Tag: alternative

Sam's The Hero have just dropped their incredible brand new song titled "In The Absence of Applause" through Small Step Records and it's available through all digital networks. This song is filled with big choruses, loads of those classic pop-punk harmonies the scene has become world renowned for, and some of the most uplifting lyrics I've heard recently. It's really exciting to find a band like Sam's The Hero still carrying the flag of Christian pop punk, proudly presenting honest, hopeful, and outstanding songs in the midst of such profound darkness in our world. These guys are the perfect combination of classic sounds found in groups like Fenix Tx, Home Grown, Blink-182, Autopilot Off, Yellowcard, Olivia The Band, Sick of Change and the lyrical output of individuals and groups like Reese Roper (Five Iron Frenzy/Brave Saint Saturn), Josh Kemble (Dogwood), Ghoti Hook, Hangnail, Slick Shoes, Watashi Wa, early Plankeye etc. Just a plain great summer jam with a deep heart tugging anthem of nostalgia and grace. Highly recommended and a solid 5 out of 5 from Brandon Jones/IVM.

It’s been a trying week. England lost in the semifinal of the World Cup. I recently found out that some bands in a scene that I deeply love are fascist and antisemitic. Later I watched another guy (from a band I’ve seen live) “preach” the most hateful and disturbing “sermon” I’ve ever heard. And you know what? As much as it sickens me, I can’t hate any of them for it. I feel sorry for them, for not really knowing the true love of the Lord–Jesus of Nazareth.… Continued →

Poor Old Lu are launching a special campaign to help fund the re-release of their classic 1996 album, "A Picture of The 8th Wonder" On Vinyl (and CD). The album is being completely remixed and remastered and the campaign goes live right here on July 8th (click the link). Or visit 8thwonder.campaignerator.com It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since not only this album but also a wide range of what many would deem as "classics". 30 years ago I had just graduated high school and was booking small concerts in church basements and concert halls and now I'm staring at middle aged me at 48 and smirking at how I once viewed other 40 year olds in the music industry as out of touch. Funny how times change and the years pass us by. Let's all raise a glass to these long forgotten (but aptly remembered) classics and toast to our younger selves or for you kiddos discovering our ancient past toast to youthful exuberance and undying passions. Cheers! *We need Plankeye, Value Pac, Driver Eight, EDL, Six Feet Deep, Unashamed, Overcome, Bloodshed, more Focused, Black Eyed Sceva/Model Engine, Bloomsday, Insyderz, more OC Supertones, Squad 5-0, Hangnail, among many others etc. vinyl now!

A new band on the rise by the name of Natural State just dropped their killer new single titled "Losing It" featuring Disciple and it's so dang catchy that I find myself streaming it over and over again. It's a great song and if you've never heard the band before, a perfect introduction. Check out the music video and song, below ​👇🏻

KingdomCore Presents the No Hope In Hell Tour featuring Heal The Hurt, Magdalene Rose, and Unbroken Reign. ​The tour spans 15 dates and is being put on by KingdomCore which will be the brand's very first tour they are putting together as "KingdomCore Presents". Read more below.

Light The Way return with a new song today titled "Steez Machines" and it's everything you love about this band and so much more! Go listen on your favorite digital network and check out the music video right here on our website, below! It has real heart, tongue in cheek humor, anthemic choruses, and the hope this band has been conveying since day 1. It's the perfect tasty morsel of pop punk fun built for the summer of 26'. Instead of growing cynical with age these guys get brighter, more passionate, and as bold as ever proving that age is more than just a number. So hop on that skateboard, ditch the time stamp, and ride off into the sunset because pop-punk and Light The Way will never die!! Light The Way 2026.

I’ve written here on IVM (and elsewhere) about the so-called ‘holy trinity’ of jangle pop (I mean the term playfully, no disrespect intended), which includes three Christian bands that all start with the definite article: The Walk, The Swoon, and of course The Throes. Each of these bands offered something unique and worthwhile to the genre, but The Throes had the most longevity. The band formed in northern Virginia/DC suburbs in the late 80s, and by 1989 had issued a critically acclaimed, if sparsely available, demo cassette Era of Condolence.… Continued →

Our scene has been the breeding ground of scores of quirky independent labels, each with its own personality, so to speak. Daniel Smith’s (of Danielson Famile) Sounds Familyre is a great one in which to put your goggles on and go on a deep dive of their full catalog. The Singing Mechanic is Vincent Voss, and we know don’t a ton about him, other than the obvious: he’s a mechanic who sings (literally). He also plays a mean piano. What? Piano-driven indie rock? You heard that right.… Continued →

