Leaders: Now We Are Free

Release: March 27, 2012
Genre: Metal
Rating: 8/10

Leaders, a band that used to be known as ALLORNOTHING when they performed with Flyleaf, Blindside, and Brian "Head" Welch, released Now We Are Free as their debut apart from these bands. It is an impressive album, and it shows talent that is worth being staged with the popular bands they used to be affiliated with. With a sound similar to bands from Facedown like Hands, their album might be worth buying if you like heavy metal with a good driving beat.

To kick off the album, "Overture" is a short opener with a powerful sound. Leaders proves that they are a heavy metal band with this song, but not as heavy as bands like Impending Doom. They have an impressive sound, but they also know how to make decent music. "Conviction" begins as heavy as "Overture" ended; fast-paced guitar and drums create a good base for the music, but I think the song could be better. It sounds like it lacks a good guitar, like " Instance" has at one point in the song. I feel like the guitar could be expressed more in this song, and that would make it better.

"Instance" is a good song with, as I mentioned before, decent guitar parts to it. I feel like that is the major element of this song that makes it stand out; the electric guitar part is always changing, and it sounds pretty good. If Leaders were to use that for all its worth I feel like their music could be a lot better. Although I feel like this is lacking for the rest of the album, I think this song does it very well, and the rest of the track follows with it, creating a catchy song with a smooth flow and an impressive show of potential. "Deportes" is definitely one of the heavier songs on the album. The drums and guitar sound a lot heavier than the rest of the tracks on this album. The tempo change throughout is also one of my favorite parts of this song; I feel like the song can get a bit repetitive though. It is good music, but to me, the strength of the song is also its weakness. The guitar part seems to get a bit repetitive and monotone. I have to say that Leaders did a great job with the first few tracks of their debut album though.

"Te Necesito" is a song unlike the rest. It is a soft track with a smooth feel to it, and Leaders proves with this song that they can slow down and still make great music to accompany the heavy music that is prominent on the rest of the album. The one drawback to this song is that I feel like it would be better if it were longer than it is. I enjoy listening to it, but Leaders should make more music like this. The heaviness of the album picks right back up after this song.

"Alone" is probably one of the more mediocre songs on Now We Are Free. The same fast-paced instrumentals are in this song, as they are on the rest of the album, and the song sounds just like many of the others on this album. I would like to hear more variety out of this band; I feel like they have potential to be a lot better if they did not sound the same in most of the songs on their album. The sound is good and worth listening to, but if they had something to spice up the music on their album, they could be more of a favorite of mine. Leaders has done a fantastic job with Now We Are Free, considering it is their debut album, but I want to hear more from them.

Favorite Song: Instance

Favorite Lyrics: "Die, die, die, for what you believe." (From the song "Conviction")

Tracklist:

1. Overture
2. Conviction
3. Instance
4. Deportes
5. Send-Up
6. Te Necesito
7. Leaders
8. Real
9. Alone
10. La Onda

The Burial: Lights and Perfections

Release Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: Metal
Rating: 8/10

The Burial is a band that formed in 2005 with Strike First Records, but has changed from a few different record companies, which led to them signing with Facedown for their new album, Lights and Perfections. It is quite the impressive debut with Facedown, and it is worth listening to if you are interested in metal music based on musical talent and lyrical power.

To start the album off, "Lights" sets the pace of the album with excellent heavy instrumentals and intense guitar playing. The song has many impressive qualities, and most of them come together well. The vocals are decent, but I feel like there could be an improvement in that area. Although, the instrumentals do a great job of complimenting the vocals in the music that The Burial makes on Lights and Perfections. This song is definitely one of my favorite metal songs to come from Facedown.

"Apathy and Petition" does a great job of following up the opening song. One of my favorite things about this song that becomes prominent on the rest of the album is its lyrical intensity. I believe that Christian bands should express Christ in their music as much and as powerfully as possible, no matter what genre. The vocalist did a great job of bringing out the lyrics that expressed his beliefs. I thoroughly enjoy listening to this song, as well as "Salt and Wrath." Not only does this song have powerful lyrics, but the instrumentals seem to be heavier in some parts of the song, which I feel fits well with The Burial. They almost sound like For Today's old album, Portraits, in this song. They have a lot of talent as a band and do a good job with these two songs in particular.

