Kings & Queens
by
Audio Adrenaline After nearly a half-decade long hiatus, Audio Adrenaline came back in 2013 with Kings and Queens, albeit with a much-altered lineup. Featuring the vocal talents of Kevin Max (the other guy in...
Sound of the Saints
by
Audio Adrenaline If anyone else has been disappointed with the direction Audio Adrenaline has been taking recently, please let me know. Since 2006, when original lead vocalist Mark Stuart decided to disband due to vocal...
Until My Heart Caves In
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Audio Adrenaline After nearly fifteen years with ForeFront Records, Audio Adrenaline released Until My Heart Caves In, their final studio album with Mark Stuart at the helm. Not long after the release, Audio Adrenaline...
From Water to War . . . to Your Music Collection | Posted June-20-2015
Birmingham, Alabama-based rock band Nine Lashes released their debut album Escape in 2009 on Collide Records. Their album happened to find its way to Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch, who convinced Tooth & Nail Records to sign the band. They did and subsequently released their most successful album to date, World We View, in 2012. Two years later they returned with their third effort, From Water to War.
From Water to War (2014): 10 tracks, 35 minutes
While Nine Lashes more or less defined the typical Christian heavy rock sound on their first two releases, From Water to War ventures into new territory for the Alabamian rockers. In the past their music has been a bit redundant, but this time around Adam Jefferson and company have experimented with some synth. It especially shines through on “Where I Belong,” while “Never Back Down” and “In the Dark” stick to the band’s signature sound. However, “Surrender” is definitely the standout on the record. Featuring ambient guitars and keys, you can see that Nine Lashes broke off from the mainstream for this song. They also utilize a lot of piano on “Love Me Now” and “Surrender.” As with their other music, lead vocalist Adam Jefferson returns to his delicate falsetto and occasional forceful lyrics, providing a refreshing contrast throughout all of their music and not only on From Water to War.
The lines “All I know is I’d rather die than believe a lie / I cannot follow the blind” from the opening track break from the typical attitude of our culture today. “Break the World” and “Lights We Burn” encourage us to really care about people and what’s going on in their lives; go deeper than the world can and show them “We got the remedy.” “Surrender” is a beautiful song of letting go of everything keeping us back from our Creator, harmonizing perfectly with the unique musical qualities showcased with in it as well. “Where I Belong” grazes over similar pastures: “I tried to carry the ache alone / Thought I could brave the cold . . . Take my slow beating heart / You are where I belong.” Jesus is mentioned by name in “Love Me Now,” something you don’t see a whole lot in this genre.
From Water to War is all about finding peace in Christ. Through all the struggles that the band and all the rest of us have faced, the joy in the pain shines through in their songs. I love the way the album wraps up in “Cover Your Own.” The last lyrics beautifully sum up the entire record with “Though I had the loneliest heartbeat / I found a home / A Father to love me.” Isn’t that the story of all of us?
It Feel Like Home . . . | Posted June-20-2015
Before I left for Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs, CO, I had the privilege of going with my pastor, my dad, and my brother to the Mike Mains & the Branches concert at the Hard Rock Café in Pittsburgh. The venue was beautiful and we got a front row seat for the whole show. MMTB display a more mainstream melodic indie rock sound with a little bit of scratchy lyrics here and there, mixed in with Mike’s delicate falsetto. They are also able to break those bonds on certain tracks. Formed in Gainsville, Texas in 2009, the group moved north to Michigan later in their career around the time they released their elusive EP, The Rustic. Their first album, Home, released in 2010 with ten tracks came out with the single “Miracle” getting radio play. However, “Stereo” received much more attention and became one of the band’s hits. Home was re-released in 2012 with the addition of the songs “Life” and “Free.” Everything EP was released in 2013 to preview their 2014 effort Calm Down, Everything is Fine, which includes the band’s runaway hit, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”
Home (2012): 12 Tracks, 46 minutes
“Our debut album is one of honesty,” Mike Mains said in an interview with All-Access Music Group. He goes on to say that though there’s a lot of heartbreak on the album, they shine some joy through their other songs. Home definitely deals with some pretty tough stuff.
