Confessions of a Traitor: Confessing the Truth | Posted September-14-2022
What You Need To Know
Punishing Myself Before God Does is the debut studio album from Confessions of a Traitor (C.O.A.T.). The United Kingdom-based metalcore band has been hard at work making "aggressive music for positive people" (their slogan) for the last few years. In 2022, they signed with Facedown Records to release this record. Previously, their music was available on streaming services as well as the artist-supporting platform Bandcamp.
What It Sounds Like
The new album plays to the band's strengths and shows noticeable growth. Musically, Confessions of a Traitor are a metalcore band through and through. With producer Andrew Wade (Wage War, A Day to Remember) at the helm, their sound is dynamic.
Most of the lyrics are screamed by lead singer Stephen MacConville with incredible range and ferocity. Most choruses are backed by two backing vocalists, making gang vocals a strong aspect. Fans of modern metalcore will love this record.
Spiritual Highlights
Facedown Records says that Confessions of a Traitor "wears their hearts on their sleeves." This is especially true in their songwriting. The band's passion for positive and eternal change is evident throughout the album. The album's main concept revolves around mental health, from anxiety and grief to depression and more.
Songs like the title track and "Heart of Stone" tackles struggles of self-worth in light of eternity. "Lovecraft" proclaims a powerful truth "What we do in life echoes in eternity." Some songs are more positive in theme, like "Peacekeeper," where they claim, "We rise by lifting others/If you're going through hell/keep going." Culminating in the closing track, "TVA," the band calls for us to live life at the moment and treat every day like a deadline.
Best Song
Punishing Myself Before God Does presents some of the band's best music thus far. The guest feature of Brian Wille from metalcore band Currents was a great addition to the single "Forever Hollow." Certain songs explore certain experiences in further detail. "To Care For Those Who Cared For Us" goes into the struggles of grief. "Forever Hollow" tackles the feeling of apathy and calls for change.
The best song that exemplifies the band's mission is "Peacekeeper." It carries the musical heaviness that Confessions of a Traitor holds strongly plus the positivity empowering the listener. Lyrically, it is also a prayer to God of honest reflection, saying "God, I need to heal/I need to feel/I’ve put myself through hell." This is a true gem for metal fans.
Confessions of a Traitor takes us through a journey of metalcore excellence and injects positivity into the relatable struggles we go through. Facedown Records brings out the best in the band, from the unique style of singing, the intense breakdowns, to the impressive vocals. Metal fans will enjoy what they hear, but if they listen, the hopeful truths found within will encourage them.
In previous music released independently, a softer, more melodic track has been present, which is absent this time. I think they could have benefitted from having a break from the unrelenting heaviness. Nevertheless, this is Confessions of a Traitor's best music yet and their future is exciting to anticipate.
Honor & Glory: An Honorable Debut | Posted May-23-2022 What You Need To Know:
Honor & Glory is a contemporary worship band formed by members of the Christian rock band Disciple. Additionally, members from the bands LOYALS and Amongst the Giants helped with the debut record. Their debut, self-titled was released with BEC Recordings and features both covers and originals.
What It Sounds Like:
Each core member already invests into their local churches through playing on those worship teams, so it is a natural flow from that environment to a recorded album. After 20 plus years for some of these members, they know how to exemplify a great side project. With Honor & Glory, you'll hear familiar songs like "Battle Belong" (Phil Wickham), but most of them are original worship songs.
The passion of Kevin Young's voice empowers these songs; having an excellent balance between rock elements and modern contemporary worship music. More guitar riffs and commanding drums would separate these songs from the typical radio hit, but they could fit in on the airwaves just fine and I hope they do.
Spiritual Highlights:
The whole album reverberates with devotion to God, exemplified with the melodic guitar riffs, passionate vocals, and intimate songwriting, each song is filled with hope and truth. "Victory" is about victory in Christ, if not in the present, the eternal future. "Come Alive" is a celebratory song about revival in our hearts. The mission of the band is well-put but Kevin Young, shared with BEC, saying "I'm not performing. I'm not trying to stir up a crowd or be the lead singer of a band. I'm just worshipping."
