Reviews

Artist: Ruth Album: Secondhand Dreaming Label: Tooth & Nail Records Release Date: June 26, 2007 Review By: Julio D. Anta Tracklisting: 1. One Foot In, One Foot Out 2. Cross The Line 3. Secondhand Dreaming 4. Here To New York 5. Mr. Turner 6. Work It Out 7. Standing Still 8. Figure You Out 9. You Are 10. Love Me Like You Do 11. Always Yours 12. Well With Soul Year after year without fail Tooth & Nail Records quietly releases a great album with little to no advertising dollars spent.… Continued →

Band: Maylene and the Sons of Disaster Title: II Label: Ferret Records Release Date: March 20, 2007 Review By: Levi (a.k.a Matrixkitty) Track listing:

1. “Memories of the Grove”
2. “Dry the River”
3. “Plenty Strong and Plenty Wrong”
4. “Darkest of Kin”
5. “Raised by the Tide”
6. “Wylie”
7. “Death is an Alcoholic”
8. “Everyone Needs a Hasting”
9. “Don’t Ever Cross a Trowel”
10. “Tale of the Runaways”
11. “The Day Hell Broke Loose at Sicard Hollow”

I’ve never been a really into the whole Underoath phenomenon, so when I heard that Dallas Taylor left the band and formed Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, I was less than excited.… Continued →

Artist: The Chariot Album: The Fiancée Label: Solid State Release Date: April 3, 2007 Review by: rand Tracklising: 1. Back To Back 2. They Faced Each Other 3. They Drew Their Swords 4. And Shot Each Other 5. The Deaf Policemen 6. Heard This Noise 7. Then Came To Kill 8. The Two Dead Boys 9. Forgive Me Nashville 10. The Trumpet I have never seen The Chariot live. Before you shoot me though, just know that Austin, TX never has Christian metal bands coming through it for some reason.… Continued →

Artist: Before Their Eyes Album: Before Their Eyes Label: Rise Records Release Date: May 15, 2007 Review By: Julio D. Anta Tracklisting: 1. City In A Snow Globe 2. The Nighttime Is Our Time 3. You Talk A Good Game 4. Crawling Towards Forgiveness 5. This Is Redemption, This Is Out Lives Washed Cleaned 6. Why 6 Is Afraid Of 7 7 The Journey Down South (Starts With A 2 Step) 8. Hope In Devotion 9. Shotguns Speak Louder Than Words 10. Close Your Eyes, It’s Okay To Rest Now Home to post-hardcore up and comers Drop Dead Gorgeous and The Devil Wears Prada come Rise Records newest signing.… Continued →

Artist: Seventh Star Album: The Undisputed Truth Label: Facedown Records Release Date: June 12, 2007 Review by: rand Tracklisting: 1. The Undisputed Truth 2. Now At Hand 3. World War Three 4. Cursed Creation (The Fall of Man) 5. Isaiah Six 6. For All The Saints 7. Seven 8. The World’s Solution 9. I Versus I 10. Overrun.Overgrown.Overthrown. 11. Chasing The Wind I don’t know why, but when I heard that Seventh Star was releasing a new album, for some reason I remembered them being a rap rock band.… Continued →

Artist: Derek Webb Album: The Ringing Bell Label: INO Records Release Date: May 1, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. The End 2. The Very End 3. A Love That’s Stronger Than Our Fear 4. I Wanna Marry You All Over Again 5. I Don’t Want to Fight 6. Name 7. Can’t Be without You 8. I for an I 9. A Savior on Capitol Hill 10. This Too Shall Be Made Right You may remember Derek Webb from his work in Caedmon’s Call or from 2005’s Mockingbird, which he made available for free download last year.… Continued →

Artist: Between the Trees Album: The Story and the Song Label: Bonded Records Release Date: April 24, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. The Forward 2. White Lines & Red Lights 3. The Way She Feels 4. Words 5. The Greatest of These (A Little Love) 6. Darlin’ 7. A Time for Yohe 8. She Is… 9. Fairweather 10. The Fort 11. You Cry a Tear to Start a River Ranging from 18 to 21 years old, the five young men who comprise Between the Trees have established something well beyond their years, and this is just the beginning.… Continued →

Artist: Pistis In Him Alone Album: Darkness Only Is The Absence Of Light EP 1. Wonderful Spirit 2. Contentment 3. Redemption 4. Adoration 5. Confidence By way of introduction, let me say that Pistis In Him Alone is the most intense worship band I have ever heard. That’s probably because they’re a German hardcore band. Pistis – a Greek word for faithfulness – (In Him Alone) disbanded in 2006 after six years together. But as they went headbanging into that good night, Pistis left us with their swan song EP, Darkness Only Is The Absence Of Light.… Continued →

