News
May 26, 2023
Shawn Browning has just released a brand new song titled “Burning Bridges” and it’s out now on all digital networks. Check out the track below. This reminds me of Foo Figthers and Queens of the Stone Age and I mean that in the most sincere of ways. Great stuff! Download all of his new singles right here via bandcamp.… Continued →
Introducing: Teeth For Eyes (Feat. Members of Crux, Govt Hate Mail, Empty Tomb)
A brand new punk rock n’ roll band by the name of TEETH FOR EYES has emerged from the shadows and ready to get to business. The band recently posted their introductory pics which includes behind the scenes studio work. The band features some members of a mostly well-known punk band (to us anyway) called CRUX as well as other notable, associated acts such as Govt Hate Mail and Empty Tomb, among many others. Check them out on Instagram right here or @teethforeyes. Make sure to save, bookmark, or mentally record that account because much more to come including actual music, yay!… Continued →
Cultist - Suffering By My Own Hand (Feat. Jeremy Schaeffer of Earth Growns)
Check out the new song titled “Suffering By My Own Hand” by a new band that defines the word “Heavy” – Cultist. The songs features none other than Jeremy Schaeffer of another really heavy band deserving of recognition, Earth Groans. The band’s new album “Slow Suicide” and Facedown Records debut will release on July 21st 2023. Check out the song below. Pre-order right here in several different merch options.… Continued →
Song of the Day: Titanic - Dead Men's Bones
Titanic’s founder Bill Menchen has been active in the Christian metal scene since the 1980s, first with his band Redeemer, and later with a number of other metal-themed bands including Seventh Power, Menchen, Rev Seven, and perhaps his most well-known, Titanic.
Although they formed in the 1990s, they still played traditional heavy metal without any hint of alternative, grunge, or punk, which were so prevalent in that decade. The only 90s influence in Titanic’s music was the updated sonics and production techniques, which added a lot more crunch to the guitar tones than what 80s metal was known for.… Continued →
May 24, 2023
Song of the Day: Darrell Mansfield - Million Dollar Feeling
I love Blues Festivals. Darrel is probably the biggest blues musician along with Glenn Kaiser in CCM & has been around since the 80s. I actually saw on social media the other day that it was his Birthday! Also check out his Born to be Wild which contains a collection of blues covers.
… Continued →
May 22, 2023
REVIEW : Nick Webber - All the Nothing I Know
There are certain things that are assuredly deceptive in their simplicity – like the grainy, low-res, underexposed photo of some non-descript church which adorns Nick Webber’s latest album. In fact, if I hadn’t stumbled onto it prior to seeing the art, I think I might have skipped it entirely. I’ve crawled through Bandcamp quite a bit and I’m come to realize that bands who take their music seriously tend to pair it with artwork of a similar level.
While the picture might not adequate describe the quality of All the Nothing I Know, it perhaps describes the thematic form – one that hazily trudges through pain, uncertainty, and cynicism.… Continued →
REVIEW : Dylan Case White - Remind Me Your Name
Dylan Case White’s debut LP, Remind Me Your Name, has been a long time in the making. Its genesis is fraught with the loss of entire songs, working remotely with Allen Odell for production, and the realization of musical concepts that go back years at this point. White’s previous work includes a project under the Spoken World moniker (which is NOT spoken word) and some demos from Glow in the Dark. And while these hinted at what he was capable of, Remind Me Your Name feels like the awaited fulfillment of some distant promise.… Continued →
Song of the Day: Gawvi - Closer
Gawvi aka Gabriel Azucena has parents from El Salvador & the Dominican Republic. He was raised a Christian & it shows though his lyrics. Check him out.
… Continued →
May 21, 2023
Names Without Numbers "Winter Wars" Out Now!
The absolutely stunning new single from my friends in Names Without Numbers titled “Winter Wars”, is out now on all digital networks and also streaming in the Pop Punk Dads Spotify playlist. This song reminds the listener of all the great times you had in the past with nostalgia running rampant throughout the entirety but not so overbearing that it’d distract one from drawing modern parallels to what’s so great about new music. I really dig the fast pace of the song right from the get-go.… Continued →
May 20, 2023
Song of the Day: Hospital - Pages
This nu metal band released some decent music in their 2001 release Stare. They fell off the music radar after they released a couple songs on some compilations. Then, The Charon Collective filled in the blanks when they released the band’s follow up If, Then a month or so ago. It contains those comp tracks Fault & Pages along with 3 more.
… Continued →
May 19, 2023
Song of the Day: globalWAVEsystem - Deathstroke to Youth
It’s been a while since I’ve featured any industrial music, so this seems like a good time to remedy that. globalWAVEsystem has been around since the early 90s, playing a harsh form of electronic industrial or EBM. At times the music is danceable, but it had a much harsher, darker edge than Deitiphobia or November Commandment. Yet the songs were more structured than Mental Destruction or Blackhouse and there were never any guitars present.
