Tag: Nu Metal

Hailing from the fertile heavy music scene of the greater DFW region, and specifically Ft. Worth, Travail mixed heavy rap-core and nu metal riffs with dark tones and lyrics about the Christian struggle. Heavier than most in the genre, the band was sometimes referred to as “gothic rap-core” due to the darker tones and minor keys. Yet the lyrics pointed to higher things: I’ve failed you I’ve lied to you Yet you forgive and let me live Oh God help my weakness Oh give me your strength Father help me I’ll go to any length On my face, on my chest, on my knees God help me please My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak The band released a split EP with Luti-Kriss (who, of course, eventually became Norma Jean), and two full-length albums: Anchor of My Soul for the secular Pluto Records and Beautiful Loneliness for Metrovox, a sub-label Metro One.… Continued →

Relent have just put out an extremely powerful, truthful, and eye-popping music video that is revealing as much as it is a sad revelation of what goes on in the darkest places of humanity. The video centers around the horrors of sex trafficking and the evil desires of mankind’s perversion. Lust kills and destroys the spirit of so many but there is hope. Watch with the mindset to share and make changes.… Continued →

I remember when I first heard this song. It was on the Tooth & Nail Songs from the Penalty Box compilation, amidst other songs ranging from pop-punk to hardcore and everything in-between. But Blindside was hard to peg. It was heavy and raw, and kind of hardcore, but not really. There was a mild rap influence in the delivery, but it wasn’t really rapcore either. Post-hardcore hadn’t really occurred to me as a category yet. The band put the song on their debut, self-titled, full-length album and a year later released a second–both albums on Tooth & Nail/Solid State.… Continued →

Relent has been around and making music longer than most realize; most likely myself included. A 2 song ep in 2016, the Heart Attack ep (2019), the re-release of the Heart Attack ep (2020), with 2 new tracks, and now a full length, aptly titled, “Heavy”. And yes. Yes, it is. From the first listen to these guys a number of yrs ago, I was hooked. I’m a sucker for downtuned guitars with well constructed grooves, thunderous drums, and a mix of rapped/sung/screamed vocals.… Continued →

We Are PIGS has dropped the track “Kids” featuring Brian “Head” Welch and J.R. Bareis (of Love and Death) as well as Morgan Lander of Kittie. The song addresses issues facing this generation and offers hope for the future. A portion of the sales from the track go to We Are Moving the Needle and The Whosoevers. Check it out on Spotify or wherever you find your digital music.… Continued →

Living Fire recently dropped a new ep, titled “Mercy Between Love & Hate”. This release was different than what I was expecting, but a in a really good way. The new ep shows the guys leaning in a much more hard rock/nu metal direction and they pull it off quite well. I’ve given the release a number of listens since it dropped and have yet to find a song I feel the need to skip or that feeling of wearing any of it out, so, to me, this release has great listenability (yes, I just came up with that, shut it, haha) as well as repeatability.… Continued →

These 5 Down was an amazing nu-metal band that sounded akin to Korn. Their first cd was played so many times when I was stationed in the military. I even ran into a guy one time wearing the band’s t-shirt & we have been friends ever since. For like 20 some years now. The band members have stories to on their coming to Jesus so be sure to do a search on it sometime. This song Hymn was chosen simply because of its music & lyrical content as “All in the name of Jesus I bind you up” you don’t find everyday.… Continued →

Zahna just unleashed her heavy new song titled “Better Run!” and you can take a listen to it below in lyric video form. The song is available on digital networks now. What do you think of this new track? Hard Rock is Back!… Continued →

The guys in Love and Death will not only be releasing a very long awaited follow-up to their  2013 debut release, “Between Here and Lost” this week, but will also be performing a livestreamed show with some special guests (Lacey Sturm, Matty Mullins, and Keith Wallen)! The wait for the new album, “Perfectly Preserved” is finally over! Check out the videos below! Grab a ticket for the coinciding show this Friday and check it out! Pre-orders HERE.… Continued →

