Reviews

As I begin this review, I should probably note that I’ve been a Switchfoot fan since I first heard “Meant to Live” on the radio all the way back in 2003. I was 11 years old and just beginning to get into music at the time. Switchfoot quickly became one of my favorite bands – a place that they still hold 13 years later. I remember often lying in my bed late at night and waiting for one of their songs like “Stars” or “Dare You To Move” to come on the radio.… Continued →

In writing reviews, occasionally you come across an artist or band you’re entirely unfamiliar with. There can be a number of reasons for that, but nevertheless, when I come across them, I look forward to writing the review. It’s often a great way to find and share new artists/bands to listen to and you know you’re sure to present a fresh take on the album you’re reviewing. Such is the case with JJ Heller’s newest offering, a Christmas album, called “Unto Us”. Before even kicking off the first song, my expectation was a very folky album, with perhaps a hint of country thrown in.… Continued →

I’ll admit I’m far from a fan of Christmas. Radios begin playing these tunes right after Halloween, depicting a winter so far from the reality of the slushy midwest Decembers and the hysteria of holiday shoppers. Thankfully, Vocal Few’s Snowdrift EP is a refreshingly honest take on the season. As a follow up to 2015’s The Dream Alive EP, the husband-and-wife duo have returned to deliver more of that stripped down goodness. Albeit five songs in length, there’s still plenty of territory covered here. From enjoying a day off from work (Ice Storm 2008), to battling through loneliness and literal darkness of winter (Not Giving Up), to songs of adoration, the EP finds the balance between honesty and commercialism.… Continued →

A testament to hard work paying off, Comrades release some of their best work to date backed by Facedown Records.

Read this review for Fit For A King's new album "Deathgrip"

In case you missed it last year, don't let another moment go by without checking out Spoken's powerful follow up to 2013's "Illusion" as they get even better with "Breathe Again."

The North Carolina rockers known as Decyfer Down came back from oblivion with “Scarecrow” in 2013. It was a surprise of an album venturing into riffs and southern hooks that took heavy influences from vocalist TJ Harris and his previous band Fighting Instinct. The album was a sweet breath from what one might expect from the radio-ready rock group. Unfortunately, “Scarecrow” received mix reception and fell under too many radars. The good news is that they’re back with a heavier effort and look to be sticking around.… Continued →

Worship music has always held a troubled place in my heart and my music collection. Looking at the genre from a spiritual level, I know that I, as a believer, should have an affinity to music created to glorify God. The reality is that I find the majority worship music to be contrived, repetitive, and failing to deliver any degree of originality. Now that my wrath has been vented I can carry on to admit that there are a limited number of artists who seek to break the stifled norms and produce quality worship songs.… Continued →

Alex Sugg's latest release as Glowhouse is an interesting mix of R&B vocals, synth lines, and vulnerable lyrics.

Muncie, IN metalcore act Send the Advocate has released a promising debut EP, but can they move past the pitfalls of an oversaturated genre?

This New Mexico quintet's ambitious sophomore release features lyrics on par with My Epic and everything you loved about early Thrice.

  A long time ago in a music world far, far away, a band existed. A band that took the world by storm, but sadly its energy ebbed and it became only a well loved memory. That band was D.O.C. (Disciples Of Christ). Both Grammy and GMA Dove Award nominated, the music of D.O.C. went into the history books. Now it’s time for a new beginning and a new era. D.O.C.’s founding members Alton Hood and Michael Brown return as Nimisilla Park. On their debut EP, “Welcome to Nimisilla Park”, the band members come with a revitalized energy, delivering a boldly unapologetic, and melodically infectious message. … Continued →

Raleigh's Cold Comfort presents a refreshing take on grunge on their 2015 release, Join or Die.

Last summer, Bad Christian released a compilation album focused on electronic artists. Like most compilations, it proved to be a mixed bag – however, it was specifically aimed at getting exposure to a number of lesser-known artists. Summer Sleep happened to be Black Pages’ submission to the compilation and is also the first track off his 2015 EP Where It Gets You. Black Pages, the solo project of James McCurley of Vertica, is an ambitious singer-songwriter experience that is fairly unique – it’s neither folky nor relies too much on backing tracks.… Continued →

Colours' debut album stylistically diverges from their Skin and Bones EP and ultimately leaves room for improvement.

