Tag: song of the day

Hot take: Crashdog was the most punk band the Christian scene ever produced. In fact, there are only a handful that would rival them for the title. But when we factor in a number of elements: sound, lyrical focus, longevity and impact, they come out as the clear winner. There are at least two different iterations of the band. The first one featured Spike Nard (actually Tim Davis) on vocals, Andrew Mandell on guitar, Brian Grover on bass, and Greg Jacques on drums. This version recorded the band’s first two albums Humane Society and The Pursuit of Happiness, until Greg Murphy took over on drums for Mud Angels.… Continued →

I’ve made a somewhat comical observation that in independent Christian music, it’s the metal bands who give us the best material for Easter. I guess it’s something about our Savior dying a cruel death, then rising again victoriously to win our salvation–that message just goes better with loud, aggressive music. Believer was quite possibly the best and most original thrash band to come out of the Christian scene, forming in Pennsylvania in the late 1980s. They released a cassette demo in 1987 and contributed a track for the legendary East Coast Metal compilation the following year.… Continued →

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

When you read about, or hear talk of “Spirit-filled hardcore,” this is what they’re talking about. Where were you when you first heard Strongarm? Do you remember? For me, I think it was on the first Helpless Amongst Friends compilation. I was blown away by so much on that comp. The raw aggression. The lyrical strength and (what seemed like) commitment to the Lord. There was a passion behind the music and the lyrics that deeply resonated with me as a young 20-something in the 1990s.… Continued →

The name Saviour Machine evokes a wide variety of reactions: love, confusion, controversy, and about a dozen others. My friend George reveres them as his favorite band of all time. Others find them dense and difficult. Still others enjoy the dark mysterious sounds as well as the lyrical approach. The band formed in California in 1989, and soon after issued a demo CD of gothic metal replete with classic metal riffs and dramatic vocals. Their label debut released in 1993 for Intense Records and still featured an even combination of gothic rock and heavy metal.… Continued →

Grace Graber has been rolling out a very solid amount of worship/ccm covers in her unique pop-punk stylings over the past few months. Today we get her cover of “Oceans” which a few years ago was literally EVERYWHERE but now Grace Graber has unleashed this now dated worship jingle from the depths of the sea and given it a pop-punk feel. The awesome new cover is available now wherever you find your music or by listening below.… Continued →

Protect Your Heart are on a literal roll with fantastic new material already this year! We’ve gotten “Losing My Mind” and “Run” so far in 2026 and now today they drop “Kings Rd”, an absolute fantastic, road tripping, an endearing so cal adoring new single. This perfect tribute to their beginnings and all that sums up their hometown appeal in the form of an easycore springtime anthem. Check out the music video for “Kings Rd” right here on IVM, below.… Continued →

Static Ultra have just returned after a short break to drop their comeback indie jam “Tie The Rope” which has that old school emo/pop-punk flavor blended with some post-hardcore sensibilities. This is the perfect song for spring time and the coming heat (for those of us on the West Coast, we’re feeling the HEAT right now!). Put on those headphones and jam this at full volume, you won’t be sorry you did! Check out “Tie The Rope” right here below.… Continued →

Third wave ska hit the Christian scene hard in the mid- to late-90s. There were dozens of bands in the chrindie scene fusing punk, ska, reggae, and alternative rock in different measures. San Jose’s Freeto Boat was one of such bands, but their brand leaned heavily on the punk side of ska-punk. It was almost like punk with horns at times, especially on their debut album Hindsight 20/20. By the time the sophomore album End of the Beginning hit, they pretty much dropped the ska influence altogether, opting for a primitive hardcore punk sound.… Continued →

Scott Blackwell was a well-connected producer and DJ who brought house music to CCM, and played a huge role in the advent of Christian-themed electronic dance music. He founded N*Soul Records and later Myx Records, both of which saw releases in subgenres like house, techno, rave, breaks, and more. Besides his important roles in the Christian music industry, he’s also worked with mainstream artists as diverse as Joe Diffie (country), Debbie Gibson (pop/top 40), Book of Love (synth-pop), The Gap Band (funk). Blackwell has more than 150 credits to his name in production, remixes, songwriting, and so forth.… Continued →