Some of The Burial's songs on Lights and Perfections I find to be particularly long, like their last song, "Perfections." This song is one that I think is slightly mediocre for them, even though it is still good music. The instrumentals are fast-paced during most of the vocal parts, as is normal throughout this album, and by now, the scream has become slightly repetitive. The lyrics are still powerful, and the music is still really good. The ending to the song is especially notable; they do a good job of closing out Lights and Perfections.

I enjoy listening to The Burial's music, and I hope to hear more from them in their career with Facedown. They have a great talent for making music and their album is worth buying, even if you have never heard them before and enjoy some of the other bands from Facedown.

Favorite Song: Lights

Favorite Lyrics: "Lord, I wish to serve you... Your grace, it sustains." (From the song "Apathy and Petition")

Tracklist:

1. Lights
2. Apathy and Petition
3. Pearls; The Frailty of Matter
4. Salt and Wrath
5. Seed
6. Wisdom; The Gateway of Liberty
7. Sight and Sensation
8. Shackles and Ember
9. Perfections

Britt Nicole: Gold

Release: March 27, 2012
Genre: Pop
Rating: 5/5

Britt Nicole has wowed the Christian music world since her debut, Say It, in 2007, and then continued to garner fans with her 2009 release, The Lost Get Found. Then it felt like Nicole seemingly dropped off the map and did not release another album until now. Gold is her third album, and by far her best effort to date. From the very first song I was in love with this album, and I have not grown tired of it yet. Nicole has really blown me away this album, and I love how this album feels like she really opened up and poured out her emotions. Each song is so much fun to listen to, but if you really listen to all of the lyrics, each song also has a great story or a great message.

The title track is a spectacular way to start the album off, and it automatically had me very optimistic for the rest of the album. The song is a very uplifting one that basically tells everyone that we are all worth more than gold, no matter what anybody tells us. Her voice is definitely spectacular, and she proved right off the bat that she is back and stronger than ever. She even does a little rapping on the song, which is pretty awesome! The next song also happens to be the first and only single released from the record, "All This Time." The song is really one of the more emotional ones, and made me very excited for the record the first time I heard it on the radio. Britt talks about how even in the hard times in her life she has found that Christ has been walking with her the whole time, she just had not realized it before.

"Look Like Love" follows that up with a great song that I think might be a good one for the radio. It has the potential to be really popular and it also has a really great message that talks about wanting to lead by example. She says she wants to look Christ's love so that other people can see through her how great Christ is. It is a great song that carries a great reminder for all of us. "Who You Say You Are" feels like another one of the more emotional songs on the record, which could be because of the slower beat. She talks about the constancy of Christ and that he is alway there for us in every situation.

The best song on the album, and maybe all year, is definitely "Ready or Not," which features the amazing Lecrae. I thought I loved Lecrae before this song, but the fact that he hopped on a pop song and absolutely killed it, gave me even more respect for him. Britt killed this song as well, and they definitely proved that they are a great duo. If mainstream pop artists can do songs with rappers, then why can Christians artists? This song is so much fun to listen to, and I cannot help but dance every time I hear it, even if I cannot dance to save my life. The song talks about shining the light of Christ in everything we do and just not being ashamed of Christ.

I am going to jump down to the seventh song "Stand" next, which reminds me a little bit more of her older stuff, and is definitely a great song. It talks about only being able to stand on Christ's strength, and the fact that He is always there when we need Him most to help us stand. The song is a great one, that has some of the most uplifting lyrics on the album.

"Amazing Life" is another one of my absolute favorites off this record. The beat is super fast and definitely has a beat that can compete with any mainstream pop song out there. Britt proved with this song, and with this entire album really, that she is a force to be reckoned with, and that she also has the talent to compete with any mainstream pop artist out there. Give me Britt Nicole over Lady Gaga any day!

"Still That Girl" is a dangerous song for me to listen to because I always get the chorus stuck in my head, and trust me, it is a little peculiar to hear a guys singing, "You're still that girl! You're still that girl!" I love this song, but I try not to start belching out the lyrics when other people are around...so guys beware!