Best Song:
One of the most emotional and well-written songs is "God of My Story." The song is a dedication and testimony to the work God has done in our lives. Kevin shares, "When I look back on my life, the successes and failures and everything in between, I can see the handwriting of God through it all..."
Throughout the song, you can hear the pure focus of the band's mission. Each note cries out in personal worship to God while written in such a way that you could find this song sung in your church soon enough. The chorus is a resounding truth that claims "Every chapter is Yours/You are God of my story/All I have is Yours."
Honor & Glory is a refreshing addition to the growing catalogue of artist's side projects. The likes of which remind me of Stephen Christian of Anberlin and Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire. As the others have before them, Honor & Glory has created a unique self-expressing labor of love that focuses entirely on Christ. I think it could have benefited from more Disciple influence to further set it apart. But the band does a good job of sounding separate and focused on a new mission.
Promising EP Gives Something to Chew On | Posted May-23-2022 Have you heard Beard The Lion's cover of the Imagine Dragon's hit, "Believer?" Their version is but a taste of the hard rock band's use of heavy riffs, ambient piano and string sections, and a wide range of vocals from catchy, sing-a-long-able hooks to brutal screams. What's special about Beard The Lion is that this indie band gives a unique progressive metal experience, complete the Biblical message of faith and salvation.
Out of the Eater, Something to Eat is the band's re-recording of their 2016 EP of the same name. The new version features the impressive musical and vocal growth they have shown in the last few years. New artwork also accompanies the EP.
What It Sounds Like
Beard the Lion has demonstrated skillful musicianship in a uniquely challenging and entertaining genre of metal: progressive metalcore. The flexibility of this genre allows for much creativity and technicality that the band has nailed with their last singles, "Wretch Like Me" and "Captain of the Host." A flurry of technical riffs, impressive vocal range, and creative musical expansion have breathed new life into the original.
Spiritual Highlights
The title is a reference to Samson in Judges 14:14, which in itself is a good sign of the band's appreciation for scripture. Each song tackles a thematic truth that Christians especially will resonate with, but musically, any fan of metal can appreciate. The resounding theme is a declaration of our identity in Christ. "Harbinger" expresses of the longing to go to heaven with the chorus, "Swing low, my chariot/come forth/carry me home."
Following Harbinger's explosive intro, "Treason" leans into our identity and the persecution that comes with it. In a almost book of Job-like claim, one line screams, "Don't bother me about loyalty/Heaven knows I've been faithful and true." The middle song, "Craters" is about the impact we have in this world. "Silver Tongue" takes a different turn to warn of people or things that distract us, such as lust. Finally, "Havoc" echoes the beginning of the EP with a call for perseverance till the end of time.
Best Song
Each song on this EP is fantastic in its own right, whether it's "Silver Tongue" with a more melodic touch of the chorus and attack on lust or "Treason" with its vulnerable lament of betrayal. "Harbinger" is a great song to introduce anyone to the band though. The song opens with a proclamation of "I don't belong, I'm a different breed/Without a doubt I was born to leave." It is an exciting resonation felt within all Christians of a long-awaited call to Heaven, matched to a similarly exhilarating song.
Beard The Lion is establishing themselves as one of the most talented and bold Christian metal bands in the modern scene. This re-recording of the EP is just what they needed to prove their skills and songwriting. Having just re-recordings instead of brand new songs might not be as exciting, but they are excellent nonetheless. I'm looking forward to more from them as this will be easily be a standout this year.
Manafest: I Run With Wolves Review | Posted May-14-2022 What You Need To Know
Hip-hop rock singer-songwriter Manafest has been making music for over 20 years. He's dropped 11 albums and produced the I'm A Fighter Podcast (he continues to collaborate with other artists). Now, the artist is back with his latest album, I Run With Wolves.