This one-man grindcore act from Ecuador was incredibly active for 3 short years. Comprised of José Barragán, the band released three projects from 2006 to 2008. The first was a 7-song EP Redemption of the Flesh, first released independently in 2006, then re-issued in 2007 through Eirene Records, and then reissued digitally in 2018 through Bearded Dragon Productions. The other two were split releases with other bands. One was the 6-Way Sin Decomposition Split with 5 other Christian grind bands. And the second one was a 4-way split with 3 non-Christian gore-grind bands that I won’t say more about here.… Continued →

Blenderhead was an indie rock/punk/post-hardcore/math rock band from the Pacific Northwest and active throughout the 1990s, disbanding in 2001. They were one of the coolest and hardest to peg bands to come out of the 90s Christian alternative scene. It was this innovation and genre-blending that made them unique, but also perhaps limited their fanbase, always being just slightly out of reach for the average listener. While much of Christian punk in the 90s was either in the pop-punk vein or moving towards hardcore, Blenderhead dabbled in a range of angular, dissonant sounds, all the while maintaining a sense of cohesion.… Continued →

Guardian (or rather Gardian as they first spelled it, or even Fusion as they named themselves to begin with) started out in the 1980s as a traditional heavy metal band and had morphed into a hybrid hard rock/alternative/groovy blues project by the time they finished in the early 2000s, changing their sound dramatically throughout their existence, though always in hard rock territory. However, along the way, they recorded quite possibly the best (or at least one of the best) glam metal releases ever put out by a Christian band (yeah, I said what I said–of course they’d have to contend with Stryper, Zion, Holy Soldier, Angelica and Whitecross for the top spot).… Continued →

New Zealand folk/roots rock artist Derek Lind released his first album Mixed Blessings in 1986, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that I first heard his music. In 1993, R.E.X. Music, who had mostly been known for metal releases and a handful of alternative artists, began a sublabel dedicated to acoustic and folk music, Storyville Records. So Lind’s third album, 1990’s Slippery Ground was repackaged for distribution to the U.S. Lind’s association with Storyville, and the label’s existence, was short. 1994 saw the release of Stations, this time exclusively through his label Someone Up There, but this time the release saw distribution in the US as well as his native New Zealand.… Continued →

Melodic death metallers Exousia hail from Mexico. They have been making music together since at least as early as 1999 when they released their debut Serpiente de Bronce through their native label Alcance Subterraneo Producciones (who also put out releases by Deborah, Encryptor, Uzias, and others). The band released two more studio albums across the next four years, often incorporating elements of gothic metal, thrash, and black metal, though still staying true to melodic death metal for the most part. They also released two different DVDs featuring live concert footage and other video content.… 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 →

Chilean band Dustt operate in the doom/stoner metal vein (the genre, not necessarily the lifestyle choice). They have been active at least since 2010, when their debut album Testigos de Dolor first released. An eponymous album followed in 2011, through Martyrdom Records. A remastered version was issued in 2012, as well as another album Refugio the same year. Both of the latter are available for digital download or streaming via Bandcamp (Dustt). I don’t know if the band is still active, but it would be great if they are, as there are not enough faith-oriented bands playing in this style.… Continued →

Our longtime readers will know we try to dig pretty deep into the diversity of what independent Christian music really means. While the connection from psychedelic rock of the 1970s to the indie rock and punk of the 90s and beyond isn’t obvious, it is real nonetheless. Psychedelic rock and acid rock was directly influential on the development of heavy metal, and indirectly on the development of punk rock–even if it was as a reaction to it. One of the best and most iconic artists of the Jesus Music era was Concrete Rubber Band.… Continued →

25 Years of Indie Vision Music: Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Perseverance I began this write up back in June of this year and it has taken me more than half the year to finish it. It has been a crazy and chaotic year with everything that has taken place in my personal life. Much of it was good and surprising and some other parts have been well, rather stressful. Now as we approach Christmas I am met with my home in escrow, another home to move into, planning a wedding in April 2026, and the passing of my late grandmother on December 23rd.… Continued →

Every year at Christmastime I try to choose a selection for the Song of the Day that is both seasonally appropriate and also relevant to our scene. Sure, it’s the day after Christmas, but since Christmas historically is a 12-day feast, we’re still in Christmas! August Burns Red has been making engaging and sometimes complicated metalcore since 2003. They are known as one of the more progressive and technical bands in the genre, regardless of faith affiliation. They are also known more for being “Christians in a band” than being a “Christian band.”… Continued →