The album opener, “‘Miracle’ is a song about some of the struggles that we’ve all dealt with but that most people are afraid to discuss openly,” Mike commented.[1] The song deals with the struggles of lust, but the last lyrics are almost haunting, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple? / So, how ‘bout you make, how ‘bout you make a little room for me.” “Lady Love” and “Stop the Car” go into the relational side of things, relationships that just aren’t going real well with that significant other and “Free” wrestles with pride. “Emma Ruth” is about Mike’s mentor’s stillborn child, while in “Drifter” a sinner is seeking for repentance. MMTB hit a lot of heavy chords with this album, which Mike called “mostly an autobiography.”[2]
However, “Love” also repeats that “All you gotta have is love” and that is simply not true. Truth and love are both required, with a healthy dose of both. In “Free” Mike agonizes that “. . . all we have is now / Don’t throw it all away.” Mike comments that “Emma Ruth” is all he needs, but other than that, this album is pretty solid.
There are some very good things that Mike has to say that separates MMTB from mainstream indie rock. “Stereo” lets us know that “I’ve got a crucifix above my bed / So I forget not to pray when I go to bed / But that can’t save me.” “Matches hits similar territory: “If we make it to the pearly gates / Tell me will our accolades / Earn for us an eternal date in heaven? / What filthy piles of sand our lives make . . .”A line in “Drifter” says “. . . I’m not above and not below / The place where you want me.” On the relational side of the record, “Stop the Car” gets the true meaning of love: “. . . it’s when you give / And give of yourself / Until your tank is on empty / Just to be with the one you love,” and displays real commitment as well, “Seal our words / With your lips against / My lips from now until forever.” Mike also realizes that girls aren’t everything in life in “Lady Love” when he says “If you’re the center of my universe / Then tell me / What is left when you’re gone?”
Having seen them live, I can also attest to the fact that their musical abilities are excellent. An organic sound and lots of arpeggios with some distortion define the guitar pretty well. The keys are excellently developed, being ambient and powerful on “Lady Love” and “Emma Ruth.” However, I’ve really began to appreciate the percussion that MMTB does. It’s very upbeat and exciting and keeps a steady rhythm for most of the faster songs.
All in all, I would say that Home is a successful album in all respects. It covers a lot of difficult subjects that other artists might shy away from, but also contributes a lot of positive aspects as well. The music by no means gets boring and Mike’s voice will always keep you on your toes. If you’re okay with a bit of screaming and like the indie rock style, I would highly recommend this album to you.
Everything is Fine on this album | Posted June-20-2015
Mike Mains & the Branches came back in 2014 with their newest album Calm Down, Everything is Fine, an impressive, 11-track, indie-rock record. Between frontman Mike Mains’ songwriting and “the Branches’” talents on their respective instruments, MMTB are tearing down the borders of mainstream indie rock and going a little more off the wall. Standout songs feature their runaway hit “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” and also “Take It All,” both receiving a considerable amount of attention from RaidoU.
Calm Down, Everything is Fine (2014): 11 tracks, 37 minutes
If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by all the work and busyness in life, take forty-five minutes and crank up this record. On Calm Down, Everything is Fine, Mike seeks to take us back to simpler times so that we can relax and learn how to enjoy life.
“Played it Safe” echoes the frustration that a lot of people feel at the end of a long, hard day, but rolls right into “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” which makes you feel exactly that. “Noises” reminds us of “Played It Safe,” albeit in a more upbeat way, while Mike tells us how sick he is of the norm with much exasperation. “Slow Down” tells us to do just that, while “Take It All” admonishes us to use our words wisely.
Consequently, there’s some pretty good stuff on this album. The title track talks about Jesus wanting a significant part in our lives. In “Slow Down,” Mike says “You can travel the world / Just as fast as your feet can go . . . But like Arizona’s canyons / A hole in you remains.” “Where Love Dies” mourns a painful divorce, but longs for a renewal.
But there’s also some questionable content. Such is the case with “By My Side”: “Tonight when I fall asleep / I pray that you would come to me / ‘Cause I need you / By my side”, which might seem suggestive, but since Mike is married, it’s okay. “Burn” reads, “Oh my God, the world’s gonna burn” in the chorus. That could be interpreted as using God’s name in vain, but it also conveys a message that, without clarification, could be confusing.
While Home may have stuck to the traditional sound of indie rock, Calm Down, Everything is Fine veers into some unfamiliar territory for MMTB, but they do it well. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” has a more poppy feel, while “Where Love Dies” and “Slow Down” utilize a lot of fingerpicking and ambient instrumentation. “Stones” is a slow, steady song, focusing mainly on the drums, but also interjects a bluesy guitar “solo” toward the end.
To say Calm Down, Everything is Fine is good would be an understatement. In fact, it’s one of my personal favorites. From the message of the album as a whole, to the solid instrumentation and the variety that MMTB have on this record, Calm Down, Everything is Fine is a masterpiece in indie rock. I would also highly recommend this album as a whole.
