Hell Destroyer
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Cage Now here's a band that delivers a powerful gut wrenching performance! Cage's CD "Hell Destroyer" is just what the doctor ordered for those metal heads who miss music with screeching screams...
Once Upon A Shattered Life
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Seventh Day Slumber Once Upon A Shattered Life is the second release by Seventh Day Slumber. One could describe the music from this CD as falling into the melodic rock genre with a few ballads (like "Caroline") thrown...
Addison Road
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Addison Road The music scene is flooded with synthetically saccharin sounding bands. While such music may be likable and have mass appeal, it tends to lack a great deal of substance and its novelty quickly fades....
Once Upon A Shattered Life | Posted June-27-2008 Once Upon A Shattered Life is the second release by Seventh Day Slumber. One could describe the music from this CD as falling into the melodic rock genre with a few ballads (like "Caroline") thrown into the mix. Musically the band's sound is not terribly inventive and could be mistaken for the likes of bands such as Day of Fire and Kutless. However, Once Upon A Shattered Life has a commercial sound that is rather enjoyable and not too harsh on the ears.
Lyrically there is no mistaking the band's ability to capture the struggles of life that society in general can attest to. Some may argue that the lyrics seem rather generic, but they are lyrics that many will be able to relate to whether that be the struggle of dealing with issues pertaining to one's sense of worth and purpose in life or coping with sadness and depression. The lyrics illustrate the unmistakable love and presence of God, who is ever so present in our lives even through the trials. One example of this can be gathered from the song "Oceans From The Rain": "And I'm amazed by You. Cause You're never far away. And all that I've been through, Your love has never changed. You make oceans from the rain.
So if you are in the mood for melodic rock to listen to as you reflect on the challenges you are facing, Once Upon A Shattered Life may be right up your alley.
Cage - | Posted June-27-2008
Now here's a band that delivers a powerful gut wrenching performance! Cage's CD "Hell Destroyer" is just what the doctor ordered for those metal heads who miss music with screeching screams of the likes of a vocal blend of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, guitar riffs with wicked speed, and grinding tunes like those put out by 80's secular metal bands. Bands that came to mind when you listen to the CD include Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and maybe even Death Angel - and yet it is Christian metal! It is melodic metal at its finest, accompanied by lyrics that are illustrative of destroying evil ... A good example of this are the lyrics from the song Christ Hammer ... "The Christ hammer will strike the evil dead." The CD is packed with 20 songs that metal heads are bound to groove to and appreciate! The CD "Hell Destroyer" marks the revival of power Christian metal!
Truly Dangerous! | Posted March-27-2008
All too frequently people (both followers of Christ and those who are not) comment on the distinction between secular and Christian music - most notably with regards to the quality and caliber of music - with Christian music falling short of being auditorily pleasing or being something that a person can "get into". This is not the case with the simmering yet pulsating sounds of "Southern" rock from DecembeRadio. Their music puts first and foremost the Word of the Lord, as exemplified by lyrics like "I wanna be dangerous, unashamed to proclaim your name" (from their song "Dangerous"). They also address a host of issues that we may struggle with (i.e., finding our way back to the Lord ("Drifter"), dealing with the control that greed can have on us ("Greed"), etc.). The thought provoking lyrics are combined with the band's musical prowess. DecembeRadio defies many of the misconceptions people have about Christian music being "substandard" or "inferior" to secular music, as the band delivers a musical performance that Christians and nonbelievers will be not able to refute.
Eclectically fresh | Posted March-27-2008
TobyMac's popularity certainly hasn't dampened his eclectically fresh flair, as clearly exemplified by his release entitled "Portable Sounds". Some in the religious world have been rather "suspect" of his music simply because of his popularity and the popularity of his music. But there is no disputing that he has been able to integrate God's Word while defying musical convention. He has successfully experimented with various genres of music and created a pleasurable and inventive blend that can be enjoyed well into the future.