I would label this genre modern thrash. Oil released 1 EP, 1 LP & a live album from 1997-2004 before calling it quits based on my recollection. The most recent project by the band members is a little known band called Blankenstein. Their vocalist Ron Rinehart was in mainstream thrash band Dark Angel back in the late 80s, early 90s. Their 2000 release Refine was a mainstay in my CD collection that year. Kalubone Records released several hard to find bands that I have music from all of them of course.… Continued →

Oh my gosh, why is it that sometimes the best bands have the shortest-lived careers?!? Pink Daffodils released one 3-song EP and then a follow-up single (literally a one-song CD) and then disappeared. Their style of female-fronted semi-melodic yet intensely screamy hardcore scratched my brain in very particular way. To this day, their Listless EP is one of my favorite and most unique hardcore releases ever. There was one more Pink Daffodils track, offered on the Trampled compilation from Boot to Head Records. Hailing from Philadelphia, the band shared some members with punk mainstays One-21, but with a very different sound.… Continued →

Sorry about the long time between song of the day’s y’all. And Happy Christmas Eve 2025!!! So The Wednesdays started out as a pop punk/rockabilly band in 1999 releasing an LP on Jackson Rubio records which also released music from Blaster the Rocketman (boy), Havalina, amongst several others that most long term fans of this site would probably readily recognize. Today’s song of the day is the first one I heard from them and hearkens to their Alabama roots. Just a fun rockabilly song. Unsure of the “Christian” influence on this band, but Jackson Rubio was pretty prevalent in the Christian indie punk./rock… Continued →

Comprised of twin brothers Noel and Robbie Arthurton, the Bronx-born but California-raised Dynamic Twins were part of the first wave of legitimate Gospel rap coming out in the early 90s. Like so many others of that era (including S.F.C and Freedom of Soul), they had early connections to J.C. and the Boyz, and even wrote a song for Crystal Lewis (who returned the favor by singing on one of their tracks). Dynamic Twins had that southern California, West Coast rap style, but wanted to proclaim the Gospel clearly through their craft.… Continued →

Midwest emo act Kerith Ravine formed around Akron, OH in 1997 and were active until 2001. In that short time they recorded 2 self-released CD EPs, released a split 7″ with fellow Ohioans Cpt. Nemo, and also released a full-length album through Bulletproof Music (Dear Ephesus, Aleixa, etc.) The band played a fun subset of Midwest emo which had them incorporating strings on one track and screaming on another, all the while holding subtle melodies close. After Kerith Ravine (name for the brook where OT prophet Elijah took refuge while hiding from Ahab) finished, some of the members then formed Lovedrug, which also contained former members of Eso-Charis.… Continued →

Russian Orthodox gothic/black metal? While that description might sound unusual to most American listeners, that is exactly what we have here. Gospod hail from the Russian Federation, and have released one album for Michigan-based Vision of God Records. I don’t have a ton of details about the band, but we do know that it’s a one-man project written and performed by Tumanov Roman Mikhailovich. Musically, however, there is much that can be said. Their sole album, Исход Израиля (or, Israel’s Exodus) features a really intriguing mix of gothic metal and black metal.… Continued →

Garage punk trio Upside Down Room first popped up on most fans’ radars with the release of their 1995 self-titled EP for Tooth & Nail Records. However, they’d already released 3 cassette demos prior to that, going back as early as 1991. The band hailed from southern California, and for the most part played a raw, gritty form of punk rock and roll. Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, et. al.) was recruited to produce their T&N debut and also contributed some guitars to the record. While UDR was definitely committed to punk rock, Martin’s signature layered approach added a quality to the garage rock previously unheard.… Continued →

Today’s band hearkens back to what many consider the fun days of what got them into metalcore.  Collective Dust is a crabcore revival band which references the metalcore subgenre known for incorporating electronic elements and “crab-like” chugging guitar riffs, often with syncopated rhythms. This is a ministry band rooted in Christian beliefs as seen in their mission statement. “The band’s mission first and foremost is to be servants of Jesus Christ and stewards of the gospel, reaching and ministering to as many as will listen,” Wilson says eagerly.… Continued →

A new band that I’m not sure has gotten much coverage by IVM (my apologies) but is entirely worthy of exposure is… HOPE DEFERRED. The band are releasing their debut full length titled “Darkness Remains” next week. The band is comprised with members of Embodyment and The Showdown including Showdown lead vocalist David Bunton who also fronts this new band. Check out their new song “Brethren of Blood”, below! This sounds very much like the heaviest side of Embodyment meets the heaviest of The Showdown.… 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 →