Earth Groans is a metal band with an explosive, thundering sound that grips its listeners with their sound. Interest in the band in the past few years seems to have skyrocketed among fans of the genre and for good reason. So when you hear news of something new from them headed your way, you pay attention.   In a rather ambitious endeavor, the band has chosen to cover a song from the one and only Deftones.… Continued →

Rockfest Records’ nu metal band, Relent, have released a new song, “Think You Got It” and are currently in the studio recording the followup to their debut release, “Heart Attack”. The band delivers their hard hitting style once again and continues to build the anticipation for their sophomore release. Check out the lyric video below and let us know if youre ready for more from these guys.  … Continued →

Here’s another obscure band for ya! Broken released one LP on Mercy Street Records which had a small yet diverse array of artists: Real (Nu metal), Popcorn (rap), one of Seventh Day Slumber’s early releases & Salt (Southern rock). Broken has a hard hitting heavy rapcore/nu-metal sound. They released 3 songs to indie Christian rock/loud radio: Beautiful, Stand & Cage. My fave was the 1st track which had lyrics like “beautiful the blood shed for me”.… Continued →

Fresno, Cali nu-metal band Gryp (fronted by educator Curtis Shamlin) is epic imho. First heard this band’s firt release Indecision while checking out demos at a defunct Christian bookstore in Bloomington, IL & I was immediately hooked. It was different than what was out in 1997 in the Christian realm with staples Ungrateful, Heal Me Back & You Were There. I remember being on their street team when they released their ep Left Behind while stationed in the military in Columbia, SC.… Continued →

Earlier this week, Relent posted about “numusic” now that they’re back from tour. Anyone eager to hear more from these guys?… Continued →

Andrew Schwab and Project 86 have just made their debut 1998 “Self Titled” album available once again for streaming/digital purchase. The album has been offline for a number of years probably due to some offense with the song “Independence?”. This album put the Orange County, CA. band on the map in 1998 and by the time of “Drawing Black Lines” in 2000, this band’s mark was clearly felt. I was lucky enough to witness the band’s first few shows back when Ethan Luck was in the band and they had a very heavy, aggressive, RATM influence.… Continued →

Indie hard rock/nu-metal favorites – Poetic Descent, are back with a brand new single titled “Shallow Graves” (Feat. Paul Carnahan of Time & Eternity) this Friday! Check out a teaser clip below and watch the lyric video premiere right here on IVM July 24th. See below.… Continued →

Finnish rapcore at its finest in the early days of nu-metal. Simply said, this is one of the most high energy bands imho ever (just see the video for their song “Point of No Return”). It seems they did not keep the same label as each release was through a different one. Having formed in 1997, their debut LP (aptly titled) RU Ready was released on Bullroser (the Finnish label responsible for releasing several musical heavyweight artists such as Deuteronomium & HB) in 1999.… Continued →

I’ve reviewed 3 different releases from Shadow Puncher (for 2 different publications), and one of the things I’ve noticed is the diversity of sounds and influences on each project. While the one-man band from Norway functions within the death metal genre, each release has a different feel. The earliest material had a strong thrash influence, then moved into a djent-heavy sound. This EP is the first to utilise keyboards in a prominent way, thus adding a progressive element.… Continued →

A little over a year ago, I wrote a review for “Heart Attack” by new(er) nu metal band, Relent. Recently, the band has re-released the ep on Rockfest Records and so, I thought I’d re-review the re-release. Without looking back to the review done last March, let’s revisit “Heart Attack”, including the newly added tracks. I will say that since the initial review done last March, my love and excitement for the ep hasn’t waned a bit; it has longevity.… Continued →

