News

If you’ve been keeping up, Then It Ends is the project begun by former A Past Unknown vocalist, Grant Lilly. Up to now, the project has released “Despised” (Full and acoustic versions), “Welcome Home”, and “Addiction”, all of which have been pretty well received. Today, Then It Ends released a new track, “Darkness”, which, in my own opinion, is the best to date. In 3 weeks, the project will release “It Is Well”, but for now, check out “Darkness” below and let us know what you think.… Continued →

I suppose that the first time you hear a band forever affects the way you think or feel about them. Although Undercover already had a long history behind them when I first heard them in 1990, I was completely unaware of it. I didn’t know the huge impact they’d made in the Christian alternative and punk scene in SoCal through Calvary Chapel, Ministry Resource Center, etc. through groundbreaking albums like God Rules and Branded. They had already morphed from a bubblegum-punk/new wave sound to darker, post-punk tones across the span of 4 albums.… Continued →

If you know White Collar Sideshow, you know what a unique concept the band has for their music; their live shows mixed with the multimedia presented is just amazing. They are great folks with a great ministry. Right now, bassist Veronica Benton is up to be featured as the cover girl for the an upcoming issue of popular tat magazine Inked. You can vote daily up to 2/20 for her, so get on it right HERE!… Continued →

Remember as kids, when we were taught something was either good or bad, right or wrong, etc.? Then later, you realize everything doesn’t quite fit as neatly in those categories. It’s more complicated. Grammy nominated artists, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and Flame delve into candid discussions on society, the arts, religion, humanity and more while exploring meaningful topics relevant to their shared faith and the culture that shapes it all. Visit https://complicated-ish.com for full episodes or listen on your favorite podcast platform. Connect with Flame https://www.facebook.com/Flame314/ https://www.instagram.com/flame314/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2s6kyMmJZFgPCHXU0QxJLp… Continued →

Indie, Acoustic-Punk, singer songwriter known as Sef Idle, is back with a brand new song titled “A Place to Call Home”. The song drops on February 25th and is sure to tug at the heart strings and ignite the passion. Sef has been putting out solid singer-songwriter jams for over a decade now as well as with his other band, False Idle. Click here to save the song on bandcamp and make sure to check it out on all digital networks 2/25.… Continued →

A huge show (Chain Fest) just got announced for the Five Point Amphitheater in Irvine, CA. on May 23rd 2020. Featuring bands like Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, Saves The Day, Cartel, Glassjaw, and our friends in Anberlin, as well as Acceptance. This is a must see event and I would advise you get tickets when they go on sale. I hope to make it as well. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am. This one is called Chain Fest and is being brought to you by the fine folks at Chain Reaction of Anaheim.… Continued →

L.S. Underground (AKA LSU, L.S.U. LifeSavers Underground, Lifesavers, Lifesavors) have been doing alternative music in various forms since the early 80s. “The Grape Prophet,” originally released on Blonde Vinyl in 1992 was a concept album full of nuance and metaphor representing a young man’s journey looking into what was deemed a potentially dangerous Christian cult. Dark and brooding, the album has often been hailed as the band’s magnum opus. The original release is tremendously difficult to obtain, in large part because a vast shipment of units got somehow lost in transit.… Continued →

When it comes to news, it’s easy for some things to slip by, but sometimes you just wonder…how?!? Well, with news like this, it’s still better late than never. Back in mid December, Fit For A King announced a world tour with support from Chelsea Grin, Crystal Lake, and Alpha Wolf. This tour kicks off next month and really covers some ground, so if you’ve been waiting for the band to swing by your area, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get your wish.… Continued →

With Furnace Fest stacking their lineup with a strong number of defunct bands reuniting to perform, it brings to mind the question; if you could pick ONE band to reunite for a show, who would it be? What song/album of theirs really grabbed you?… Continued →

With the lineup that put the album together, Showbread reunites for to perform, “No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical” in its entirety at Furnace Fest. This festival is really turning out the bands they’ve disbanded over the years and boasting a pretty impressive lineup. Are any of you going?… Continued →

6’10 will be releasing their sophomore album, “Carried In Retrospect” sometime late Spring/early Summer, but you can preorder it now and help the band out some at the same time. Head to the link HERE to check out what they’ve got going on. Who’s up for some more 6’10??… Continued →

Ledger has announced the release of her upcoming single, “My Arms” to release this Friday. You can pre-save the track HERE.… Continued →

