Tag: song of the day

The Festal Shout is a street punk band which reminds me of Flatfoot 56 or Hanover Saints. If you want to read a cool review see this article https://www.indievisionmusic.com/reviews/festal-shout-tumultuous-noise-ep/ . The bands name comes from Psalms 89: 14-18 ESV Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. … Continued →

Ignescent is a female fronted modern rock band from Chi-town. Their first album was produced by Wyrick in 2008 who had headed up Rugged Records back in the day & released a couple of sweet industrial tinged LPs. Since then, the band has released a bunch more stuff including Remnants which just found its way onto mainstream radio as of 3/31 the day I am writing this. They remind me of older Fireflight. It’s nice to see bands we saw in the Christian market to reach mainstream success imho.… Continued →

Virginia Creeper describes itself as Industrial black which makes sense, but appears to also have goth influences. This SOTD eludes to living for Jesus & dying to yourself daily. Which I totally agree with the message & should do better myself. … Continued →

Encryptor was one of the many projects of the multi-talented Felipe (AKA Phil) Diez, and was one of the first Christian death metal projects from the nation of Panama. Phil later relocated to Rhode Island and carried on his career there with several projects: Sorrowstorm (black metal), Entorn (doom metal), Northern Ash (death metal), and Rehumanize (grindcore). So far, Encryptor is my favorite of the lot, though I confess I haven’t heard all of his projects. The band recorded 2 albums: Drowning in Flesh (on Nascent Frost Productions), and Sermon Decay (on Dysmorphic Records), both of which were available only very sparsely, independent of any substantial distribution.… Continued →

Crimson Thorn is one of the earliest Christian death metal bands. I remember their first album & was introduced to a preacher & Your Carcass. This SOTD is incredibly heavy & one of my fave loud songs of all time. Also am stoked I was able to hang out with Luke Renno who is a pretty friendly guy & was at the album release of his current band Taking the Head of Goliath a few years back. Pic is me with Luke. … Continued →

Parental Petulance is a punk band from Peoria, Illinois. My son & I were totally here when they made this video. It was a fun night with them & Must Build Jacuzzi & Bub Walker & the Tombstones (whom are supposed to be releasing their debut this year!). Also check out their song Disobedience. … Continued →

The Great Commission is another offshoot from hxc band XdeathstarX along with Sleeping Giant. Seen them live & always like these 2 SOTDs per their lyrical content. On a side note, they are featured about halfway thru Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble music video with their song When it Rains it Pours. … Continued →

I first heard Sixpence None the Richer while listening to a cassette demo in the Christian bookstore in 1993. They had me from the opening acoustic guitar riffs on “Field of Flowers,” the opening track from The Fatherless and the Widow. That album was fantastic, but even so, it was only a foretaste of what was to come. While the band are largely known for their romantic pop radio hit, “Kiss Me,” from their self-titled third album, many fans and critics alike are drawn to their sophomore album, This Beautiful Mess.… Continued →

Avery Parkway has a cool band past. with Joel being the drummer for Olivia (a pop punk band from Hawaii) & Confide & touring bassist for Of Mice & Men. His solo music has debuted on iTunes & surpassed mainstream heavyweights such as Justin Bieber & Adelle.  This SOTD is a straight up rock worship song. Per his own words “Everything” is a thank you letter and an offering of worship to Jesus for never leaving me no matter how jacked up and lost I truly was.… Continued →

October Bird of Death is an punk band from Illinois whom I have seen live. Vocalist Wiley Willis has been busy these past few years with several bands including 2 Minute Minor which have numerous releases. I have their sticker for this album cover on my bass cab. You can read the whole album review here https://www.indievisionmusic.com/reviews/october-bird-death-death-made-offer/   … Continued →

Crux is a hxc crust punk band that released albums on Tooth & Nail and Boot 2 Head Records. They had a music video for Wasted Day that can easily be found. This song I remember being on a Christian loud music chart back in the day. Be prepared to headbang!   … Continued →

Y’all better to get ready to put your boxing gloves on. You ready for this? Pokinatcha is the best MxPx (Magnified Plaid) album. Why? It was melodic, but still very much punk–bordering even on old school hardcore at times. It’s by far their most unique record, before they settled into the more polished pop-punk sound that everyone remembers. To be clear, I have no problem with the direction they later took (except for maybe moving further away from Christian spirituality and theology as the years went by, but that’s another post altogether).… Continued →

Krystal Meyers reminded me of a Christian marketed Avril Lavigne & I’m pretty sure that’s the image she was going for if one see the music video for anticonformity. This song has always struck me as my fave & apparently there are 3 other versions with the vocals being such in Indonesian, Mandarin and Thai! … Continued →

Blenderhead was a weird band to me back in the day: I had their t-shirt w/ the logo for Prime Candidate in high school. MXPX was my fave punk band & this song I heard on an indie Christian terrestrial radio show & then Haven came out on a T&N comp. The bass is what drew this song to me.… Continued →

Gideon is a melodic hxc band from Alabama. I saw them in their early incarnation when they just switched vocalists to Daniel Mcwhorter. Actually interviewed Timothy Naugher back in college. This specific song was chosen due to the show I just got through Vikings Valhalla which is set 100 years after the original series. Leif is heavily portrayed in the show. Lift your hands in worship to this one! MY GOD IS LOVE!!!! Pour out your Grace Rain down your love You are the Joy, That floods my heart NEVER AGAIN!!… Continued →