Sally Grayson, American post-punk meets alternative country artist who lives in Germany, has just released a brand new single. She said of the track, “Amidst all of the world’s sorrows, I’m releasing a beautiful love song at the beginning of spring to help people escape into a moment of beauty and remember the amazingness of human connection.” Check the song out at her website here: https://www.sallygrayson.com/to-be-loved-press… Continued →

Richard Nicholson was a relatively important figure in independent Christian music in the 80s and 90s, but sadly too few American listeners are familiar with his work, largely because of his British origins. So let’s start with a little history lesson. He first became known through his work with new wave/punk act Giantkiller, who released three influential albums in the 1980s. Sadly only one of those reached American shores, 1981’s Valley of Decision (or Whose Side You On? as it was known in their native UK).… Continued →

This is it. The band, the album, the first release on Tooth and Nail Records. I remember when this came out. Nobody had heard of Tooth and Nail or Wish for Eden. I just knew this abrasive alternative/punk/grunge/hardcore hybrid was good. Really good. A little simplistic maybe, but super raw and totally scratched where I itched at the time. Wish for Eden’s impact is hard to understate. I was talking to some friends recently who are younger than me, maybe 15-20 years. These are folks heavily involved in the Christian independent scene.… Continued →

Grace Graber has been grabbing headlines lately with her spirited take on pop-punk and mid 00’s emo tunes that bring a fresh look at nostalgic yearning toward yesteryear. She has a unique take on pop music and a voice built perfect for her guitar centric sound. Mix that up with a spiritually focused and Christ centered lyrical output and any Grace Graber song will be on my radar. The fact that she got the guys in Audiophile to join her on the Hawk Nelson cover of “Everything You Ever Wanted” (hence the EP title), my friends you’ve encountered a future chart topping hit maker at hand.… Continued →

Liverpool-based The Free Zone duo met in a Christian Union at Liverpool University in 1982, bonding over post-punk and especially Londoners, The Clash. Initially called Cross Purposes, The Free Zone wanted to take the energy, urgency, and excitement of punk rock without the music sounding too primitive. The Free Zone was officially born in 1984. The band comprised drummer/sequencer Peter Scarlett and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Tim Thwaites, and played mostly secular venues around their home city, even opening for NW England stalwarts The La’s. They also played a handful of gigs with fellow Liverpudlians, neo-folksters Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus.… Continued →

Rising indie artist Coqui will release a killer new EP titled “Living 2 Die” on September 5th via Dream Records. Check out the amazing new song “Only Idol” in music video format below this post.… Continued →

Seth Davey formerly of the band Attalus, has just dropped his beautiful new worship centric, solo song titled “39 Years and Counting”. It is honest, beautiful in sound, and all together engaging on a deep spiritual level. Don’t ever count out a great indie artist and don’t discount their talents just because their songs might not have that major label/promo stamp on it. This is really incredible stuff and worthy of repeat listens. It has the IVM stamp of approval so there you go!… Continued →

Rivulets and Violets was a short-lived project spearheaded by Masaki Liu. Liu is a producer and engineer whose name appears in literally dozens (actually over a hundred!) of albums from Christian alternative and metal bands, especially in the 90s. He also owns his own studio, and has been a member of post-punks The Lonely Now and roots rockers Dimestore Prophets. But R&V was a unique project. Their first album was released in 1993, and featured mostly instrumental songs. While there were no lyrics, there were occasional vocal parts, mostly in the form of la’s and other non-verbal vocal sounds.… Continued →

In completely unexpected news, Noise Ratchet have returned with a NEW (demo) song called “Who We Are” and it sounds darn near perfect song wise for 2025 but also rides on that classic 00’s emo/pop-punk train alongside other classic bands like Saosin, Thrice, Story of the Year, The Used, and Letter Kills. I hope more music like this is on the way soon. Welcome back! Listen to the song below.… Continued →

Fat and Frantic was a delightfully quirky indie band from England, active from the mid-80s and into the early 90s. While the band was made up of Christians (at least one of whom later entered full-time ministry in the Church of England, and another who has a decorated career as a choir director), they managed to stay out of the ‘Christian ghetto’ and had lots of mainstream exposure, at least in their home country. When I lived in England, I would come across people who had no connection to the church but had fond memories of seeing Fat and Frantic live.… Continued →

Hopeful. keep getting better and better, am I right? This is on par with anything the major labels have to offer and I can say that without any hint of cynicism or sense of irony and I say it in full confidence. No one is paying me to dig the sounds of Hopeful., I just legitimately enjoy this band and I think all of you will too. It’s rock music without all the sub-genres and unnecessary tags. Just great music. Check out this music video for their brand new single “Fractured Soul” below or by visiting YouTube at this link.… Continued →