Mae will be performing their release, “The Everglow” in its entirety coming up at a few shows with the Juliana Theory. If you’re in either the Brooklyn, NY or Los Angeles, CA areas, these look to be some pretty good show to check out. Tickets on sale this Friday!… Continued →

Juliana Theory has announced that coming this June, we can expect to see a few shows by the full band reunited! The guys are already booked for Furnace Fest in September, but will also be playing shows in Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Whether more will be added, we can only guess. The band will be performing “Emotion Is Dead” in its entirety and will be joined at the NY and CA shows by MAE, who will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of “The Everglow”, performing it in its entirety as well!… Continued →

Last week, Earth Groans announced the release of their upcoming ep, “Prettiest of Things”, which will drop on March 6th on Solid State Records, so you don’t have long to wait. However, the band also released the first single off that ep, titled “Springs”. You can check the track out below and pick it up at any digital retailer. In the same breath, the band also stated that this would be one of two eps they plan to release in 2020. Check out “Springs” below and leave a thought or two.… Continued →

Legendary metal artists known as LIVING SACRIFICE, have just announced a very special 30th anniversary gig in March in their hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas with none other than THE BLAMED joining them. Once we have more info on this Documentary and what it includes, I’ll make a post about it. To get tickets to this very special gig, click here. Click here for the Facebook Event page.… Continued →

Introducing the talents of spoken word poet, Micah Kimber. Head over to his bandcamp right here to download a 7 track release titled “Create”. You can also listen to it below this post.… Continued →

Before I could post this bit of news, Beloved’s (US) long awaited return to the stage in North Carolina on May 16th 2020, sold out in just a few hours. You can read more about this special show below or by visiting them on Facebook here. Catch the band at Furnace Fest 2020 in September.… Continued →

Since the last time I posted about Furnace Fest here on IVM, the Furnace Fest 2020 lineup has literally EXPLODED with bands and hype. Click their official website here to get pumped up with. Beloved, Stretch Arm Strong, Terminal, ZAO, Love Is Red, Open Hand, Life In Your Way, The Appleseed Cast, Hopesfall, Mineral, Juliana Theory, Unwed Sailor, Eighteen Visions, Every Time I Die, Bloodjinn, Avail, Hot Water Music, Andrew WK, Better Off, Knocked Loose, Cave In, Norma Jean, Converger, Unearth, Comeback Kid, Luxury, Glasseater, Boy Sets Fire, Bad Cop Bad Cop, Codeseven, The Casket Lottery, Living Sacrifice, Shai Hullud, The Beautiful Mistake, Few Left Standing, Evergreen Terrace, With Honor, Haste, August Burns Red, and…..my… Continued →

Second to Safety will release "Esther" on 2/28 - check out the lead single here!

Minneapolis-based Author have been a bit quiet since the release of IIFOIIC but they’ve resurfaced with a slightly different lineup and a consequent change in sound. “Blur” deviates from the art-pop stylings of its predecessor, as well as the ambient-styled indie flavor of earlier releases. Instead, it is a juggernaut, urgent and dynamic, glistening with power. It’s the sort of track that would fit well on a sports game soundtrack. There’s no apparent hook, but instead listeners are graced with interwoven passages of drum and bass styled electronic mixed with perhaps a bit of Radiohead-esque prog rock.… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Author – Blur
• Andrew Stanton – Dive Bomb
• August Burns Red – Defender
• The Classic Crime – Miles and Miles
• Earth Groans – Springs
• Fight The Fade – In Love. in Hope. in Peace.
• Final Surrender – Everything to None
• Joey Gonzalez – Forever With Me (Live Acoustic)
• In Oceans Deep – Light
• Project Aegis – And the Rest Is Mystery
• Second to Safety – To Be Beautiful

Pop & CCM

• Antonio Neal – Keep on Steppin’
• Bryan Boliver – Lovin’ It
• Dave Barnes – Dreaming in Electric Blue
• Eversmith – Holy Matrimony
• JJ Heller – Not Enough
• John Michael Howell – I’m Not Next
• Leanna Crawford – Funeral
• Melanie Penn – More Alive
• Neoni – Gold
• Rachael Lampa – Hold You in My Arms
• RED Hands – Where Would I Be
• RICHLIN – Royal Blood
• Saint Nomad – Only Thing (Alternative Mix)
• Spencer Annis – Heaven
• William Wixley – Supernatural

Electronic

• Daniel Baciu – Paradise
• Daniel Baciu – Repeat
• LNYX – Lemme Know
• Toxic Emotion – Here’s An Introduction
• Transform – Tongues Of Angels (EP)

