Tag: pennsylvania

Denison Witmer is a guitarist and vocalist. A classic singer-songwriter in the indie folk style. Witmer grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania attending Lancaster Mennonite School, representing the faith tradition in which he was raised. At some point during his youth, Witmer began taking guitar lessons from Don Peris (The Innocence Mission), and recorded his first album while he was in high school. The project was not marketed to the public, so his true debut came a few years later in 1998, in the form of Safe Away.… Continued →

It’s Holy Week, the most important season in the church calendar, so it’s important to celebrate everything Jesus did for us, displaying his love through the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. When it comes to music, it seems that the metal bands give us the most material when to comes to focusing on the passion events. Sacrament was a super-heavy thrash metal band from Pennsylvania. They formed in 1989, and played a style of thrash that was at times much closer to death metal. One could almost argue they were the first Christian band playing in the death metal style, and they wouldn’t be too far off.… Continued →

Let the debate be finished, and let this be the final word: Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the first Christian rock artist ever. Decades before Larry Norman, or even his English predecessors like The Crossbeats or The Pilgrims, Tharpe was writing and performing a new take on Gospel music, utilizing skillful guitar playing and innovating techniques that were used by hundreds of others after her. In fact, it is likely that Tharpe is not only the first Gospel rocker, but the first rock-and-roll artist period, with her early material being created as early as the late 1930s, more than a full decade before Bill Haley and the Comets released “Rock Around the Clock” or Chuck Berry was instructing Johnny on how to B.… Continued →

I don’t know what to categorize these types of quasi rap artists. They are harder than rock rap & some feature screaming/yelling music. Handsxfeet, Man Ov God, CRXWN, Post Quam, Listener & this project are in this pretty broad category. Bella features MeWithoutYou’s Aaron Weiss & Ray Taddeo whom I both met when MWY was first starting out.   … Continued →

This controversial acoustic punk artist is a one man band named Derek Zanetti. He can be compared to Destroy Nate Allen which is a fun act to see live. Beware, the song does use the A word towards the song’s end, but it talks about Christians who do not act like Jesus called us to act. The song literally challenges the listener to think about the opposites of who we can be. Most of us interact with people every day. Who do you want to be known as?… Continued →

This singer/songwriter wrote a lot of worship songs that also talked about missionary work. He released his 1st LP in 1974. Read his Wikipedia page to find out more. He has an extensive discography, but here are 2 of my faves. Thank mom for introducing me to these songs so many years ago. … Continued →

Let’s mix it up with some Celtic folk punk music akin to The Crossing or a toned down Ballydowse. They are like Jesus People USA to a degree in that they are a Christian community. I ran into another community like their in Charlotte NC when I lived down there several years ago. Anyways, this pretty song is obviously worship & I love what vocalist Scott Krueger’s view that “our Christian walk is supposed to affect every aspect of our lives. So as artists, we want to have that shape our art.”… Continued →

Warning: this is a perfect pop song. If you haven’t ever heard one, brace yourself. The simplicity of pop, yet the nuance of alternative music. Lyrics that long for something deeper, more meaningful in life, reflected in the writer’s interaction with art . . . Words that form a sentence Words that form a phrase In a poem, or a letter Could not convey the meaning Of what this man has done In a painting, on a canvas Bear in mind these guys wrote most of their debut album when they were still in high school.… Continued →

This band started out as Uzziah after a king in 2 Chronicles. They released music on labels such as Facedown, Dwarf, Bulletproof, Flying Tart, etc… Their style was a mix, behind pop & oi! punk. Have a gander & check this band out if you haven’t already. … Continued →

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 →

This folk-punk band was formed as a sort of atypical worship band. Their purpose was to create “authentic church music devoid of hype.” Hailing from Pittsburgh, the band features members of Last Hope and Timbre, its roots firmly embedded in the punk scene. Their one and only album was self-released in 2010, but saw a digital re-release in 2019 via Zap Records (home of 2 Minute Minor, Voice of the Mysterons, October Bird of Death, and others). I reviewed the album in 2019, here, and really enjoyed it.… Continued →