Everyone’s favorite quirky pop musical genius returns with five songs. Having done stints with Fold Zandura, Lassie Foundation, and Cush, Lenz has ventured out solo since 2001’s Hot Stuff. So what’s it like? This is pop cynicism at its finest. Sugary sweet pop melodies with some of the most bizarre and quirky lyrics yet. Is Lenz Scottish? Because this is right up there with Belle and Sebastian or early Teenage Fanclub. Then again, this EP is hard to peg for so many reasons (yes, the release title is ironic).… Continued →

The 90s was such an interesting decade for music in general, but for the Christian scene in particular. There was such a diversity of sounds and multiple genres exploding in all different directions from alternative to metal to punk to hardcore to hip-hop and electronica. Then even within each of these there was a multiplicity of subgenres all moving in different trajectories at the same time. It wasn’t uncommon to go to a gig in the 90s and see a ska band opening a show that also included indie rock and hardcore.… Continued →

Hopeful. have just dropped their latest new song and it is titled “Fractured Soul”. All this new music including their latest single, further proves the power that rests in independent music making and the intersection between Faith and living told through music format. The band had this to say about the song, “To everyone who has ever struggled with affliction, addiction, doubt, anxiety, depression or anything in that category. You aren’t alone! Let this lyric sink in: “It’s time to listen to that voice inside your heart.… Continued →

Southern California based Indie Rock band – Hopeful., just released a really special new song that is all the best parts of Faith, inspiration, and a message of hope and redemption. Give this new track a listen right here below this news post. Check these guys out and give them a follow.… Continued →

I just got wind of this new project called PADOVER that features the talents of Damian Horne of Silage fame. He emailed me and gave me info and I’m certainly glad he did. The band just released their new EP “Paper Catches Fire” and they want you all to give them a listen. I think a lot of old 90’s alt rock fans alongside all the latest and greatest from the past 20 years or so of modern music making will find something to appreciate in the music of Padover.… Continued →

Orion Walsh’s return to the music scene with “Walking Through The Forest” promises a soul-stirring experience, celebrating one of the most compelling albums of his career and absolute personal favorite of mine. Releasing on October 31, 2024, via Fair Vaux, Walsh’s 7th studio album takes listeners on an introspective journey, blending lo-fi folk and emo undertones into a deeply evocative collection. Walsh, a celebrated singer-songwriter from Lincoln, Nebraska, draws on vivid, nostalgic imagery, crafted over a 6 week tour across the UK and Europe to reflect on life’s cyclic journey of breaking and healing.… Continued →

Southern California based indie rock band by the name of HOPEFUL. just dropped a brand new song titled “Words Don’t Pay” which you can listen to below this post. Fans of Switchfoot, The Killers, Neon Trees, and The Fray will find something to fall in love with here. Check them out on instagram at hopefultheband.… Continued →

Indie pop duo Bon Voyage was a collaboration of Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, and about a dozen others) and his wife Julie on vocals. The project was somewhat accurately described as “Starflyer with female vocals,” which is not inaccurate though not really complete either. Whereas SF59 added layers and layers of guitars and fuzz, Bon Voyage stripped things back to the pop essentials. Julie’s vocals are akin to Julee Cruise, most famous for her work on the Twin Peaks soundtracks. The band released three albums for BEC and/or Tooth and Nail, and we haven’t heard from them since 2008.… Continued →

Welcome to the 1990s, the decade of alternative rock, grunge, flannel, and a time when MTV still played music videos. While the Christian music scene had tons of alternative rock bands, few were as effective as Springfield, Missouri’s Johnny Q. Public. The band found the right combination of distortion, melody, noise, and big rock hooks (but not too big) to make a huge impact on the music scene. They released two albums, 1995’s Extra-Ordinary (for Gotee Records) and 2000’s Welcome to Earth, which was also on Gotee but licensed to the mainstream Roadrunner Records.… Continued →

Spoken in Tongues have returned with a brand new song titled “Jackie” and it is on all digital networks, now! The song will appear on the band’s upcoming EP, “Awkward Future”. You can preorder very limited amount of vinyl, tapes, and CDs of the EP right here on the band’s official bandcamp page. The self-described “your new favorite GRUNGE band” from Nashville, TN. is sure to get new and old fans alike of the genre alongside the greatest indie rock bands out there, excited. Oh and did I tell you that some special faces are a part of this project?… Continued →

A lineup that’ll blow most fans minds of that early to late 00’s emo (or whatever you want to call it cool guy) is heading for your town this summer. The “20 Years of Tears Tour” will feature Hawthorne Heights, Thursday, Saosin, Anberlin, I See Stars, Cartel, Armor For Sleep, Stick To Your Guns, Emery, and This Wild Life. Now not all the bands will be at every date so be sure to check the tour poster below for the line up on each date closest to you.… Continued →