Artist: The Wedding Album: Polarity Label: Brave New World Records Release Date: April 17, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. The Call 2. Say Your Prayers 3. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead 4. Staring at the Light 5. This One’s for You 6. I-540 7. It’s Time to Rock (OK?) 8. Rebound 9. Schizophrenia 10. The Last Stand (Wake the Regiment 2) 11. Misery Loves Company 12. Southside 13. Revelation 14. Fireworks About two years ago I went to a small church show to see Kids in the Way play, and one of the opening acts happened to be a band called The Wedding.… Continued →

Band: The Almost Title: Southern Weather Release Date: 4.3.07 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Say This Sooner 02. Drive There Now 03. Dirty And Left Out 04. I Mostly Copy Other People 05. Southern Weather 06. Stop It 07. Amazing Because It Is 08. Everyone Here Smells Like A Rat 09. Never Say “I Told You So” 10. Call Back When I’m Honest 11. Everything That Makes Me Sick I had been wishing since the days of “Changing Of Times“, that Aaron would do a side project.… Continued →

Band: A Plea For Purging Title: Quick Is The Word; Steady Is The Action Release Date: 2007 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Resurrection Of The Beast 02. Quick Is The Word 03. Interlude 04. The Betrayars 05. Mystery – Great Babylon, Mother Of Prostitutes And All Abominations Of The Earth 06. Death Has Been Swallowed Up In Victory Members/Duties: Andrew Atkins: Vocals Aaron Eckermann: Drums Blake Martin: Guitar Lyle Paschal: Guitar John Wand: Bass A Plea For Purging is an up-and-coming metalcore outfit formed in 2005 in the music hub of Nashville, TN.… Continued →

Band: Family Force 5 Title: Business Up Front, Party In The Back (Diamond Edition) Release Date: 3.20.07 Review By: JoshIVM Tracklisting: 01. Cadillac Phunque 02. Kountry Gentleman 03. X-Girlfriend 04. Drama Queen 05. Put Ur Hands Up 06. Love Addict 07. Earthquake 08. Replace Me 09. Lose Urself 10. Peachy 11. Supersonic 12. Numb 13. I Love You To Death (Bonus) 14. Face Down (Bonus) 15. Never Let Me Go (Bonus) Members/Duties: Solomon Olds (aka Soul Glow Activatur): Vocals, Guitar Jacob Olds (aka Crouton): Drums, Vocals Joshua Olds (Fatty): Bass, Background Vocals Nathan Currin: (Nadaddy): DJ, Keytar Derek Mount (Chap Stique): Lead Guitar I have previously reviewed the regular edition of this album which can be viewed here.… Continued →

Artist: Darkroom Album: A Curious Excavation Label: None (released independently) Release Date: March 31, 2007 Tracklist: 1. Windsor Knots 2. Afraid 3. A Curious Excavation 4. Consequences 5. The Best Part 6. Quicksilver 7. Stagecraft 8. Six eight four four 9. Blanketed Fortress 10. Veranda 11. The Old Gun Hailing from Winona Lakes, Indiana; Darkroom comes boasting a five-man line up, each with his own unique set of influences. Yet they come together to create something quite familiar, but not in a bad way. This musical endeavor floats along melodically emotive indie rock, gliding the waters with strings, bells, and horns.… Continued →

Artist: This Beautiful Republic Album: Even Heroes Need a Parachute Label: Forefront Records Release Date: April 3, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Casting Off 2. Going Under 3. Jesus to the World 4. Right Now 5. Black Box 6. The Surface 7. Let’s Be Honest 8. New Year 9. Something to Deny 10. Fears and Failures 11. Cloud Cover Christian music would not be what it is today without the work of Forefront Records. Their early and long-lasting bands DC Talk and Audio Adrenaline took 90s rock (among other things) and added a very definite Christian perspective, singing songs about being a “Jesus Freak” or being excited about the “Big House” our Father is preparing for us.… Continued →

Artist: From Beginning to End Album: In the Beginning… Label: Wounded Records Release Date: Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Guaranteed 2. Rain Down 3. Poured Out 4. Tears Revisited 5. In the Beginning 6. The Elevation 7. Touch 8. Better Than Before 9. Here We Are 10. Free 11. The Elevation (radio edit) Starting in Illinois, and touring all over the nation, including stops at Cornerstone, From Beginning to End is a hard-working band with a mission. They will not pass up an opportunity to share their faith, be it in their bio or in their lyrics, and they attempt to fuse alternative rock and screamo into one listenable sound.… Continued →