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Benjamin James – With the Wind on Our Faces
• Christian JaLon – Emotional Affair (EP)
• Dustin Ruth – Shapeshifter
• John Tibbs – Runaway
• Lane Norberg – Falling
• Lauryn Evans – Down to the River to Pray / River
• Sister Sinjin – Only One (EP)
• Wild Harbors – Abigail (Instrumental)

Hip Hop & Urban

• Beleaf – Black Joy Is Magic
• Drup – We’ll See
• Eddie Clark – Grace Pack (EP)
• Germaine Martel – Purpose (EP)
• Jay Sanon – NEVER DIE
• Jerel – Cool Kids
• Jonathan Baker – Cold (Find Your Way Home) [feat.

… Continued →

In the late 80s/early 90s I was a straight-up metalhead. Thrash was my favorite variety, but I dipped into other stuff as well. But I had started developing a taste for punk too. The pace and beat of hardcore punk was actually very similar to thrash, but with different guitar tones. Bands like Nobody Special, The Lead, The Crucified, and even Breakfast with Amy opened me up to new possibilities in edgy music. Then along came the album Poplife by the Lifesavers. I’d only been into Christian rock since ’88, so I knew nothing of Michael Knott’s history (or the many other incarnations and alter-egoes of his various projects).… Continued →

January is usually a pretty slow month for new releases. At least that’s what I use to think. But 2020 came out guns blazing with lot of new albums and singles dropping each week this month. Which brings me to one of my goals for the year: create a new playlist each month highlighting some of my favorite songs. After a long weekend of whittling away at what was a playlist of a couple hundred songs I now how much more reasonably sized playlist to present to you.… Continued →

Canadian emcee Rel McCoy (formerly RELIC) has released a brand new video for his song “Part of the Plan.” The jazzy track features guest raps by RationaL and lyrics that question religious platitudes during times of doubt and difficulty. Check out the video here: https://grownuprap.com/2020/01/30/exclusive-premiere-rel-mccoy-part-of-the-plan-feat-rational-video/… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Autumnboy – I Don’t Know What Peace Feels Like, but I Have Faith That It Exists
• Before Their Eyes – This Fantasy
• The Choir – What You Think I Am (Reimagined)
• Crowned In Chains – Hourglassalgruoh
• Dens – Foolish
• Huntingtons – ¡Muerto, Carcel, O Rocanrol!
• Little Image – WORTH IT
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Called LA

Pop & CCM

• Amy Sullivan – Questions (Julie Lov Remix)
• Chris August – Only You
• Cristabelle Braden – Different Kind of Warrior
• Grace Spencer – Words (Remix)
• Jake James – Serenity (Bonus Mix)
• Natasha Owens – Warrior (Live)
• NewKings – No River
• Roy Tosh – When I’m Gone / Apart Of Me
• Spencer Annis – To Know You
• VEAUX – You Won’t Say That
• Xandria Cross – 700 Million Scars

Electronic

• Dj Del Mag – Through Your Death
• FreeG – Falling
• ØM-53 – Runaways

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Dave Pettigrew – Do It Again
• The Gray Havens – Blackbird
• Josh Garrels – Early Work, Vol.

… Continued →

By the time Give us Barrabbas came out (the band’s 7th album), The Blamed had already gone through at least 4 different genres: punk rock, crossover thrash, hardcore punk, and punk metal. Now they were dabbling in experimental post-hardcore, which, for my money was their most successful rendering of noise to date. “1200 Stares” starts off with a punishing, repetitive riff, and then we welcome some gang shouts: “We won’t stop what we start!” There’s an urgency in the cry that beseeches one to pay attention.… Continued →

Hip hop artist K-Drama dropped a new track called “Boss Level”. If you’re a fan of the old Mario games (in this case, specifically Mario 3) don’t pass this post without checking this song out. Very creative and makes for a great listen. It’s also available for purchase HERE.… Continued →

Seventh Day Slumber dropped their newest album, “Closer To Chaos” in 2019 and the album was chock full of hard rock tunes. One of which was “Man Down”, a song that addresses PTSD, something many men and women who served in our armed forces deal with as a result of the sacrifice they made defending our nation and freedoms. Check out the new video for this song below and let us know what you think.… Continued →

Recently in a Facebook post, A Rotterdam November certainly made it fairly evident the band would be recording some new material.  Check out their post below and see what you think.  … Continued →