Hearkening way back to 1990, Rob was actually in Petra for a brief stint. He recorded several solo albums & worked with Margaret Becker & Kansas. Most of this stuff is int he AC realm, but this SOTD has really stood out to me. Think about how faith works in our everyday lives & focus on areas where we can see God really working in our lives. Susie works in a restaurant Dreams all day ’bout the things she wants Like security And somebody to hold her tight Now five years back she was on a roll She came to Jesus, He saved her soul But she fell away When things didn’t go just right Now she’s wondering ‘Bout that empty feeling in her life Once you taste the truth Nothing else will satisfy You might have to go through fire You might have to walk through water You might have to stand Where nobody else has stood You might have to go through fire But that can bе good Billy worked in a factory Till he lost his sight back in ’83 In an accident Somеbody else’s fault Now anybody could understand How that could make you a bitter man But he’s not that way He’s thankful for what he’s got He says “What I’m looking forward to I don’t need these eyes to see I’ve got a treasure up in heaven And it’s waiting there for me!”… Continued →

Who likes Black Chery Soda? 2 choices-Pop punk band or the drink. Band is from PA & lasted almost the whole 90s time period. They had a few songs that hit “Christian” radio & I’ve always liked this one the best. … Continued →

WOA is a great band to see live & lots of bands I have spoken with have taken at least some type of inspiration or respect for them. This one has always been my fave. I am adding on to this as their drummer Kaleb passed away recently since I had written this. Let’s remember him in our thoughts & prayers. … Continued →

Here is a metalcore band I saw live a while ago. This song has always woken me up for some reason! And they aren’t from Tx believe it or not – PA. … Continued →

xDisciplex is a spirit filled hxc band whose Lantern ep I had back in the mid 90s while I was in high school. I have always dug this song more than their others. After the band disbanded, members were involved with several bands including Jesus Wept, N.I.V., Anchor, Dodgin’ Bullets, Shockwave among others. … Continued →

Zao is a metalcore band that formed from the spirit filled hxc scene back in the 90s. Seen them a few times & hung out with them back in the day. When they were in Myrtle Beach, I yelled & they ended up playing my song Lies of Serpents River of Tears & then the crowd wanted Skin Like Winter. A good video to watch is their documentary The Lesser Lights of Heaven. Anyways, if I had a daughter I wanted to name her Savannah. The song, though, eludes to sin & its devastating effects that can lead to suicide.… Continued →

The Letter Black is a modern female fronted rock band from Pennsylvania. Originally known as Breaking the Silence, they have released a few LPS at this stage of their career with the latest being on Seventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas’ Rockfest records. Anyways, hope you like this symphonic esque rock song about believing in Jesus even though we cannot see Him. Sometimes I feel like I’m alone Hoping, praying You hear me Screaming inside to ease the pain Save me, keep me alive I’m not afraid anymore Of what I don’t know Believe, in the unknown (I put my faith, in the unknown) Believe, in God alone (I put my hope, in God alone) Have faith in what you don’t know Sometimes I feel like I have to cry Until my emotions have run dry I’m breaking inside to hide the pain Save me, keep me alive I know you’re here I can feel you now I know your love embraces me Give up all your sorrow Have faith in what you don’t know In God alone Have faith in what you don’t know You don’t know … Continued →

Believer is a Pennsylvanian 4 piece technical thrash metal band. Forming in 1985 they changed their name from Deceiver. I remember buying their Sanity Obscure LP in my hometown of Normal, Illinois & then later getting a cassette tape of Dimensions. A few years back they released 3 2-song singles & I haven’t seen anything from them since. This SOTD I have seen as one the origins of the symphonic metal scene. Below are the Latin lyrics along with their meaning & a live video also.… Continued →

Tantrum of the Muse is a band that can be hard to define, including their lyrics & sound. I would suggest soundwise post hardcore, but with a prog & punk twist. Their label was the same whose roster included early Underoath & Narcissus. After the band’s break up, the members joined other notable bands  such as Hand of Fire & Huntingtons & OnceDead. … Continued →