Artist: Kate Hurley Album: Sleeping When You Woke Me Label: Worship Circle Records Release Date: January 15, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Tree Branch 2. When He Dreams 3. Come Quickly 4. Only Your Love 5. Hey Little Girl 6. Tell Me 7. You Are Not Alone 8. Come to Me 9. Maybe 10. Passionate Beautiful 11. Always Have You 12. My Angel 13. Jacob’s Ladder 14. Stronger than Death 15. When You Carry Seeing that this CD was labeled as “Worship,” I was almost afraid to open it.… Continued →

Artist: Deas Vail Album: All the Houses Look the Same Label: Brave New World Records Release Date: March 6, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Standing… 2. Light as Air 3. Surface 4. Rewind 5. Shoreline 6. A Lover’s Charm 7. Follow Sound 8. Anything You Say 9. Shadows and City Lights 10. For Miles to Come 11. Life in These Little Boats 12. This Place Is Painted Red 13. …Still Everyone’s seen the piles of generic indie bands. Everyone’s gone to a show, visited a MySpace, or bought an album from the next “indie” styled rock act.… Continued →

Artist: The Blue Letter/ The Gospel Is a Grenade Album: Splitsville Label: Guevara Entertainment Release Date: 2005 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: The Blue Letter 1. There Is Only a Beginning 2. The Day the Sky Turned Black 3. Automaton Droids v2.0 4. A Killing Smile 5. Mechanical Legs, Mechanical Legs 6. Two Minute Hate The Gospel Is a Grenade 7. Statement of Ethics 8. Fabrics on a Dress 9. Three Hours Lecture & Discussion per Week 10. Introduction to International Relations 11. The Following Benefits Are Also Provided For [bonus track] Guevara Entertainment is a small indie label out of California trying to make a name for itself, with a current roster of 8 bands and a discography of 12 albums.… Continued →

Artist: Lost Ocean Album: Lost Ocean Label: Credential Records Release Date: February 20, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Believe 2. Still Life 3. Just Glide 4. You Are 5. Mute 6. Dreams 7. Everything Is 8. Trust 9. Lights 10. Vast Imagine yourself lying in the middle of the Atlantic. The water is a comfortable 86 degrees, the sun is pleasantly bright, and you’re being gently rocked by the waves beneath you. The birds overhead are singing in perfect harmony, and there is little thought of anything else.… Continued →

Artist: The Apathy Eulogy Album: Beauty for Ashes Label: None (released independently) Release Date: April 10, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Two to Tango, One to Miss 2. Daphne Doesn’t Love Derby… She Hates Men 3. Baby, Maybe 4. Perfect Kisses 5. I Can Tell You’re Lying because Your Lips Are Moving 6. Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady 7. Be My Rescue 8. Such a Complex Situation 9. The Longest Drive Home (I Should’ve Taken the Subway) My introduction to this fine acoustic band, The Apathy Eulogy, begins like most other band introductions these days, on MySpace.… Continued →

• One Star Story
• Self-titled EP
• Reviewed by: Chuck Cochran

Tracklisting:

1. Near To Far
2. Everyday
3. This Game
4. Who I Am

Now I know a lot of you guys out there are critical of female-fronted bands. I was once like you, but since the emergence of bands such as the likes of Flee the Seen, Eisley, and Bloodlined Calligraphy, my eyes and ears have been opened. I went to my local music venue on March 3^rd, the headliner of the night was a band that went by the name of One Star Story.… Continued →

Band: Kings To You Album: The Antidote Label: None Review By: “Wilhelm” Baker Kings to You. The child of former IVM legend, Dismissed. Ever since I first heard these gentlemen, my ears have been starved for more. While Dismissed’s music fit the times accordingly, Dave and the crew wisely chose to reform their sound and refit it for awesomeness. Kings to You’s music effort, “The Antidote” is an epic album of sheer rock greatness. For any listener, the ties from Dismissed can be heard, especially in Dave’s voice and the great guitar work.… Continued →

Band: All But Screaming Album: Electric Lights Label: None Review by: Brandon Jones Wow, where do I begin. I’m highly impressed by this new ep effort from the indie band All But Screaming. At first I was hesitant to give them a fair listen due to their name but Josh persuaded me to give them a shot. Well I did so a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with their music. This band has a penchant for writing finely tuned and memorable melodic rock.… Continued →

