It is a new year and I am so excited for all the new music that we get to listen to in 2022. It's no secret that the last two years have been difficult for a lot of bands and artists, especially with fewer tours and personal struggles. Yet, through it all, we know that many bands returned to the studios when they couldn't do much else. As a result, I think that we will see some excellent releases this year that have been created in the last two years.
The Christian Rock Recap is here to help you discover Christian-based rock and metal bands through their single and album releases (though albums are scarce recently). I spotlight three releases and list the rest of the recent releases down below, along with links to previous articles and playlists. I hope you'll find artists that you can connect with and enjoy through this series this year and continue to support this great genre and community of music.
Seventh Day Slumber - "Death By Admiration"
Another veteran in Christian-based rock, Seventh Day Slumber, is back with their new single, "Death By Admiration." This song features vocalist Tyler Smith from the metalcore band The Word Alive (surprising, but welcome). Death By Admiration will be the band's first full-length record release since 2019'sCloser To Chaosalbum. "Death By Admiration" follows their first single, "What I've Become," showing off a low and heavy tone on the guitars with a gritty vocal range from lead vocalist Joseph Rojas. The vocals from Tyler are a good fit, too. These two singles are very promising and I'm excited for the new album.
Skillet - Dominion
The champions of Christian-based rock, Skillet, are back with their triumphant 11th studio record, Dominion. Dominion encapsulates the faith and courage that Skillet brandishes while creating songs that are memorable and encouraging. Songs such as, "Valley of Death" and "Refuge" showcase their melody well; songs like "Destiny" and "Beyond Incredible" are powerful anthems. Many, however, may not like the closing track, "White Horse." But I'll leave that discovery up to you. All-in-all, Skillet created their best in recent years.
Buried Above - Self-Titled
A newcomer to the Christian rock scene is the metalcore band Buried Above. Their first full-length record is a self-titled effort. It was produced by Josiah Prince and Andrew Stanton (both artists associated with Disciple, but also have their own recording studios). As an understandable result, Buried Above's music does sound like Disciple, yet retains some individuality that is needed in this genre. They have a variety of guest vocals throughout the album (a fun treat for fans of the genre). The hard rock energy is continuous throughout the listening experience. I recommend supporting these guys. And I bet we'll see them on all the Christian rock tours soon enough.
