwe – CINCORIGINALS
- Ashton Barber – Inheritance
- Ben&blake – Faith Alone
- Calvary Worship Live – Never Gonna Let Me Down
- Celtic Worship, Praise Gathering – It Is Well
- Chris Beland – Morning and Evening Hymns
- Curt Vernon – One I Thought You Couldn’t Change
- Emmanuel Worship – Songs of Quarantine
- Fount + Flame – Pull Me In
- Grace City – Holy Ghost (We Say Yes)
- Harvest City Church – Greatest Miracle (Live)
- Hillsong UNITED – (in the meantime) [Vol.
December 12, 2020
25 Best Christian Rock Albums of 1995
These are my 25 Best Christian Rock Albums of 1995. This was a monumental year for Christian Music and really the beginning of what was to come over the course of the next 2 decades. Check out my list below along with a playlist featuring some of the songs.… Continued →
December 11, 2020
Commenting on IVM Works Again
We (actually Fusse) have fixed the commenting feature on Indie Vision Music website and it works once again. It has been down for over a week with tons of comments going nowhere. Please return today and leave your comments below the posts that interest you. More content coming in the days ahead including a special look back at “The Top 25 Christian Rock Albums of 1995” that I’ve been slowing working on for a few months now. Thanks everyone!… Continued →
Song of the Day: Living Sacrifice - Not Beneath
There are so many different types of Living Sacrifice fans. People who started listening from the beginning, and those who joined somewhere along the way. Fans who praise their experimental phase, those who prefer the -core era, and those who swear by the traditional metal era. Heck, I even know one guy who claims they only released one album (he’s a thrash fan), and all the others were recorded by imposters!
The band has certainly seen a number of different phases, most easily broken down into two main categories (metal and -core) with a few other splinters.… Continued →