Artist: Kiss the Gunner Album: Why Are We So Dead? Label: Harvest Earth Records Release Date: January 23, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. Two Beats away from a Heart Attack 2. Drag the Waters 3. That’s Some Good Yellin’ 4. Instrumental 5. Southern Comfort Ain’t No Comfort 6. Turkey Hotshot 7. As the City Falls around Us 8. Suffer the Children 9. Outro “Kiss the Gunner” is derived from an old pirate phrase “kiss the gunner’s daughter.” To the five gentlemen who comprise this band, its name is all about loving those the world considers unlovable, as said in an interview with Buzzgrinder.… Continued →

I recently was able to check out The Showdown & Still Remains along with The Acacia Strain and Shadows Fall in Johnson City, NY. I was pretty happy about it because I liked all of the bands and secondly, the venue is only 20 minutes from my house. Many of you probably don’t find that odd, but normally I drive well over an hour to get to any show of interest. Usually it’s 2 or more hours. Needless to say, it was bound to be a good night, regardless that there was a snow storm going on and that we arrrived an hour earlier than needed due to a misprint on the venue’s tickets.… Continued →

Artist: The Stiletto Formal Album: This Is My Boomstick (EP) Label: None (released independently) Release Date: April 11, 2006 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist: 1. The Fall of Ambrose Bierce 2. Tastes Like Black Licorice 3. I Sing the Body Electric 4.Cirrhosis of the Cinema A friend of mine once went to see Coheed & Cambria live. This tour consisted of Coheed, The Blood Brothers, and mewithoutYou, and everyday I grow a little more jealous that she made it to this show and I did not.… Continued →

Band: Thrush Album: Aeon Label: None Review by: Brandon Jones Myspace In days long ago, I knew of a little band called “Craig’s Brother” of which they released the hard hitting and socially aware full length “Homecoming” on Tooth and Nail Records back in 98. Well two members of that band, Adam Nigh and Andy Snyder quit not long after the release of the afformentioned album deciding to go their own course in musical mission. So what did they do? Well they founded a fantastic three piece band called “Too Bad Eugene”.… Continued →

Artist: The Canvas Waiting Album: In Search of Beginnings… (Special Edition) Label: Scotoma Artist Co-op Release Date: January 30, 2007 Review by: Eric Pettersson Tracklist 1. Carousel Ride 2. These Familiar Arms 3. Opener 4. In Search of Beginnings 5. Scout 6. Exit 1028 7. Sincerely Yours 8. Weight of the World 9. Ruby 10. I Hope the West Treats You Well 11. Are You Listening? 12. Carousel Ride (music video) In Search of Beginnings… was originally released independently on February 13, 2006. The release consisted of seven tracks, but after they hooked up with the Scotoma Artist Co-op (an excellent idea that more bands should follow, by the way) they have decided to issue a re-release that is currently #79 on Smartpunk’s list of the “Top 100 CDs for the Past 3 Weeks” (although on March 2 they posted a blog stating it was at #37).… Continued →

Band: Life In Your Way Title: Waking Giants Label: Solid State Release Date: 3.6.07 Review By: Josh IndieVision Tracklisting: 01. Reach The End 02. Worthwhile 03. We Don’t Believe 04. Making Waves 05. The Shame 06. Salty Grave 07. Help! The Arm Of The Almighty 08. Threads Of Sincerity 09. The Beauty Of Grace 10. Judas 11. Beneath It All Members/Duties: James Allen: Guitars, Vocals Joshua Kellam: Vocals David Swanson: Guitar, Vocals Jeremy Kellam: Bass, Vocals John Gaskill: Drums Life In Your Way is by no means, new to the scene.… Continued →

Band: The Brothers Martin Title: The Brothers Martin Label: Tooth & Nail Release Date: 1.23.07 Review By: Josh IndieVision Tracklisting: 01. Communication 02. The Harsh Effects Of Time 03. The Missionary 04. The Deaf, They Will Hear 05. The Plot That Weaves 06. Fears To Remember 07. Opportunities 08. The Behavior Explains 09. Get The Money 10. Life On Strings Members/Duties: Jason Martin: Vocals, Guitar, Electric Bass Ronnie Martin: Vocals, Synthesizer, Drum Machine, Bass Programming This eclectic duo, of Ronnie and Jason Martin, have united yet again for a project.… Continued →