What It Sounds Like
Much like some of his more popular albums, I Run With Wolves leans more into the rock sound while infusing his traditional pop and hip hop influences. Fans of his albums, such as Fighterand Stones, will enjoy a similar style. Manafest's creativity shines throughout the album; his fusion of genres and straightforward songwriting remains constant.
Spiritual Highlights
Manafest's Christian roots are still evident, even after 20 years in the music world. Some of his expected songwriting content is found, such as an intimate relationship-based song in "Forever" or his confidence empowering a song like "I Run With Wolves."
Throughout the album, some fantastic guest vocalists help the album in its diversity. Some key features come from Sonny Sandoval, lead vocalist from veteran rock band P.O.D., and Trevor McNevan, lead vocalist from iconic rock band Thousand Foot Krutch (it wouldn't be a good Manafest without him by now, right?). However on the latter, "Gravity Falls," Manafest sings, "Don't know what the hell I'm facing," which may be a turn-off for some.
However, the new record as a whole presents some great songwriting that covers a variety of topics such as hypocrisy, addiction, apathy, and more. The fact that Manafest writes about these in mature and clean ways is refreshing and needed.
Best Song
Even though the guest vocalist is not well-known around the Christian pop scene, artist Sam Tinnesz's collaboration with Manafest on "Blackout" is a standout. The single was released early before the album's release. So many fans have had the opportunity to hear it. It is, for sure, one of the best songs on the record. The songwriting is both vulnerable and possibly triggering due to the nature of an addiction struggle.
With "Blackout," Manafest shares the spotlight with Sam, but ultimately, Sam steals the show. His soothing chorus bounces off of Manafest's fast-paced verses as they explore the difficulty of addiction in our lives while still calling out for help. Sam relates to you, "I'm breakin', can you change me?/In a nightmare, somebody wake me" and "Want it to be over, devils on my shoulder/Lift this curse right off of me."
I Run With Wolves is a delightful listening experience, mainly thanks to the multiple, well-placed guest vocalists. As Manafest brings more rock elements back into the record, hopefully, he will win over fans from both the rock and pop world. Most of the songs follow formulaic structures that long-time fans might grow tired of, having heard them often. But after 20 years and 10 albums before it, I Run With Wolves utilizes Manafest's genre-blending skills and rhythmic songwriting to reach out to those struggling in life and offer hope.
Firewalker: Refined Metal | Posted May-07-2022 What You Need To Know
Refiner, a west-coast-based metal band, is releasing its debut EP, Firewalker, featuring an intro track and four full songs.
What It Sounds Like
Refiner's debut offers a great demonstration of their sound. An industrial, 2000s hardcore/deathcore sound is reminiscent throughout the EP. Notably, like many bands of that time, there are no clean vocals, but rather an impressive range of screams and growls. Bouncy riffs and gritty tones build the EP's atmosphere well.
Spiritual Highlights
The mission of Refiner's Firewalker EP is clearly heard in the intro track "Firewalker," as we hear the truth of "Fire is needed most/where it can't be seen." Hopeful and biblical truths proclaimed through heavy music are always needed and they do it without being awkward. Refiner meets fans of heavy music where they are at and offer songs that are relatable and point to Christ.
A few highlights as each of the tracks offers something substantial. "The Clock & Veil" addresses the vital need for change in our hearts and perspectives to better follow Christ. "Blackout" is similarly a cry out to God to not abandon us, even when we feel empty. "Undertow" is an honest exploration of struggle. And "Crimson Rain" is a worshipful closing song praising Jesus' work on the cross.
Best Song
"Blackout" stands out to me, partially due to the chorus. As they scream, "Never let me go/Please guide my way home," there is something that pulls me in with the raw vocals layered on the pounding music. This song is a highlight overall. With an excellent lyric video, the change in vocal style on the chorus, and relatability, it exemplifies the EP well.