In fact, their niche take on the genre is probably what kept them from getting broader exposure and more fans than their counterparts in Mortal, Circle of Dust, and the aforementioned artists.… Continued →
May 17, 2023
US KIDS: An Alternative Music Revolution (Film)
Some exciting news has just surfaced. A couple independent filmmakers have moved forward with their plan to document the 2nd big revival that took place 1980-1995 which featured a collection of Christian Artists on a mission to reach the lost and seeking youth who were very much looking for answers and in need of a savior. Click this link here for the GoFundMe campaign that seeks to raise funds to cover some production costs. This follows on the heels of the recent box office success of the “Jesus Revolution” film as well as others like I Still Believe, I Can Only Imagine, and the Jesus Music documentary.… Continued →
Names Without Numbers "Winter Wars" May 19th
Names Without Numbers are releasing another new song and this one is titled “Winter Wars”. Song drops this Friday May 19th on all digital networks and streaming sites. Is there a reason you haven’t listening to NWN yet? Yeah I’m talking to you, the person reading this post right now. Drop what you’re doing and head over to your favorite streaming network or youtube and give these songs by one of our scene’s best kept secrets, a listen right now! “Winter Wars” out this Friday.… Continued →
Shawn Browning Releases New Songs and "Burning Bridges" Out May 26th
Shawn Browning of Grave Robber fame has embarked on a solo effort of sorts but in an entirely different direction from the horror punk stuff. It’s a really great sound and draws upon a vast landscape of late 80’s-90’s era alternative rock while keeping it modern and aggressive at points. You can’t help but be feel drawn into Shawn’s songs especially “Let Go, Hold On”. Check out the 3 new songs below (Plus he also released a song on Valentine’s Day). “Burning Bridges” out May 26th!… Continued →
Song of the Day: Siloam - Apathy
I first heard this song probably circa 1995 & was immediately intrigued. This Canadian band takes their name from John 9:7 where it talks about the pool of Siloam. Their drummer has a story of where he came to Jesus after almost dying of a drug overdose. This SOTD contains the following lyrics that still make sense to this day: Let’s blame the world’s demise on God’s design, Apathy.
… Continued →
May 15, 2023
Song of the Day: Dominic Balli - Again and Again
This pop reggae artist has some cool dreads! For real, his music is very catchy & has gathered a positive following over the years. Currently he serves as pastor for worship life in Ventura, Cali.
… Continued →
May 14, 2023
Pop Punk Moms - The Playlist
In honor of a special day that serves as a tribute to mothers across the world, I present a little IVM Playlist called “Pop Punk Moms“. Now mind you, not every song is cheery BUT, they are female fronted, angsty, and yet some happiness shines through on quite a few 😉 So head over here on Spotify (for those that use the service) and give it a listen. I have also embedded the playlist below this post if you want to sample it. Any other suggestions in this realm of tunes can do so in the comments below.… Continued →
May 13, 2023
Song of the Day: Love Like Gravity - Dig
This ministry modern rock band has released many singles that have charted well over the past few years. Their song Adrenaline was even the inspiration for a film of the same name. Their records producers are none other than Petra’s Jim Cooper & Guardian’s Tony Palacios. Check out their latest album Break the Silence.
… Continued →
May 12, 2023
Song of the Day: Twothirtyeight - Songs Will Write the Words
Early 2000s emo, you gotta love it! One of the best, and painfully one of the most obscure in the genre was twothirtyeight (or sometimes 238). The band hailed from Pensacola, FL in the state’s panhandle. Florida seemed to be a haven for emo and hardcore during that era, and many of those bands ended up on Birmingham, AL’s Takehold Records, and then eventually on Tooth & Nail when they bought Takehold’s roster and much of its back-catalogue.
Twothirtyeight played a style of emo that minimized the hardcore influence and instead delved into a deeply emotional form of indie rock, like secular counterparts in Braid, Cursive, or Christie Front Drive.… Continued →
May 10, 2023
Song of the Day: Olivia the Band - 39
This pop punk band made waves back in the mid 2000s. This SOTD has always been my fave per its catchy music & lyrics. Check em out.
Every time it came He took the pain,
He took away,
And in our place He stands,
Everyday, all day,
He lived to die,
He died to pay,
And in our place He stands,
Forty minus one,
Sin caused undone,
Black eye and spit,
Innocence they hit,
… Continued →
May 8, 2023
Song of the Day: (Un)Worthy - Heavy Worship
This metal band has a no holds barred evangelism message & do not waver the Christian label. This tune is like a lyrical theme song to every Christian band’s message. Check out these lyrics & the reason behind the song.
