Earth Groans: The Body EP | Posted September-03-2021 What You Need To Know
Rock band Earth Groans continues to release only EPs, their fifth being, The Body. It reflects on the struggles of humankind during a difficult global situation. The band released "Drink" as a single.
What It Sounds Like:
Earth Groans has developed its metallic hardcore sound over the last couple of years. Its style of hardcore music is chaotic and the band wouldn't have it any other way. The vocals are rough and gritty and the music is chaotic and aggressive. And the lyrics are always well written.
Spiritual Highlights
With The Body, the band focuses on the need for community and the struggles we face without it. Lead singer Jeremy Schaeffer explains with news site RockOnPurpose that "missing movies and going out for dinner was a bummer but we were isolated from our family, friends, churches, social, and music communities. It's a fresh breath of air to return to our communities, our 'bodies.'" Earth Groans dives into these struggles and more through a biblical perspective and hope while remaining relatable.
Best Song
The lead single, "Drink," stands out for good reason. The band added melodic elements as heard in the previous release, Prettiest of Things with the vocals, mixed aggressiveness from another previous release, Waste, and finally added southern influence to it. The result is captivating and it stands out in the heavy music scene.
Earth Groans has honed its craft well. Weaving poetic, impactful lyrics with relentless, heavy music, The Body is a fantastic hardcore EP. There are some cleaner vocals on "Drink" which may leave some listeners wanting more. So, we have two EPs in one year, but even if this is the only EP this year from Earth Groans, it'll do nicely.
The Fire Itself - A Bright Flame for Phinehas | Posted August-30-2021 What You Need To Know
The Fire Itself is Phinehas' fifth studio album, four years since the release of their previous record, Dark Flag. The metalcore band has signed to Solid State Records with the release of this new album.
What It Sounds Like
This is metalcore at its finest. The production and mixing hold together all their signature aspects of that thrashing sound. Phinehas boasts shredding guitar solos, plenty of riffs, intense vocals and lyricism, heavy breakdowns, and thundering drumming (from their new drummer Isaiah Perez). If you like metal, you'll love The Fire Itself.
Spiritual Highlights
Phinehas draws inspiration for this album straight from lead vocalist Sean McCulloch's life. He's a firm believer in Jesus, yet has faced difficult times that led to some questioning and some reaffirming. These songs are honest reflections of being refined through trials (Book of James), calling out for help, and affirming truths. There is no shortage of relatable lyrics nor spiritual truths.
Best Song
A record like this has no strike-outs. Every song is memorable and impactful. The title track is notable, and "The Fire Itself" presents the band at its best. With "The Fire Itself," we see some of the best that Phinehas can do. But as usual, Phinehas includes one "ballad" of sorts - "The Storm In Me." This is a deeply emotional and sombering song that you can't miss. Unlike previous records, there is no instrumental track found.
The Fire Itself was well worth the long wait for the release. Phinehas has created a metal album that will be remembered for years to come. The impact of The Fire Itself is and will be huge for both fans needing to hear a message of hope and artists looking for inspiration.
Death Stare - Staring Down Defeat with Hope | Posted August-26-2021 What You Need To Know
Death Stare is rock band The Protest's second release with Rockfest Records and fifth musical release overall. It features the singles "Greater" and "Show Up For The Showdown."
What It Sounds Like
The Protest channels some old-school influences into anthemic, modern rock tunes. The rock band does a great job of interjecting guitar solos and breakdowns to empower the songs. Chants, anthems, and gang vocals build the EP's arena rock sound. Following their last record, Legacy, the gritty screaming is present, matching the aggressive lyrics. The singing has also improved--especially in the ballad, "Hell To Hold You."
Spiritual Highlights
Each song is encouraging, relatable, and honest. A few highlights: "Paper Tiger" is a song about overcoming fear in our lives. Joshua 1:9 comes to mind: 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' "Greater" is a bold declaration of sending glory to Christ rather than self. "Voices" is about mental illness: the "voices in my head." It empowers the listener to stop wallowing and find help (musically, it sounds like Disciple).