This hardcore band hailed from Colorado Springs. They infused their heavy chugga chugga rhythms with melodic parts without ever getting whiny. This led some fans and writers to dub them post-hardcore, which isn’t fully accurate, but I can see why they said that. What strikes me about this song is the passion behind both the music and the clear-cutting lyrics: Where is the hope? Where is the love? Without these your system will self-destruct While it might seem that the song was aimed at society in general, it is actually pointed at the failures of the Church to stay true to the pure message of the Gospel.… Continued →

Falling Up is a  band even mothers can like lol! My mom actually likes this band for real. They were quite different as they played a experimental variety of alt-rock as they continued in their discography. They have many good ones but this is my fave. It was co-written with Family Force 5 & try not to sing along with “Let Go Now!” … Continued →

Shmunks For You were a post punk hxc band from Texas. Apparently this specific album was inspired by George Orwell’s 1984. Also check out The Known Is Ended. … Continued →

Sleeping Giant is an awesome band nuff said!  They are what I like to consider a spirit filled hxc band due to their performance & unabashed way they present Jesus. They split off from another hxc band along with The Great Commission, both of whom I have seen live. I totally miss the Scream the Prayer Tours! Here are 2 of my faves that will get you on fire for God! . … Continued →

The 1990s saw a huge revival of ska music–that funky fusion of reggae and punk, or so it seemed at the time. The real history of ska was much deeper than that. Unbeknownst to the general populace, ska actually pre-dates reggae, going back to at least the 1960s. It fused traditional calypso beats with horns and sounds gleaned from New Orleans jazz. Reggae emerged in the 70s, as tempos slowed down and the overall feel became more relaxed. In the 1980s, amidst emigration from the Caribbean to England, ska mixed with punk and/or new wave to create the “Two-tone” scene, a sign of racial integration amongst working class punks and skinheads represented with the ever-present black and white checkerboard imagery.… Continued →

Makeshift 3 is a metal tinged pop punk band which has been around for a while. This song seems to have been redone a few times, but I like it & hope you do also. … Continued →

Tourniquet-What am I to say about one of my top 5 bands ever? Besides some outstanding songwriting & metal music, the band has stood the test of time. They have been going since the 90s. I remember You Get What You Pray For on an Intense Records comp & I was hooked. Pathogenic was one of the first cds I bought (first was Rich Mullins’ Winds of Heaven & Paul Smith’s Human Touch) & I got it the same day as Galactic Cowboys Space in Your Face.… Continued →

Mumsdollar has an interesting way they chose their name.  Their vocalist was at a Hillsong conference & only had a dollar to give for the offering, his mum’s dollar. So the name stuck & they ended up being one of the biggest kiwi (music from New Zealand) bands. This SOTD has always stood out w/ its melody & lyrics. Since I met you I’ve known there’s no-one else who could ever come close And the day that you said That you would be mine Meant now I’d be happy till the end of time I love you more than words could say And I pray to God everyday I thank Him for showing me the way to find you Now there is nothing but blue sky.… Continued →

One of the most beloved and respected bands in the traditional heavy metal scene, Apostle was a slight anomaly in that they never released an album on a record label. Formed in 1983 in Jacksonville, FL, the band released a total of 5 independent full-length albums (not to mention EPs and compilations) all while remaining an unsigned band. Apostle opened for Christian metal stalwarts Whitecross on a national tour, and also had a song featured on East Coast Metal for Regency Records, in 1988, where I first heard the band.… 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 →

Over the Rhine has been around for a long time since 1989. Hailing from Ohio, their genre consists of mostly folk, but back in the day they were considered “alternative” by the standards we had back then. They reminded of a softer Fleming & John. It’s crazy, but they have even shared the stage with Bob Dylan! I have always liked this SOTD along w/ Jacksie.  … Continued →

Curbsquirrels were a band whose first release was on a 3 song EP w/ fellow pop punkers Last Tuesday. This SOTD has 2 different versions, one where he doesn’t & when he does get the girl! Have fun! … Continued →

There is an absolute plethora of underground black metal bands in the Christian scene. While this is a fact to be celebrated, at times it is difficult to judge the quality of releases, when there are so many. Antivenom actually managed to escape my attention until recently. This band, like many in the scene, is fairly mysterious. I don’t know where they are from, although one member (whose name will be recognized by Christian bm aficionados) is Armath Sargon (Armath Sargon, Elgibbor, Katumus, Light to Dead, others), who is from Finland.… Continued →

Speck is a fun band whose lyrics are most definitely of the “not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ” type. Which is a very good thing imho. They were signed to Gray Dot Records which is the same label that brought us Third Day & a few punk rawk bands. This SOTD is just good clean fun. What cha think? Leave your comments … Continued →

Manic Drive began as One Cross. Hailing from Canada, they have branched a few genres including modern rock, power pop & dance. They have several good songs & have even toured with Winter Jam. This SOTD has always been my fave & its lyrics elude to how sin has taken a part of him & he wants to be back with Jesus.   … Continued →