2012 saw the departure of Lacey Sturm from Flyleaf. She announced to her fans that it was her desire to take some time off and focus on her family, an admirable and noble decision for sure. In the hearts of her fans was a feeling of support for her decision, yet at the same time, those feelings were mixed with a hopeful wondering of whether or not we’d hear from Lacey again in the music arena. 2 years passed with hardly a peep as Lacey enjoyed some well deserved time off with her family.… Continued →

While The Peace of Wild Things was a fan favorite, Paper Route's ambitious sixteen-track return certainly holds its ground.

It’s been a very quiet handful of years for the North Carolina metal act “To Speak Of Wolves”. After releasing the thunderous “Find Your Worth, Come Home,” they vanished from the music scene with little having to say about it. Four years later, they’ve come back from the dead releasing an EP and a relentless touring schedule. It’s a worrisome thing coming back after so much time passing. Usually when bands take years off, they return with only a hint of what they once had simply because they lost the sound they used to call their own.… Continued →

The Almighty Norma Jean simply cannot be stopped. The storied band just released their seventh record, and it’s their best yet. They’ve reunited with Solid State records, their production has never sounded better, and despite having been around over fifteen years, Polar Similar proves they haven’t lost any steam. Norma Jean has been an anomaly for quite a few years. Meridional and Wrongdoers showed the group continuing to stretch themselves to top each previous studio effort. They’ve been on an upward streak since 2010, and I was curious whether they could continue the trend with Polar Similar.… Continued →

  Over the years, the name “Memphis May Fire” has become nearly synonymous with the genre commonly referred to as metalcore. Some love metalcore, some not so much, but regardless of your preference, it’s hard to deny that Memphis May Fire is one of the best the genre has to offer. From the guitars chugging away in dropped tunings, to the breakdowns, to the versatility of Matty Mullins’ vocals, the band offers a variety of things to love, and more recently, a few laid back tunes have even made their way into the band’s catalog, showing off their ability to maintain the listener’s interest with some slower, melodic, catchy material.… Continued →

Check out the final EP in the Detroit punk band's Origins Trilogy.

The six-piece band continues to explore unique instrumentation on a new album that's sure to strike a chord with fans of Sufjan Stevens.

If you liked The Force Awakens you should thoroughly enjoy Relient K’s latest record, Air For Free. Both have a hearty dose of nostalgia to welcome you back to the artistic world you originally fell in love with, whether that’s a galaxy far, far away or a playful, punk band from Ohio. Yet there’s enough growth and promising new direction present that the new endeavor’s success doesn’t rely on nostalgia alone. It’s a delicate balance few releases are able to achieve, but the Relient K you know and love came through with flying colors (specifically red, blue, and yellow) on Air For Free.… Continued →

How many artists can you name with 14 studio albums? There probably aren’t too many. Jason Martin, the man behind Starflyer 59, not only has 14 LPs under his cosmic moniker, but he’s also released and contributed to numerous other projects such as Bon Voyage and Neon Horse. His “blue collar” approach to music (as notated in all his albums) has resulted in a prolific 23-year run in the music industry. Starflyer 59’s newest record, Slow, follows Jason looking back at all he’s been through along the way.… Continued →

Ladies and gentlemen, Thrice is back. Despite their hiatus announcement in 2012, they were adamant they would return. Now after a string of festival dates in 2015, we can behold Thrice’s ninth studio album, To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere. It’s been five years since their last studio effort, and some might have worried it would take some time to shake off the rust. That’s simply not the case. Not only is Thrice back, but they’re better than ever. Thrice belongs to an elite category of bands that have had the same members devoted for the group’s entire existence.… Continued →

Check out this review of My Heart To Fear's "The Draft"

In the first two sentences of his new book, Lovely Things In Ugly Places, Mattie Montgomery wastes no time expressing what he believes the heart of God is…love for the broken; “For those who are forgotten or feared by most of our post-modern church”. He goes on to say that “Wherever fear has built a wall, love can build a bridge.” What follows throughout the rest of the book are examples of exactly that, as Mattie recounts the history of For Today and intertwines the numerous interactions he’s had over the years with various folks he’s met during his time with the band.… Continued →

Check out this review of Dangerous Minds "Blood Diamonds" (On The Attack Records)

Indie worship band Rivers & Robots returns with a new chillwave-influenced album.

Everything in Slow Motion bring a shorter, but more refined collection of songs to the table with "Laid Low"