Young Love (Deluxe) Review | Posted June-20-2015
The Oregonian pop star, Mat Kearney almost wasn’t the lovable artist we know now. He studied literature and played soccer at California State University. His friend and producer invited him to Nashville to record and he never went back. Now, according to Rolling Stone, Mat Kearney is going back to his roots on Young Love. After he began recording, Nothing Left to Lose was released in 2006, followed by City of Black and White in 2009. The non-existent reggae-style songs on City of Black and White are back now for Kearney’s 2011 effort. His newest release, JUST KIDS came out in February of this year.
Young Love (Deluxe Edition) (2011): 15 tracks, 58 minutes
Young Love is about just that. Nearly all of the tracks describe some sort of relationship, most of them about girls, but “Rochester” features the story of Mat’s dad. Mat also highlights some spiritual struggles as well on “Chasing the Light.”
Having listened to this a few times in a row, a lot of the songs seem to blend into the same style. However, standouts include “Hey Mama,” in which the bass stands out, “Ships in the Night” with its ambient and powerful keys, and “Rochester,” relying heavily on fingerpicking. “Sooner or Later” has been hailed as “barely distinguishable from OneRepublic” by Rolling Stone, but they praise him for bringing back the reggae that was missing on his 2009 effort. Mat’s style is somewhat poppy with a lot of hip-hop during the verses. Both styles have influenced him greatly.
Although his style is fresh, some of the lyrics can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. A suggestive reference is made in “Hey Mama,” “. . . Those baby browns and golden thighs . . .” and in “Chasing the Light,” when Kearney writes, “Remember back when you slept on my floor.” In “Down,” he lights up a cigarette, for his lover in “She Got the Honey” he would “beg, steal, and borrow if tomorrow she’d stay.” There’s a lot of bad things that happen in “Rochester,” but Mat doesn’t advocate any of it. “It was only one night and our first time” seems suggestive in “Seventeen,” while in “Head or Your Heart” Mat implies that you have to choose between your head and your heart, which is not always the case. Mat keeps the profanity to a minimum with only h-words, but they appear in “Chasing the Light,” “Learning to Love Again,” “Rochester,” and “Seventeen.”
That seems like a lot, but there’s a lot of good stuff that Kearney interjects into this record. “Hey Mama,” “Count on Me,” and “Seventeen” display unconditional love, but as a whole this 15-track ensemble deals heavily with family issues and resolution in pretty much every track. “Chasing the Light” encourages us to do just that, no matter what’s going on. “Down” tells us “we all need forgiveness.” The end of “Seventeen” describes the nervous/excited experience of having a child. “What She Wants” warns us that material possessions can’t make us happy and “Two Hearts” is simply a beautiful love song.
While there’s good and bad on this album, Mat really shows the struggle of family in these times, but he contrasts that with beautiful songs of commitment and renewal with his unique hip-hop/pop/reggae style. I would definitely recommend it. 7.5/10
Demon Hunter's "True Defiance (Deluxe)" | Posted June-20-2015
In recent years the Christian music scene has really exploded into all corners of the music spectrum. Whereas before you had mostly worship music with the occasional rock or rap album come out, now you have genres such as EDM and heavy metal represented as well. Demon Hunter have shown themselves to be one of the pioneers of Christian metal music. Starting off in Training for Utopia, frontman Ryan Clark and guitar player Don Clark then went on to form Demon Hunter in the early 2000s, releasing their self-titled debut in 2002. Summer of Darkness followed two years later, with The Triptych appearing in 2005 and Storm the Gates of Hell in 2007. Two live compilations followed and then DH reappeared with The World is a Thorn in 2010. True Defiance was released two years later and their latest release, Extremist, came out just last year.
Describing the musical qualities of Demon Hunter briefly is a difficult undertaking, although many of their songs feature heavily distorted guitars with southern-rock guitar solos, speedy drum beats, screaming lyrics mixed in with clean vocals, and an all-around powerful edgy sound. This record displays much of that stereotype, but “I Am a Stone” features beautiful strings throughout the song and DH brings an instrumental to the mix (“Means to an End”), adding to some of the diversity.
This album is solid lyrically. While Clark uses Hell quite often, it is always to describe the place of eternal damnation. However, in “What is Left” a line reads “One solemn night I’ll take you / Down the barrel of my gun,” a reference most likely to Satan, but could confuse listeners.