I used to listen to Britt Nicole all the time in middle school, and this album definitely takes me back to those good old days. Gold is such a spectacular album, with not a single bad song on it. I love listening to this album so much, and I do not think it will ever get tired of hearing each of these songs. If you like pop music, or even if you just like Christian music, I highly recommend buying this album! Gold is one of the best albums of the year so far; Britt definitely created a masterpiece with this one.

Favorite Song: Ready or Not

Favorite Lyrics: "All this time from the first tear cry to today's sunrise and every single moment between you were there, you were always there. It was you and I, you've been walking with me all this time." (From the song "All This Time")

Tracklist:

1. Gold
2. All This Time
3. Look Like Love
4. Who You Say You Are
5. Ready or Not (Feat. Lecrae)
6. Breakthrough
7. Stand
8. The Sun is Rising
9. Amazing Life
10. Still That Girl
11. Seeing For The First Time
12. Amazing Life (Remix) (Bonus)
13. Straight For Your Heart (Bonus)

Gateway Next: Look Up

Release: March 27, 2012
Genre: Children's
Rating: 3.5/5

Gateway Church is a rapidly growing church with 24,000 members, who has created many live worship albums. Their latest, Great Great God, released November 1 of last year (read our review here). Look Up, however, is the church's first kids worship album. Gateway Next was created specifically to make music for the next generation of worship leaders. The album features a bunch of fast-paced songs that are great for kids to listen to. A few of the songs are really cheesy, but there are some that are really good, that I think any kid would like to listen to.

"We Are" is a great intro that features a kid talking about the greatness of God. "Look Up," the title track, follows that up with the first real song that has a techno, pop type beat. The track has a few really cheesy lines in it, but other than that, it is one of the better songs on the record. It feels perfect for kids, and reminds me of music I liked when I was the age Gateway Next is targeting with this CD. The song talks about how through God we can do anything, and that all we have to do is look up to Him and realize that He is right there for us.

"You" is another one of my favorites on the album, which talks about the fact that Christ is there with us at all times and is our best friend. The vocals on this song are great, and the beat is decent - not one of the best beats, but it is definitely alright. "How Great Your Love Is" is right now my favorite song on the record, and I could automatically recognize Dara Maclean's voice on the song. She has a very distinctive voice, and I believe it sounds amazing on this track. "How Great Your Love Is" is pretty self-explanatory as far as the theme goes, in that it talks about how great God's love is for us.

Kari Jobe is the one that does the sixth track on the record, "Gonna Love You." Her voice sounds spectacular on this song, and it is definitely a highlight on the album. The song teaches kids to love God with all their hearts and to serve Him with all their hearts as well. It is a great track to play for kids, and Jobe's vocals will definitely be appeasing to any child's ears.

"Secret Place" talks about being secure in Christ, and teaches kids to go to Him when they feel afraid because He is always there for us. The lessons each of these songs teach are really good, and is definitely better at doing this than most children's CDs I have heard in the past. "My Heart" is a very upbeat song with a little bit more of a techno beat, like the title track. I feel like this song is executed a little better than the title track, and will definitely get kids on their feet. Then "Masterpiece" closes out the album on a slower note that talks about giving thanks to Christ for how amazing He made each of us.

If you are looking for a good children's album, look no further. Look Up feels like a really good worship album for kids, that has a mixture of really fast-paced songs, as well as slow songs to get them worshiping. The downside is that some of the lyrics feel a little cheesy to me, but that could be just because I am teenager and I think everything is cheesy. So maybe you can even chalk that up to me just being a teenager. The fact that Dara Maclean and Kari Jobe are on the album make it that much better. Definitely consider buying this album if you have kids or you work at church in a children's ministry and want some good stuff to play for them!