Best Song
"Greater" is both a powerful and humbling song. The chorus is quick to remind us where our goals should be in life: "I don't do it for the glory/I don't do it for the game/I do it all to make them see this is all for something greater than me." This is a must-hear song for any fan of Christian rock.
The Protest's Death Glare is full of arena rock that is sure to encourage you. The aggressiveness varies, such as the growl-filled track, "Paper Tiger" to the roaring of "The Mountain." Death Glare does not find the band experimenting much, rather, digging into what they know and love best. This is a cohesive rock EP that is a highlight for the rock scene.
The Letter Black - They're Born For This | Posted August-18-2021 What You Need To Know
The Letter Black'sself-titled offering, the first with the Rockfest Records label, is definitely a 2021 rock standout. It comes with two singles released ahead of time, "Rise" and "Born For This." The Letter Black is the band's fourth album, the first in four years.
What It Sounds Like
There are a few surprises to an otherwise straight forward rock album. Rapper Blake Whiteley brings some heat to a track and Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch offers melody on another. The band added some electronic elements as well. Leaning more towards modern hard rock, there are some expected screaming vocals and lower-tuned guitars leaning toward heavier sounds, though more clean singing than their previous album, Pain.
Spiritual Highlights
The Letter Black is filled with songs that encourage the listener to overcome the struggles in their lives and to take charge of changing for the better. "Tomorrow's" sends a message of hope, declaring, "I will not go under (I will not go under)/Because the One who made me/Holds all of my tomorrows." "Let You Go" is a comforting reminder that we're not alone--whether with God or a friend. "Throwing Darts" seems out of place though with a more revenge-aimed message.
Best Song
It's not often that the best song is one with a guest vocalist, but that is the case here. "Born For This," featuring Trevor McNevan, is high-energy and catchy. The Letter Black aims to balance aggression with melody and this is a great example of how to do that.
The Letter Black's fourth album takes parts of each previous album and then carves its own path. It does well in moving forward in its sound, but overall loses the edge that seemed to be developing. The band has become confident in their own rock sound, and they use it as a vessel to deliver empowering and encouraging messages in their lyrics.
Misery Season - Aggressively Spotlighting Abuse | Posted July-08-2021 What You Need To Know
Misery Season is a six-track EP from upcoming Christian-based deathcore band As Lions and Lambs. This is the eighth year of the band releasing music. Over 2020 and 2021, they have gathered over 150,000 streams on their two singles for this EP.
What It Sounds Like
The EP takes musical inspiration from the hardcore, deathcore, and beatdown music genres. It reaches brutal heights, both musically and vocally. Yet, there is a variation of extreme music sounds heard within it.
Spiritual Highlights
Misery Season is focused on domestic abuse and the dramatic effects it has in our lives, both externally and internally. As such, some songs and lyrics get quite dark–fitting for the genre. As Lion and Lambs does not shy away from their faith and hope. Songs like "F.F.F" and "Escape Artist" offer more optimism. Songs like "Hate Speech" and "No Return" are brutal in their depth of the topic tackled.
Best Song
"Escape Artist" features everything Misery Season offers. The musicianship and vocals are intense and relentless. Breakdowns and layered guitars are in abundance in the EP and showcased in this song. The message highlights the struggles of abuse while being an outreach to God for healing and forgiveness. This is also a great closing song for Misery Season.
Misery Season achieves in just six tracks what many bands strive for in full albums. As Lions and Lambs can please every fan of the extreme music genre with this EP: vehement vocals, fierce music, and mature songwriting. The lyrics get pretty dark sometimes, which may be hard for some listeners. Misery Season is an outstanding metal EP that heavily handles abuse and offers hope and honesty.
Hopes Lives Here - Hope Filled Rock Music | Posted June-25-2021 What You Need To Know
Boiling Point's newest record, Hope Lives Here, is a rock project that's accompanied by a YouTube mini-series inspired primarily by a trip to Sierra Leone, Africa.