What better place than here
What better time than now
Every tongue will confess
And every knee shall
Bow
We preach a message of love
They shake their fists in the air
Our light shines in the darkness
It’s no wonder they’re scared
I can hear them curse His name
I feel spit hit my face
Religion shoved down their throats
They never experienced grace
This crowd is our congregation
And this stage is our pulpit
Others think this is noise
We’re praising God with heavy worship
Other Christians can’t seem to get it
They’ve shut themselves off from the truth
They won’t reach out to the least of these
But this is what I was called to do
Let them feel Your love
See Your face
Hear Your Word
Know Your name
… Continued →
May 7, 2023
Jettee - Dancing Alone (New Music)
Jettee which is the project of Jett Foreman who happens to be the son of Tim Foreman of Switchfoot, just dropped a brand new song titled “Dancing Alone” and it’s quite good. Check out the song below and make sure to stream at your favorite digital network. Oh, and buy a tshirt here.… Continued →
Orion Walsh Drops 'Melt With The Snow (Acoustic)"
Orion Walsh just dropped a beautiful acoustic version of his classic song “Melt With The Snow” which is one of my favorite songs by him. It’s a haunting track that attaches to your soul and fills you with a multitude of emotions. Check out the song below and stream it on all digital networks now. Purchase his new collection of songs assembled as “Rambling Heart Vol. 2” right here on CD from Steadfast Records.… Continued →
The Blamed Unleash 3 New Songs off Their Re-Recording of '21'
The Blamed just released 3 “rough” songs off their re-recording of their classic album “21” and have posted them over on Bandcamp here. Check out a stream of the “Sorry for the Delay” EP, below. Who is beyond excited for this? Sounds fresh and new. God bless Bryan Gray and all he has been through. He made it through the other side with a story to tell.… Continued →
May 6, 2023
REVIEW : Craig's Brother - Easily Won, Rarely Deserved
I’ve been sitting on this review since last November and since I tend to move slower these days with my writing contributions, it’s better later than never. Let me start off by saying that Craig’s Brother have been a favorite of mine since I first heard “Homecoming” all those years ago (25!). Their blend of melody, aggression, and thought provoking lyrics set them apart from the rest of the pack. I once had a label spinoff of Indie Vision Music and in 2019 I put out their “Devils in the Details” EP, one of the best accomplishments in all my years of running IVM.… Continued →
Song of the Day: Andrew Carlton and the Swing Doctors - Swing Thing
There was a swing revival for a brief time in the late 90s. The W’s were probably the most well known, but there was also Denver & the Mile High Orchestra & One Eighty. If you like retro swing, try Ralph Carmichael. There was also (can you believe it?) a swing praise disc. Andrew would go on & release pop music in the early 2000s.
… Continued →
May 5, 2023
Song of the Day: Dodgin' Bullets - Knife To Your Heart
Since the genre first emerged in the early 1980s, hardcore (originally hardcore punk) has splintered into dozens of sub-sub-subgenres including melodic hardcore, beatdown, old school hardcore, new school/chugga chugga, d-beat, crust punk/crustcore, metalcore, emocore, and so forth. By and large my favorite artists have generally been those who kept closest to the genre’s origins, even if they took those beginnings in new directions.
The old slogan (which I’ve often quoted here on this site) “loud, fast rules!” is apropos here. In the late 90s/early 00s a revival of the style emerged, sometimes referred to as “tough guy hardcore.”… Continued →
May 3, 2023
Song of the Day: Autumn's Descent vs Relesser - Burden vs Resistance
Asche is a busy man in the music industry. I have seen him play multiple times. AD has hard rock & gothic overtones & just released the song Every Waking Moment at the time of this SOTD. Relesser has more synth overtones & recently released When the World Falls Apart. Check both bands live if you get the chance.
… Continued →
May 2, 2023
Furnace Fest Band Reunions FINAL Round Up, 2023
In honor of the greatness of a Festival that brings much joy to so many, I’m compiling a short longer list of recent band reunions announced for Furnace Fest 2023. This Fest has had a tumultuous past couple of years in light of the horrors and inconveniences Covid has brought to so many and yet they’ve persevered to cobble together an insane experience with an ongoing commitment to quality and fan adoration. While I haven’t been able to attend in either the past or more recently, I’m there in spirit.… Continued →
May 1, 2023
Song of the Day: Left Out - Wasted vs What Money Didn't Do
This band was a side project from Bryan Gray of The Blamed. I actually met Jeff Locke whom Bryan referred me to who gave me this awesome 3rd hard copy that you can now find on The Blamed’s website.
… Continued →