Refiner offers a strong voice of hope in the heavy music scene with Firewalker. The grittiness of the EP overall is a benefit to their sound yet also lacks some polish that would help it appeal to a wider, modern audience. The lyric video for "Blackout" is also a highlight, with crisp visuals that keep your attention. Consider supporting Refiner if you want a more raw, aggressive metal that has its roots in biblical truths.
Relentless Flood: Echoes of Hope | Posted April-18-2022 What You Need To Know
Echoes is Relentless Flood's fourth release since forming in 2012. This is the first full EP they have released, as opposed to full length albums. Relentless Flood is a Christian-based hard rock band from North Carolina.
What It Sounds Like
Consistency over the long-term means being consistent in songwriting, not just sound. Relentless Flood has become known as one of most consistent Christian rock bands over their 10 years. With a style similar to bands like Disciple and Decyfer Down; gritty, southern-influenced vocals without much screaming lay the foundation for their modern rock sound.
Spiritual Highlights
From their beginnings, Relentless Flood has used their music to address relatable struggles to draw people closer to God. Echoes is no different.
The song "My Chaos" reflects on the struggles of our mental health; how sometimes we cause ourselves more harm than good. The solution is surrendering with, "I am the enemy of my own sanity/Oh God take my mind/take it to your light." The closing song, "The Decree," is a beautiful praise-worthy song to God, singing, "Everything that moves and breathes/hear the song creation sings." This EP is full of biblical depth and relatability.
Best Song
Overall, the EP is cohesive and offers a balance of ups and downs, as every release should. "Echoes" and "The Decree" offer more melodic, intimate music, while the others have variety in their heaviness.
"In Your Wake" is one of the band's best songs to date. It features excellent songwriting that encourages us to live in the redemption of God, and leave the past behind us. Lead singer Marshall Huffman's vocal leads are on full-display with smooth and powerful runs. The rest of the band rounds out the song with high-energy, passionate music in a great pairing to the vocals.
Relentless Flood's Echoes EP is an excellent culmination of all they've learned over the last 10 years. The EP is cohesive in sound and rich in lyrical depth. If you are a fan of Christian-based rock music, you'll love this EP.
Eulogies: No Apologies Need | Posted March-19-2022 What You Need To Know
Eulogies is Wolves At The Gate's sixth full-length album in partnership with Solid State Records. The Ohio-based metalcore band is known for their particularly bold and clear biblical messages in their intense music.
What It Sounds Like
Wolves At The Gate began their career with a more melodic hardcore sound and have developed a more consistent metalcore-influenced sound. Their last record, Eclipse, leaned more into the metalcore genre. Eulogies does an excellent job of calling back to their hardcore roots on some songs while expertly creating anthemic metalcore songs that fans new and old will love.
The vocal duties are shared, between Steve Cobucci primarily on cleans and Nick Detty primarily on screams, with a well-balanced amount of overlap thanks to the impressive variety and range from both vocalists. The music is at some of its best, yet, too. Joey Alarcon and Ben Summers' guitar work are fantastic, playing off of Abishai Collingsworth's commanding drumming. You'll hear crushing breakdowns, gritty screams, and anthemic choruses throughout.
Spiritual Highlights
Wolves At The Gate are heralds of the Gospel with their music, as intense as it is. And although the songwriting on Eulogies is great, fans who expect the hymn-like lyrics from earlier works won't find the same kind of writing. Don't get me wrong though, the songwriting is easily some of the best in the Christian metal scene.
In classic Wolves At The Gate style, the closing track ("Silent Anthem") presents a potently clear picture of the Gospel, repeatedly proclaiming "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!" Other songs of surrender are easily found, such as "White Flag," crying out "Feel the rain that washеs over/All the guilt that I had shoulderеd/Raise the white flag for my life."
Eulogies also tackles modern issues, such as political strive, through a biblical lens, like in "Stop The Bleeding." Pride is condemned and surrendered wholly in "Deadweight." Ultimately, throughout the record, powerful hope and biblical love are delivered time and time again; something expected from the band.