Most of this record is honest about being depressed in our sinful tendencies. “Crucifix” relates to the “perverse generation” of Jesus’ time and how he took it all on the cross. “God Forsaken” sees us giving up the true satisfaction of Christ “For the passing vain inhale.” “My Destiny,” “Wake,” “This I Know,” “We Don’t Care,” “Resistance,” and “I Am a Stone” wrestle with similar issues. “Someone to Hate” resists the cultural norms and leaves us as being someone to hate, but it says something worth noting, “Taught to write the scriptures for our lives / We inherit the lies,” which most likely means that we should live by God’s standards not our own, but it also got me thinking about how we tend to take little “Scripture nuggets” and make the Bible serve our own purposes rather than what it actually means.
In the past few years, Demon Hunter have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the metal genre, much like August Burns Red’s J.B. Brubaker, who said "I feel like anyone who can pick up and play a guitar and learn to play a metalcore riff and any drummer who can learn to play a thrash beat over a breakdown is doing it . . .”[1] Ryan Clark feels the same way, and he said of True Defiance, ““We’ve been extremely underwhelmed with metal for the last five years or so, and that’s been the fuel to create this record.”[2] While it may not be my favorite album out there, Demon Hunter sure have stepped it up with this record and its success attests to that fact.
[1]Graff, Gary (2011). Metalocalypse Now!!! Mayhem Fest 2011. Revolver. pp. 42–43. 1527-408X.
Looks Fragile After All ABR | Posted June-20-2015
If you’ve heard of metalcore, then you’ve probably heard of August Burns Red. The Lancaster quintet has gained much respect and quite a following among the metalcore fans of the world. Their style is continually changing in an effort to keep the genre, or at least their music, interesting. As lead guitarist J.B. Brubaker said, “I feel like anyone who can pick up and play a guitar and learn to play a metalcore riff and any drummer who can learn to play a thrash beat over a breakdown is doing it . . .”[1] right around the time their Leveler record hit the shelves. Though they are metalcore bread and butter now, they most definitely had humble beginnings. Their debut EP, Looks Fragile After All was released by CI Records in 2004. After original vocalist Jon Hershey left, Solid State picked them up and Thrill Seeker was released a year later, featuring the vocal talents of Josh McManness. McManness left before 2007’s Messengers was released, being replaced by their current vocalist Jake Luhrs. Constellations, their most successful album to date came out in 2009 with Lost Messengers: The Outtakes. Leveler was released two years later, followed by Rescue & Restore in 2013. Their latest album Found in Far Away Places is set to be released in July 2015, preceded by two singles, “The Wake” and “Identity.”
Looks Fragile After All (2004): 5 tracks, 23 minutes:
As I mentioned before, Looks Fragile After All was a humble beginning. While very talented as a whole, the five-song EP comes across as repetitive and bland. That’s not to say that the songs aren’t good; they are. Most of them just sound the same, making it hard to listen to it straight through. Some highlights include the opening track, “Background Music to Her Awakening,” specifically the odd riff that J.B. makes good use of after the hardcore breakdown. It almost sounds like “Death Will Reign” by Impending Doom. "Glory Thrives” and “You Should Be Taking Flight Right Now” feature some monologues, and “Accidental Shot Heard ‘Round the World” contains an acoustic jam at the end. Other than that, it’s mostly weird throaty screams, odd-metered chords, and Matt Greiner going nuts on the drums.
There’s some violent imagery in “Accidental Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” but other than that this EP is clean.
“Background Music to Her Awakening” mourns “She used to remind me that all is not lost, / As long as what you failed doing was something worth / More than just your arrogant pride.” The lyrics are good when you can understand them, but a lot of them are very cryptic and somewhat repetitive.
Although it might not be a masterful set of songs, Looks Fragile After All definitely showcases ABR’s musical talents. It’s always been the band’s philosophy to keep moving forward and sort-of go against the grain of the mainstream. So, if you’re a fan of August Burns Red, or you just like progressive bands, this EP is for you. 7/10
[1] Graff, Gary (2011). Metalocalypse Now!!! Mayhem Fest 2011. Revolver. pp. 42–43. 1527-408X
Looks Fragile After All ABR | Posted June-20-2015
If you’ve heard of metalcore, then you’ve probably heard of August Burns Red. The Lancaster quintet has gained much respect and quite a following among the metalcore fans of the world. Their style is continually changing in an effort to keep the genre, or at least their music, interesting. As lead guitarist J.B. Brubaker said, “I feel like anyone who can pick up and play a guitar and learn to play a metalcore riff and any drummer who can learn to play a thrash beat over a breakdown is doing it . . .”[1] right around the time their Leveler record hit the shelves. Though they are metalcore bread and butter now, they most definitely had humble beginnings. Their debut EP, Looks Fragile After All was released by CI Records in 2004. After original vocalist Jon Hershey left, Solid State picked them up and Thrill Seeker was released a year later, featuring the vocal talents of Josh McManness. McManness left before 2007’s Messengers was released, being replaced by their current vocalist Jake Luhrs. Constellations, their most successful album to date came out in 2009 with Lost Messengers: The Outtakes. Leveler was released two years later, followed by Rescue & Restore in 2013. Their latest album Found in Far Away Places is set to be released in July 2015, preceded by two singles, “The Wake” and “Identity.”