Favorite Song: How Great Your Love Is

Favorite Lyrics: "I am a masterpiece in your eyes!" (From the song "Masterpiece")

Tracklist:

1. We Are
2. Look Up
3. You
4. How Great Your Love Is
5. One Way (All the Way Out)
6. Gonna Love You
7. Living For You
8. Secret Place
9. My Heart
10. Masterpiece

Don Moen: Uncharted Territory

Release: March 27, 2012

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Rating: 3.5/5

Don Moen, the renowned worship leader, is releasing his first worship project in three years, Uncharted Territory. The album, I have heard, sounds like a lot of his old stuff, but I have never listened to any of his music before, so honestly I have no clue if it sounds like his old music. This album is filled with great, and encouraging lyrics, as well as melodies that remind me of a lot of the great 90s hits. With that being said, this album for some reason has not been able to keep me listening. I like some of the songs on the record, but after a while it starts to all kind of smear together. A lot of the components on the album are great, but the one thing that is lacking to me, is the fact that most of the songs are not very catchy. I never find myself singing any of these songs, which is unusual, in that usually there is at least one song on a CD that I get stuck in my head.

"You Will Be My Song" is probably one of my favorites on the album. It speaks of how God is always there for us, and knows exactly what is best for us. The lyrics are very encouraging, and are a great reminder in this pessimistic world. The song reminds me of a lot of Michael W. Smith's old hits; it definitely takes me back to when I first started listening to 90s Christian music. "Somebody's Praying For Me" follows that up with, what I believe, is the best song on the album. It is one of the more catchy songs on the album, with a great lyrics that talk about how great it is in the hard times of his life to know that somebody was praying for him. He talks about how he could really tell when someone was praying for him, and that it made a huge difference.

Moen did a cover of Jesus Culture's famous song, "Your Love Never Fails," as the fifth track on the record. I have loved this song every since I discovered it this past Summer, because of how great the lyrics are and the fact that the instrumentals behind it are especially strong. The song is all about how during the hard times in our lives, God is always there with us, and His love never changes. Moen did a pretty good job with this song, and is definitely one of the stronger songs on the album. "Lord Have Mercy" is another track that feels a little more like the 90s, and is a decent song. His voice sounds pretty good on this track, but it feels like it might be missing a little something.

"My Portion You Will Ever Be" is one of the top tracks near the end of the album that continues on the theme of the rest of the album, which is that God is there with us no matter what the situation may be. If there is one thing that Moen is great at, it is writing lyrics and encouraging people through his lyrics. This song, along with the others, is very uplifting to listen to.

One of my least favorite songs, is the next to last song, "Thank You Jesus." I really like the lyrics, but the beat and how it is delivered feel like those really cheesy 90s songs that got old to me after the first 100 times of hearing them. It has that signature organ and a little bit of a choir, and feels a little out of place to me. The last song, "Burn," recovers pretty well though, with a really slow song that feels like the right song to end the album with. The song talks about Christ leading us and making us His own and allowing us to serve Him.

I am so torn with this album, because there are some really good songs on it, but at the same time I do not find myself wanting to go back and listen to it other than the purpose of reviewing it. I think if you like Don Moen, 90s music, and maybe even Michael W. Smith, then you will probably like Uncharted Territory. It is not one of my top albums of the year, but it definitely has some great lyrics and a few pretty good songs on it as well. If you are on the fence about the album after reading this review, I suggest going and listing to some previews of it on iTunes. The highlight tracks, that I would suggest listening to are, "Somebody's Praying For Me," "Your Love Never Fails," and "You Will Be My Song."

Favorite Song: Somebody's Praying For Me

Favorite Lyrics: "We lift a song in the light of our need for You are able always in all things and in this moment we fall at your feet. Lord have mercy." (From the song "Lord Have Mercy")

Tracklist:

1. Uncharted Territory
2. You Will Be My Song
3. Somebody's Praying For Me
4. Great Things
5. Your Love Never Fails
6. Lord have Mercy
7. Ransomed
8. Divine Exchange
9. My Portion You Will Ever Be
10. No Fear
11. He Loves You
12. Thank You Jesus
13. Burn

Jonathan's Testimony

Me with Mattie Montgomery, the frontman of metal
band, For Today

As Grant said, in Sunday school we have been talking about sharing Christ with others, and one of the many ways to do that is to tell your testimony. So, here is my testimony of how I came to know Christ: my story in one blog post.

Just like Grant, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a Christian home. When I was almost four, my family and I moved to Germany to be missionaries with the International Missions Board. We lived there for three years planting churches and trying to lead people to Christ, and while I understood what we were doing, I did not have a true knowledge of Christ and what He had done for me. I had heard all the stories from my parents and from church about Jesus dying for my sins and then rising from the grave after three days. I had heard all those stories, but hearing something does not necessarily mean you believe it, and is definitely not good enough to get into Heaven.