What It Sounds Like
Boiling Point utilizes modern rock as a vessel to communicate its message. Tight musicianship, evidently from years of live and studio experience, is found throughout the record. I like their guitar work, especially. The back-and-forth between captivating singing and soaring choruses helps build the momentum of the music.
Spiritual Highlights
Hope Lives Here explores what hope looks and feels like in our lives, even when it is tough to see hope in the hardest times of life. Through times of sacrifice, doubt, and legacy, Boiling Point sings about the significance of hope. The band's definition of hope for the record is, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."
Best Song
"Hope Lives Here," the title track, is an excellent rock song. The verses explore situations in life that seem hopeless which is in contrast to the truthful and anthemic chorus: "Hope's not giving up on us/Embrace the journey and move on/you have one life to live now."
Boiling Point's Hope Lives Here is perhaps their most cohesive and passionate record yet. If you watch their YouTube series, you'll experience the message behind the music. Hope Lives Here strikes hard with rock songs and touches the heart softly with their melodies to inject hope into the listener's mind.
Melancholy Machines - Hope in Sadness | Posted May-22-2021 What You Need To Know
Melancholy Machines is the metal band Death Therapy's third full-length album. It is one of the most personal records that lead singer and writer Jason Wisdom has ever created. The album, distributed through Tooth and Nail Records, though independently created, has two instrumental songs, as well as a cover of contemporary artist Andrew Peterson's "The Silence of God."
What It Sounds Like
At its core, Melancholy Machines is groovy, industrial music. It has a variety of unique sounds, ranging from chanting and gang vocals to rarely-used instruments, like saxophone and techno-beats. On the record, Jason does more singing than screaming than previous efforts. This gives the listener an opportunity to experience a more melodic side of his vocals.
Spiritual Highlights
From start to finish, the album's lyrical content is introspective and hopeful. It's apparent in the album opener, "Familiar Shadows": "Reach out/take my hand/and remember you are not alone." This line is a cry that echoes God's love for us. "Pls Snd Hlp" is a cry for help: "I don't want to stay the way I am.../Please send help." The album, from front to back, deals with the difficult struggles of life through a biblical foundation of hope.
Best Song
Some songs, such as "Tension" and the title track, embrace funky sounds more than others. Still, some songs, such as "Pls Snd Hlp" and "Bullet Holes," have more aggressive features. "Pls Snd Help" is definitely the album standout. With its heavy elements, Melancholy Machines meets fan expectations, while improving on Death Therapy's groovy infusion of heavy music.
Melancholy Machines is Death Therapy at its true core. Since the first two records were leaning more to metalcore, fans may have subverted expectations with this one. However, Melancholy Machines is far more unique in its own right. The groovy, electronic elements combine with the bass, drums, and vocals to form an eccentric, yet distinct album.
Survival Stories Told Through Heavy Metal | Posted May-11-2021 What You Need To Know
Heavy metal band Convictions' newest record, I WON'T SURVIVE, is a new independent project. The six songs--plus one instrumental--are survival stories ranging from poss traumatic stress disorder, grief, addiction, cancer, and suicide. The band released their last independent record six years ago. The band's vocals include, Danyal Suchta, the lead singer, and Michael Felker, the screamer.
What It Sounds Like
I WON'T SURVIVE contains some of most intense, aggressive songs that the band has ever created. The band does an exemplary job of creating a metalcore record that showcases every strength of the band. Musically and vocally, this record is metalcore that oftentimes blends into deathcore. Mike's high shrieks and low growls are both powerful instruments added in well-placed and timed moments. Danyal's soaring vocals and catchy choruses empower where needed.
Spiritual Highlights
Michael, the band's lead screamer and lyricist, shares, "Our goal is to highlight positive mental health and share the hope we believe God has for our lives." I WON'T SURVIVE is truly that. There is a range of emotion that is covered, just like the range of mental struggles. You'll hear grief, anger, sadness, and more. But at the end of the day, you hear hope. Many biblical characters struggled with their faith and personal battles, yet many retained hope in God. So, it is with I WON'T SURVIVE.