If you’ve yet to hear Relent, you’re missing out. The nu metal/hard rock outfit from San Antonio came out swinging with their debut ep, “Heart Attack” last year that was a front to back slammer. The band has more recently signed with Rockfest Records with plans to re-release the debut ep, which will include their newest song, “Low”. The song deals with the subject of depression as well as addiction and talks about the hope we have to overcome it.… Continued →

Oklahoma’s Gears of Redemption is Nu-metal at its finest imho. RIYL: Korn, These 5 Down, etc… Complete with a thumping bass guitar, driving drums & angst ridden vocals, this 4 piece band brings the controlled chaos. 2000’s The War of Blood & Rust (released by Godfather records) was the only album to emerge before the band disbanded. The rockier indie Christian shows showcased This Is Me, Shedding Skin & My Life in their playlists. Their song No Time found its way on Cross Rhythms Extreme Music Sampler Vol 4.  … Continued →

In a Facebook Live earlier tonight, Relent announced the release of their next single, “Low”. The track will drop on May 8th, wherever you get your music and will appear on the re-release of the bands debut ep (release date TBA), “Heart Attack” through Rockfest Records. The song has already been leaked in a Facebook Live session by head of Rockfest Records and Seventh Day Slumber frontman, Joseph Rojas. You can check it out at the link HERE at around the 17:35 mark.… Continued →

Nu-metal band Relent, has signed to Rockfest Records this past week. The band, who released their debut ep, “Heart Attack” last year, can be seen on the City Rockfest Tour later this year and will also be performing with Fire From the Gods in Austin, TX on March 17th despite the cancellation of SXSW. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out!… Continued →

Just a short while ago, nu metal band Relent dropped a cover of the song “Jesus Freak” in honor of the 24th anniversary of DC Talk’s album of the same name. Check the video out below and leave your thoughts. (Dude. That breakdown.)… Continued →

Thousand Foot Krutch are releasing a special version of their album “The End Is Where We Begin” on deluxe double Vinyl. Pre-order the double vinyl right here. Read more about this vinyl pressing, below.… Continued →

This 5-song EP contains 3 songs of melodic death metal (tracks 2-4) sandwiched in between 2 longer, unusual songs that genre-wise feature a hybrid of nu metal, doom metal and some classical instrumentation. Stylistically, the middle 3 tracks are similar to bands like Pantokrator, World to Ashes and similar melodeath bands (or In Flames and At the Gates from a mainstream perspective), but there is not a huge emphasis on the lead guitar. These are the strongest tracks with the most cohesive sound.… Continued →

Sometime last year, Brandon was kind enough to introduce me to a band named Relent. At the time, the band only had a 2 song ep available called “Embers”, but it was more than enough to pique my interest. What we have in these guys is a what I’m going to call a new nu metal sound. Normally, when I’m putting together a review, I like to make comparisons to other bands to help give an idea of what to expect sound-wise, but here that’s a little difficult.… Continued →

After a long absence, These 5 Down have returned, bringing their style of hard rock back to the masses with a new album titled, “The 2nd Coming”. The first single off the album, “Coming of the Son” is available now and you can check out a brief clip of it below. So, the way the new album from These 5 Down will be released is as follows: one track per month up til October (maybe more on occasion), when the full album will be set up for purchased as a whole.… Continued →

Hard rock and nu metal fans rejoice! These 5 Down have returned! Preparing to release their first album in over 12 years, the band has released their first single, “Coming of the Son” off the upcoming release, “The 2nd Coming”. The single is a strong statement that the band is back with a vengeance. Be sure to head over to www.These5Down.com to sign up for their email list and to get to the shop so you can get a copy of the new song!… Continued →

I Am Second, an outreach ministry dedicated to getting involved in the lives of others and keeping Jesus first, has just released “Loud Krazy Love”, a documentary featuring Brian “Head” Welch and his daughter Jennea on Showtime. I Am Second has a number of videos featuring folks from all walks of life and showing the difference Christ has made in their lives. Have you seen this one yet? If you have, what did you think?… Continued →