When I was six years old I remember talking to my parents about Jesus; it was Christmas Eve, and my parents laid out the whole Gospel for me. They told me that Jesus died for my sins, and that because of those sins I could not get into Heaven. They explained to me that after three days Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death. He had bridged the gap between us and God. Because of Jesus, any of us could now get into Heaven and be a part of His family. I can still see in my head the picture my mom drew out of the cross, helping me to see exactly what they were talking about. That night, on Christmas Eve, my parents helped me pray to God and ask Him into my heart. I remember the pure joy I felt as soon as I finished praying. That moment of peace and joy is what I go back to anytime I doubt that I truly had a salvation experience. Satan loves to put doubt in the minds of believers, and sometimes he likes to make me think that I did not truly ask Christ into my heart that night. The Bible says though that people will know us by our fruit, which basically means we should be changed. If there is no change in our lives, then how are we different than anyone else?

I know for a fact that Christ is in my heart, and since then I have not been the same. A couple years later, once we had moved back to America, I was baptized on Christmas Eve by my pastor, Dr. Mac Brunson, in Dallas. As I have heard many times, baptism does not save us, but it is one way to show people that we have become Christians. The grace of God is truly great, and I have experienced it first hand. Without Him, I would be headed to Hell, to suffer without Him, for the rest of eternity. As my favorite Christian artist, Lecrae, said in his song "Hallelujah," "I was on my way to hell with a full tank, I don't care what them boys think, cause what I'm on is a sure thing." We are all on our way to Hell because of our sin, but Jesus stepped in and made a way for us to not have to go to there.

I just had to include this picture of me when I
was little!

If there is one thing I truly want, it is to see others come to know Christ like I do. The fact that Jesus came down and died for me and for you is something that I cannot get over. He lived a sinless life - He never did anything wrong, ever - and then died an excruciating death, just so that you and I could be with Him forever! Now I do not know about you, but more than likely, I would not die for a bunch of strangers that I do not know. It is just not something that most people would do, but Jesus did. His love for us is so great, that we cannot even fathom it. I love studying the Bible and learning more and more about how great Jesus Christ is. The more I read the Bible, the more I see that Jesus is running through every page and His plan can be seen through every story. I love knowing that even though I am not in control, He is. I long to be used by God, and even though I stumble in my spiritual walk, I want to draw closer to Him. I am by no means perfect; I have my own flaws and I put on my pants one leg at a time - just like everyone else. If there is one thing that I do not want you thinking, it is that I am perfect, because I am clearly not. Just because someone has Jesus in their hearts, it does not mean that they do not sin ever again. But I know, for a fact, that when I die, I will go to Heaven to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you have any questions about God, the Bible, how to become a Christian, or anything else, do not hesitate to ask us. You can email us, message us through the Facebook page, Tweet us, or even comment below. We will both gladly talk with you about anything you have questions about. Even if you are just curious and want to see what this whole thing is about, just shoot us a message and we can talk about it. The love of Jesus is unending and is never based on anything we do, which I think is what makes Christ so amazing!

Playdough: Hotdoggin

Release: April 26, 2011

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

Rating: 3/5

Playdough, a Dallas native, recently released his latest album, Hotdoggin. Playdough is not your everyday rapper, but his lyrics are very clever, and this album shows how great a lyricist he truly he is. Hotdoggin is unlike any other hip hop or rap album out there, and is really an acquired taste. I had heard some of his mixtapes before, but this album is a step up from those.

"Nunya" is by far the strangest intro to an album ever. There is really no way to describe the 48 second track other than strange, but somehow it works. It definitely drew me in and grabbed my interest. "Rhymer Reason" follows that up with the first real track, which also happens to be one of my favorites. It was some sweet old school type beats and his rapping feels very smooth - something that is quickly noticeable. The first two tracks are a great way to start off the album.