Best Song:
Wolves At The Gate are very consistent in their music; consistently crafting powerful songs of life and hope. For fans of the band's older music, I recommend "Weight of Glory." It is a wild and relentless track (nearly no clean vocals), one of the heaviest the band has made, and has similar songwriting to early tracks, too.
For fans of modern metalcore, the title track "Eulogies" exemplifies both their modern influences and the melodic side of the band. The drumming from Abishai is definitely a highlight, too, as the band is typically drum-heavy, but his talents shine on this song. With an excellent layer of piano, Steve's alluring singing, and Nick's strong screams, the song is one of their best.
Some of the most impressive performances are heard, especially on "Embracing Accusation" and the thrasher "Weight of Glory;" Steve Cobucci's melodic singing on the former and Nick Detty's ferocious screaming on the latter have never sounded better.
Wolves At The Gate's current line-up is possibly the peak of their talent thus far, with every song deserving of its place and attention. Eulogies sets the bar high for metalcore bands and proves that Wolves At The Gate are experts at their craft, with many more songs of biblical hope in the future.
Ignescent's Ascension EP Rising Up | Posted March-11-2022 What You Need To Know:
Ignescent is a female-fronted electronic rock band from Chicago. Since 2008, they have been continually honing their craft of rock music and electronic styles to make a sound that's their own. The four-piece band has opened for many Christian and mainstream rock bands and worked with world-class producers. Ascension is their latest release and shows some of the best growth in that genre so far within 4 songs.
What It Sounds Like:
Ignescent blends electronica with hard rock to create their own style of heavy music. Lead singer and founder Jennifer Benson is the lead singer, which means they are another female-fronted Christian rock band who could easily find fans among the likes of The Letter Black or Fireflight for example.
Spiritual Highlights:
The opening song, "Remnant" is a proclamation of unity among Believers. Jennifer sings, "We love with one heart we beat/no holding back we are what you see" which empowers the anthemic "We will not be silent and we will not back down. We are the remnant." The second song is "Better Left Forgotten" which follows up on the expectations set with "Remnant" and showcases a more melodic emphasis on the higher vocals.
"Anymore" tackles mental health more specifically, as it addresses relating to others struggling, singing "Everybody shows it/But you don't really get my pain." And in closing, "Final Fight" is a surrender and embrace of God's love. Celebrating by singing, "In the choices that he made/In all of the heartbreak/You, you helped me." Altogether, the EP is encouraging and its messages will be able to meet listeners in their loneliness or mental struggles.
Best Song:
The lead single, "Remnant" is an excellent showcase of Ignescent's talent and continual musical growth. Their style of electronic rock is a difficult genre to excel in. Yet, songs like "Remnant" show that they have the talent to pull it off, and even better, with a message of hope and strength behind it.
With Ascension, the growing band Ignescent offers a fresh sound in the Christian rock scene and more importantly, offers songs of relevant hope to people feeling alone or unloved. Though, the electronica takes too much in the mix sometimes, leaving the vocals less clear than they could have been. The band's passion for the Gospel shines in these songs as they reach out to the hurting and left-behind. Give Ignescent a try for something different in the rock scene, or like EDM-influenced rock, and you'll walk away encouraged
Death By Admiration: Exemplary Christian Rock | Posted January-31-2022 What You Need To Know:
This is Seventh Day Slumber's thirteenth album - Death By Admiration. It was produced and mixed by Kellen McGregor. The lead singer, Joseph Rojas, leads Rockfest Records, where Christian rock bands are being signed to and supported. This album comes only one year after the release of the band's latest contemporary album Unseen: The Lion and the Lamb.
What It Sounds Like:
The band takes the rock music that they have developed over the years and continues to shape with the modern rock sound around them. The guitars are toned low and take the focus of the mix, the bass chugs along, drums are commanding, and the vocals are gritty. Rojas' expert vocal range lends well to the emotional range of the songs. The record is one of their most aggressive rock albums too, with only 1 ballad, closing the album.