Best Song
An all-together standout song is "Wreckage." It has brutally-honest lyrics and aggressive music.
I WON'T SURVIVE meets the listener in the midst of the storm of life to offer both genuine sympathy and eternal hope. Through unyielding passion for the lost and hurting, Convictions has created possibly their best record yet. For those expecting more "preachy" lyrics from the band like in the past, you might be disappointed. Instead, the band tells stories through someone else's perspective. I WON'T SURVIVE is a fantastic metal record that gets messy, dark, and brutal. But Convictions' faith sees them through to the end.
The Struggles of the Earthly Ones - A Victory for Searching Serenity | Posted May-03-2021 What You Need To Know
Searching Serenity's sixth album, The Struggles of The Earthly Ones, is melodic deathcore at its finest. This is also one of several albums from the band now led by one member: musician Robert Manzone. The 13 tracks are full of intense death metal music and biblical lyrics.
What It Sounds Like
This melodic deathcore album has what any fan of death metal would want. On the musical side, there is nothing lacking. Maybe because it's a solo project, Robert is able to weave all the pieces together cohesively. I love his guitar work: catchy riffs, fun guitar solos, and crushing breakdowns.
Spiritual Highlights
Every song is based on scripture and is accompanied by life experiences. The majority of the lyrics deal with condemning ungodly behavior and people. The tone is much like a prophetic word found in the Old Testament and echoes in the New Testament. Songs like "The Doubting" and "The Brokenhearted" are different in style with `prayerful and personal outcries to God.
Best Song
In "The Doubting," we hear a plea for God to come and remove doubts of His glory in our hearts and minds. Our enemy, Satan, is called out as the source of our doubts. The lyricism is captivating and relatable, plus Robert's vocal range is fantastic. Another album favorite is "The Brokenhearted" for its songwriting, but especially for the guitar work and great solo.
The Struggles of The Earthly Ones marries the intense emotions of life and judgments of the Bible with brutal, symphonic deathcore music with excellence. Robert displays impressive talent in everything, especially vocally. I think he could have taken more risks creatively and still come out on top. Any fan of extreme music needs to hear this album.
Tamed Tongues - a Fresh Take on a Familiar Taste | Posted April-29-2021 What You Need To Know:
Dens' new record Tamed Tongues is a celebratory one. The band designed this to be a lyrical highlight and musical stretch. It takes every song from their 2020 release, Taming Tongues, and re-records them in stripped-back versions with new melodies, sounds, and instruments.
What It Sounds Like:
In contrast to their post-rock roots, this record presents these songs in a primarily soft rock sound, sometimes crossing over into country/southern rock. Each song has an acoustic bend to it while faithfully keeping familiar melodies and rhythm from the original album. Yet, each has its own distinctiveness.
Spiritual Highlights:
The spiritual highlights of this album are abundant. The titles of the songs reflect Proverbs 17:28. Each song is an introspective and personal reflection on learning to tame our tongues. There is a tranquility to the new music styles that reflect timeless truths based in the Bible.
Best Song:
Deciding which song stands out among the rest is just as difficult this time around just as it was with Taming Tongues. The record is still written as a concept album from front to back. I will say, however, that the songs that were originally more upbeat and aggressive have taken up a very different and unique sound. Songs such as "Foolish," "To," and the rendition of "Quiet," are all highlights.
If you are a fan of the recent music releasing from heavy bands doing acoustic re-recordings, such as Wolves At The Gate's Dawn and Demon Hunter's Songs of Death and Resurrection, you need to listen to this wise and timely album. Sometimes the music is so different from normal Dens music that it almost doesn't even sound like them. But ultimately, Tamed Tongues' messages of life and death through our words remains just as true as the first time I heard them in Taming Tongues.
RyanAdams_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