Solid Jeremy Camp Performance | Posted March-27-2008
This latest installment is a beautiful contemporary musical testimony of faith and gratitude. While his music is contemporary at its core, Jeremy Camp has an ability to present such music in a rather diverse fashion. There is a little something in this album for those with varied "contemporary" mainstream musical tastes. The CD starts off with a number of upbeat songs, such as "Tonight" and "What It Means" and ends with an almost folk sounding ballad entitled "Give Me Jesus". The album sports some musical diversity and the vocals blend harmoniously and flawlessly. One thing that cannot be overlooked is the lyrics. They aren't your typical melodic rhymes. Rather, they seem to speak to issues of faith; something that Christian music fans will actually find inspiring. Although this album is a slight departure from Jeremy Camp's previous albums, fans will not be disappointed. In addition, those who enjoy contemporary Christian music will appreciate the beautifully inspired lyrics and overall mood that the album exudes.
Beyond the typical definition of | Posted March-28-2008
RED's album End of Silence is an interesting blend of edgy rock that incorporates a symphony of instruments - from the typical instruments (guitar, bass, and drums), to what is generally deemed as being uncharacteristic of rock (piano, violins, viola, cello). It may sound like a peculiar combination, however it must be said that the band pulls it off incredibly well! They are able to interject the gentleness of the piano and string instruments when appropriate, and yet they are also able to use these very same instruments to emphasize the intensity of the vocal screams, guitar, bass and drums. Listening to the whole album in one sitting is like listening to the musical score of a movie - the mood of each song carries you right into the next song. While RED incorporates the use of instruments known for their placidness, don't let this description fool you, as the band is able to deliver a great performance that is rather multifaceted in nature and takes you beyond the typical definition of "rock".
Remarkable follow up | Posted March-27-2008
It is hard to believe that Disciple's remarkable self-entitled CD could be followed by "Scars Remain" - yet another amazing compilation of noteworthy songs. Whether it be a song laced with guttural screams like "Scars Remain" or the band's self-proclaimed love song for Jesus "After The World", all of their songs unapologetically profess the greatness of the Lord in Disciple's uniquely fierce way! I was fortunate to see the band perform live during their "Scars Remain" tour. I have to say that if you think that the CD is great, imagine upping the energy level and intensity 10 fold and you'll have an idea of just how astonishing the show was! Whether it be listening to Disciple's CD or seeing them live, you will not be disappointed!
Welcome addition for your CD collection | Posted March-27-2008
Disciple's self-entitled CD stands out from the pack as a great collection of songs that get the adrenalin going (i.e., The Wait Is Over, Rise Up), as well as songs that are contemplative (i.e., Only You, Beautiful) without sounding mundane. There is no question of the band's musical and lyrical ability, as this is a CD that exemplifies both. It is a welcome addition to any rock fan's CD collection. In fact, it is a great way to share the Word, for even nonbelievers will be able to appreciate the band's musical talent!
A step above ordinary mainstream | Posted March-28-2008
The music scene is flooded with synthetically saccharin sounding bands. While such music may be likable and have mass appeal, it tends to lack a great deal of substance and its novelty quickly fades. However, somehow Addison Road has found a way to extract the appeal of the mainstream synthetic sugary sound and jazz it up so that their music goes a little beyond being simply ordinary. The band couples the music with lyrics that have some substance. Addison Road has created a recipe for a CD that is likely to appeal to those who prefer a little more of a mainstream pop-rock sound, as well as those who are looking for something a little more meaty. What it all boils down to is that this is a fun CD that can be listened to repeatedly and enjoyed each time!
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Starfield's soon to be released album "I Will Go"! It was refreshing to come across a veteran band whose soon to be released album is musically and lyrically innovative, as well as auditorily pleasing rather than a dull and lack luster follow up to their previous release in 2006. It's been a while since I've come across a CD where I didn't have to listen to it a few times to get into it - with the first listen I was hooked!
coreministry01's Music and Book Reviews 