Spiritual Highlights:
Seventh Day Slumber remains a consistent and influential voice for Christian rock. Biblical hope and foundations have always been at the center of their music and Death By Admiration is no different. Coming from a difficult upbringing, Rojas' songwriting often hits sensitive subjects, but hope is always near.
Here are some highlights in this lyrically deep record. With hypocrisy is a primary, about half of the songs are specifically focused on this theme. "Solemn Oath" targets hypocrisy with the cry, "I pray to God/that one day you will finally change!" Along with promises to not be like the hypocrite, this kind of empathy through pain is a great example of the love that only the Holy Spirit can bring.
"What I've Become" explores the guilt felt in being lost in addiction, which was also the lead single. "Halos" meets us within our pain in grief, with "I know it's not my fault/but I'm consumed with the thought of your last words." This song is also one of the heaviest musically and vocally.
Best Song:
The lead single, "What I've Become," is a prime example of Seventh Day Slumber's musical growth through the years while sticking to their guns. Some songs on the record show a heavier, experimental side, while others focus on the tried-and-true rock and roll that fans know and love from the band. So, "What I've Become" is highlight, as its foundations are in the band's bigger hits, yet shows growth in the sound.
The songwriting is close to Rojas' heart and powerful testimony to Christ, as it explores a broken life crying out, "Another night, I'm all alone/Peeling my skin down to the bone/My eyes becoming bloodshot/From the hands around my throat." Yet, the hope found in Christ is present, as it delivers hope, surrendering, "God, am I too late?/Oh, come and open up my eyes/I give it all to you tonight."
Seventh Day Slumber's Death By Admiration is a war cry against hypocrisy and heralds hope despite the pain and destruction around our lives. As expected, the band keeps a biblical hope as the foundation for songs that tackle sensitive themes.
The crisp mixing on the record sounds different and the hyper focus on hypocrisy as a theme might get old for some listeners wanting more variety in thematic writing. Though, it is a topic that needs to be addressed in a mature, biblical way, which they do well. After 25 years, they show that they can still rock and roll without losing their signature sound.
Buried Above: Christian Rock with Friends | Posted January-29-2022 What You Need To Know:
Buried Above is a hard rock band led by Colton Reed. He is a singer/songwriter who further honed his skills in music alongside producers Josiah Prince and Andrew Stanton with this album. This is Buried Above's debut rock album. The single, "Blood," rose on various Christian rock charts.
What It Sounds Like:
Buried Above bears strong resemblance to current Christian rock bands, being Reed's primary influences. Of them all, Disciple is the most similar. Two factors help Buried Above stand out - the impressiveness of a debut and the guest vocals. Christian rock favorites are found throughout, such as Dawn Michele from Fireflight and Matt Biard from Spoken.
Spiritual Highlights:
Reed's influences in rock music and his own Christian upbringing are evident in this record. Reed shares on his band's website that "the world is a very dark and gloomy place...But the hope of Jesus is still as prominent now as it has been since the time of Paul. This generation is desperately in need of a reminder of that hope, a reminder that there is a better way to live our lives."
The songs reflect his heart for a lost and broken world. Songs like "Never Too Late" and "Already Written" showcase tenderhearted songwriting, meeting us in our struggles. Meanwhile, "The Front Lines" and "Blood" proclaim the power and hope we have in Christ.
Best Song:
In a display of both musical prowess from great musical guests and Buried Above's own capabilities, "Blood" represents this record well. The catchy chorus proclaims the biblical hope that Buried Above stands for, "I see the things I've/But all you see is blood!" Josiah Prince (of Disciple) is the guest on this track, both vocally and musically with an excellent guitar solo.
All things considered, Buried Above's debut rock album lays a strong foundation for the band to further grow into their own from. Fans of the Christian rock genre won't be particularly surprised with this record, but it will definitely fit right in their playlists. With gritty screams, explosive musicianship, and the presence of great singers, Buried Above presents an enjoyable hard rock album, backed with biblical roots.
RyanAdams_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