New independent metal label The Charon Collective have recently re-issued Pennsylvania band Sacrament’s debut demo Presumed Dead on CD and digital formats. The death/thrash metal band went on release two full-lengths, seminal death metal release Testimony of Apocalypse and technical thrash beast Haunts of Violence. The re-issue is accompanied by the news that former Sacrament members have re-formed as Testimony of Apocalypse, and are writing new material for a future release. Presumed Dead can be ordered from The Charon Collective here: https://thecharoncollective.bandcamp.com/album/presumed-dead-2021-remaster?fbclid=IwAR3RtKoHZ2sSGB2-zSPwhS1tABQrTwI-gVHda1Z19zNFQHrk0SluASZ4XvM… Continued →

Pennsylvania’s Witness Protection Program bring to mind music that falls between the space where arena & modern rock meet. There a few bands with the same name, but the obscure 2003 release Fire Ready Aim is chalk full of hard rocking songs & is the reason why I wanted to write for IVM in the first place. Christian bands that have come & gone & not left much of a trace as one cannot easily find a lot of music in my collection. Today’s SOTD lyrics speak of being humble.… Continued →

Welcome to what is probably the most underrated album in Christian alternative music history. The problem is largely that it just wasn’t heard by enough people. This Pennsylvania band comprised one third of the ‘holy trinity’ of Christian jangle pop, rounded out by Virginia’s The Throes and Minnesota’s The Swoon (coincidentally all band names beginning with the definite article). They released their one and only album, not counting their independent demo cassettes, through Talkingtown (also home of metal band Armageddon) and co-released through R.E.X. Indianland is a real slow-burner of an album.… Continued →

How many of y’all like covers? Well, ABR has done several & have made them into their own metalcore sound. Covering songs from Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Saves the Day & The Legend of Zelda, Nofx, tons of Christmas ones & now System of a Down, they are always welcome to my ears. Apparently, they played this one during soundcheck before their shows tons before finally deciding to do a cover. It is also one that they showcase more of their clean vocals than before. The single was released December 15th on Fearless Records which is the label that has brought us music from Starset, The Color Morale, Blessthefall, Wage War, Classic Case, The Almost & my fave band of all time, Underoath.… Continued →

Zao had already made a name for themselves, working up from the underground, with a 7″, cassette demo(s) and 2 full-lengths. They were quickly becoming known for taking hardcore in a new direction. I remember a friend telling me that although he loved the riffs on their sophomore effort Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation, he also found them really hard to dance to. With the third album, they would push the metallic limits of hardcore even further. From those opening riffs you knew this was going to be something special.… Continued →

If you asked me to name the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard, there would be a lot of contenders, but this one would certainly be up there. Haunting melodies (courtesy of Karen Peris), cryptic lyrics that hint at familial pain of some sort, topped off with Don Peris’s intricate acoustic guitar work and some incredible harmonies as well. It’s hard not to be moved by music this gorgeous. Check out the original version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izewuu3rX8k The band reworked the song last year. Listen to that version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPbWVCGt_eM… Continued →

Although this was released around Easter of 2019, I only recently stumbled across this gem while perusing the Zap Records page on bandcamp. As it turns out, its history is even deeper than, having been recorded and self-released in 2010. Hailing from Pittsburgh, the band has roots in the punk scene in that area, but UHWU is a completely different animal. The union was formed to create “authentic church music . . . devoid of hype.” So I guess you could call this a worship band, but it’s not what you think.… Continued →

Most readers will know Stephen best as the founder/frontman for alternative metal acts Tantrum of the Muse and Unteachers. Where Tantrum and Unteachers ‘taught’ us how to rock out, solo Sarro efforts want to make us uncomfortable. Spirit Shrill is his second solo album, continuing to explore experimental and noise fields. This album is one 55-minute-long track, although there are distinct movements within the piece. Samples abound, and whereas SMS’s last solo album critiqued our culture’s fascination with sex, Spirit Shrill is an unapologetic critique of the Charismatic movement.… Continued →

Heavy-hitting, Spirit-filled hardcore from Gettysburg, PA.