The fifth track on the album, "The Business," might possibly be my favorite on Hotdoggin. The lyrics talk about his plans as a rapper and going through the rap business. It is a great song, with one of the best beats and some of the smoothest rapping on the album. "Say Sumn" follows it up with another good one where Playdough is talking about telling others about Jesus without shame or regret. It is one of the more hard-hitting songs on the record, with one of the more different beats as well. "My Cadillac" I think clearly shows the eccentricity of Playdough's music. It has some really funny lyrics and a pretty different beat, just like "Say Sumn."

The title track of the record is pretty cool, with an awesome chorus. This song I feel features some of the best rhyming on the album, and has some other really cool parts as well. "Singleminded Female," the next song on the album is a little strange. It takes about a girl he likes that everyone wants and it feels a little out of place. I think it's probably one of my least favorites on the record unfortunately. The album finishes up decently, but definitely not as strong as the beginning of the album.

I guess the thing that I believe holds this album back is that it feels a little unpolished - almost like he made it to be a mixtape. Some of the beats are sweet and some of the lyrics are pretty good, but as an overall album it seems like it could have been a little bit more polished. Some of the songs are really good though, which is why it still gets a 3/5. If you like rap, go ahead and check this album out. He has a completely different style than most of the guys now - it is a little more old school. There are some really good songs on here, but at times the album can feel really long. It is still worth checking out though.

Favorite Song: The Business

Favorite Lyrics: "Man it hurts, but I promise that it works and it's so much bigger than a Sunday morning church." (From the song "Say Sumn")

Tracklist:

1. Nunya
2. Rhymer Reason
3. No Angel
4. Elizabeth Shue
5. The Business
6. Say Sumn
7. My Cadillac
8. Franks & Beans (Feat. Gift of Gab)
9. 1 Day
10. Hotdoggin
11. Singleminded Female
12. So What (Feat. Freddie Bruno)
13. It Got It Like
14. Ya Heard (Feat. Mr. Dibbs vs. Black Keys)
15. Follow It
16. Sunset

Grant's Testimony

Something Jonathan and I have been talking about in our youth group at church is how to share the Gospel through our testimonies. We were both challenged to share our testimonies through a social media outlet, so we both decided to use the blog to reach a larger group than we would with just our Facebook pages alone. This is the story of how I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I was fortunate enough to be born into a strong Christian family that still leads me closer to God today. I grew up in Texas for most of my very young life, and I was able to experience church every Sunday and Wednesday with my family and friends, but I always felt like I was doing this without a sense of purpose. Going to church soon became very routine for me, and I became used to dressing up for a few hours of sitting down listening to a pastor preach or my Sunday school teacher tell me about the many stories in the Bible. I loved these stories, and I knew they had meaning and were meant to teach me life lessons, but I knew I wanted something more. I was taught how to live, but I never knew why I was living in the first place. We moved to Florida when I was 5 or 6 years old, and I was soon to discover what I was meant to be, and why I was living.

I found my purpose after we had lived in Florida for about a year. It was on my 7th birthday, and after my family celebrated, I went into my room to go to sleep, but my mom came into my room just before I turned the lights out to go to sleep. She talked to me about Jesus, and how He died for our sins. I listened to her intently, because I knew there was something different in her voice, something deeper than the moral values of the stories I learned about in the Sunday school stories, something uplifting in her tone. She told me that accepting Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior and living your life to please Him and obey His commands was the way that I could find purpose in my life. On my knees beside my bed next to my mother, I prayed to receive Christ into my heart in 2002. My mother told me that the angels in heaven were rejoicing and celebrating because of my decision. God came into my stony heart and made me new that night, and I have been living for Him ever since.

After my life-changing decision in 2002, I have had many ups and downs in my walk with the Lord. God has always been there, again and again, to reach down and lift me up when I have fallen into sin. I have fallen away and been separated from Him, but He has always reached down, picked me up, and forgiven me. Today, I strive to strengthen my ever-growing relationship with Him through good times and bad times. I work hard to improve the talents He has gifted me with, like using basketball as an outlet to share the Gospel. My life would be truly meaningless without the Lord. If any of you have questions about my testimony or would like to share your testimony with me and Jonathan, shoot us an email. We would love to talk to you. Thanks for reading.