Looks Fragile After All (2004): 5 tracks, 23 minutes:
As I mentioned before, Looks Fragile After All was a humble beginning. While very talented as a whole, the five-song EP comes across as repetitive and bland. That’s not to say that the songs aren’t good; they are. Most of them just sound the same, making it hard to listen to it straight through. Some highlights include the opening track, “Background Music to Her Awakening,” specifically the odd riff that J.B. makes good use of after the hardcore breakdown. It almost sounds like “Death Will Reign” by Impending Doom. "Glory Thrives” and “You Should Be Taking Flight Right Now” feature some monologues, and “Accidental Shot Heard ‘Round the World” contains an acoustic jam at the end. Other than that, it’s mostly weird throaty screams, odd-metered chords, and Matt Greiner going nuts on the drums.
There’s some violent imagery in “Accidental Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” but other than that this EP is clean.
“Background Music to Her Awakening” mourns “She used to remind me that all is not lost, / As long as what you failed doing was something worth / More than just your arrogant pride.” The lyrics are good when you can understand them, but a lot of them are very cryptic and somewhat repetitive.
Although it might not be a masterful set of songs, Looks Fragile After All definitely showcases ABR’s musical talents. It’s always been the band’s philosophy to keep moving forward and sort-of go against the grain of the mainstream. So, if you’re a fan of August Burns Red, or you just like progressive bands, this EP is for you. 7/10
[1] Graff, Gary (2011). Metalocalypse Now!!! Mayhem Fest 2011. Revolver. pp. 42–43. 1527-408X
Songs to Burn Your Bridges By | Posted June-18-2015
Hard rock outfit Project 86 have been around for quite a while. Their debut came in 2000, entitled Drawing Black Lines, followed by Truthless Heroes 2002, and Songs to Burn Your Bridges By in 2004. Following these releases were And the Rest Will Follow (2005), Rival Factions (2007), Picket Fence Cartel (2009), a live compilation, XV. Live. (2010), Wait for the Siren (2012), and their latest, Knives to the Future (2014). Although their success might not be immediately evident, they are one of the essential Christian hard rock artists of today.
Songs to Burn Your Bridges By (2004): 14 tracks, 50 minutes
Musically, this record starts off great. “The Spy Hunter” is one of the most popular songs to be released by P86, with a sick phaser intro and some hardcore chords. However, after that it goes downhill fast. One Achilles heel of Project 86 music is their consistency. It’s not always a bad thing, especially after all their lineup changes, but too much of a good thing, isn’t such a good thing. Some songs that break up the monotony on this album include “A Shadow On Me,” “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guy,” “The Great Golden Gate Disaster,” “Breakneck Speed,” “A Fruitless End Ever,” and the ambient “A Text Message to the So-Called Emperor.”
This album is very clean overall. The only objection I have is a suggestive line in “Sioux Lane Spirits” when he says “Into another’s arms / Into another’s bed.”
There are a lot of solid lyrics as well. “The Spy Hunter” states “I do not need anymore truthless heroes” and then ends with “I need truth,” a great message for today’s postmodern world. “Safe Haven” calls to mind Jesus’ words in John 15:18. “Breakdown in 3/4” reminds us that we won’t last forever, “Is it comforting to know we're so temporary?” while the first lyrics of “The Great Golden Gate Disaster” remind us of our sin nature: “Outside you there's a remedy / Inside you is an enemy.” The first verse of “Solace” is a beautiful picture of rest and contentedness.
If you ask P86 fans, a lot of them will tell you that Songs to Burn Your Bridges By is their favorite record overall. While I haven’t listened to them extensively, Project 86 does have a good sound, when it’s not overdone that is. If you listen to this album, there seems to be some repetition, but they do break it up with a lot of good songs, so I have to hand it to them for that. If you can handle the scratchy lyrics, then it’s probably a good entry-level collection to listen to if you’re interested in this style.
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