Top Songs of 2012 So Far

Three months into 2012 we have already seen some great releases, and we have loved reviewing them, and we cannot wait to share some more reviews with you in the near future. We thought we would go ahead and do a little summary of the year so far in three installments. In this one we will present you with our top 10 songs of the year so far. The next will be the top EPs of the year so far, and then the top albums. So without further ado, here are our top songs of 2012 so far!

1. "We're All Liars" - Sent By Ravens 
• This song is by far our favorite of the year so far. Sent By Ravens proved with Mean What You Say that they are a force to be reckoned with, and we have had this song on replay continuously since it came out in February.
2. "Middle of Your Heart" - For King & Country
• "Middle of Your Heart" was super catchy from the very first time we heard it, and the message of the song is spectacular. So far it is the best CCM song to release this year in our opinion!
3. "Shut Up and Rock" - Blessed By a Broken Heart
• BBABH really caught us off guard. We had no clue who they were until they released their album, Feel the Power, in January. "Shut Up and Rock" is the highlight of the album and is an absolutely amazing song.
4. "Let Me Feel You Shine" - David Crowder Band
• It was a sad, sad day when DCB decided they were going to break up, but their last CD ever was pretty good. "Let Me Feel You Shine" was an instant hit and stuck out very easily on the album.
5. "Current" - Sarah Macintosh
• Sarah Macintosh was another that caught us off guard. Her album Current is fantastic, and the title track is even better!
6. "More (Ooh La La)" - Love Out Loud
• LOL is one of the best up-and-coming bands and their song "More (Ooh La La)" is absolutely spectacular. If you like punk rock, definitely check this one out.
7. "We Are" - Kari Jobe

• Kari Jobe's album, Where I Find You, was spectacular, and the first single from the record, "We Are," was definitely what stood out to us.
8. "Trap Money (Feat. Thi'sl & Young Noah) - Flame
• Flame's album The 6th, had its ups and downs, but "Trap Money" has undoubtedly been our favorite track off the March 6 release.
9. "Find Me (Feat. B. Reith)" - Theory Hazit
• Theory Hazit's new album, Thr3e, is not spectacular, but his song with B. Reith, "Find Me" definitely is. Great rapping by Theory and great signing by B. Reith.
10. "One Thing Remains" - Bethel Music
• Our original favorite song "My Dear" off Bethel Music's latest album is still one of our favorites, but over time "One Thing Remains" has surpassed it in our minds. It is such a great worship anthem!

Love Out Loud: Catch Me if You Can (EP)

Release: February 14, 2012
Genre: Rock
Rating: 5/5

Love Out Loud is an up-and-coming punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Love Out Loud is their third EP as a band, the first, Complete in Color, released in 2009, and their second, A Story Worth Telling, came out in 2010. LOL (awesome initials by the way), has an infectious sound that always brings me back for more. Each song is a new adventure, with a bunch of different styles going on throughout the EP. Dillon Jones' vocals are amazing, and the fact that he has such amazing musicians backing him up makes it that much better. The band's lyrics are catchy, which is one of the top ingredients for a great punk rock album.

My standards for a 5/5 album or EP have raised in the past few months, and I really scrutinize an album before giving it a perfect rating. Every time I listen to this EP though, it gets better; I literally cannot find anything bad to say about any part of it. The lyrics get stuck in my head all the time, the instrumentals are super good, and the vocals are spectacular. LOL is everything I want in a punk rock band, and more. Every time I listen to this album I realize something new I like about it, or I find something really awesome that I missed before.

"Who I Am" starts off the EP with a bang, and is definitely one of the best songs on the album. As far as catchy lyrics, this one is up there too. The song talks about being secure in yourself and not caring about what either people think or say. Not only does the song sound amazing, but the concept of the song is great too. "Not Alone" follows with another song that sounds a lot like the first. The band does not show too much variance in style in these first two songs, but the last three all sound completely different. "Not Alone" is basically about how in the situations when we feel like we are all alone, we really are not, because Jesus is right there beside us all day, every day. The first two songs are very uplifting, as well as fun to listen to.

"Crazy Over You" slows it down a little bit with a really awesome love ballad. The chorus is upbeat like I have come to expect from the band, but the verses are a little slower with just a guitar playing in the first verse, and the rest of the verses have just a guitar and a piano playing. The song is really sweet, and a great one to add to your Valentine's Day playlist. Coincidentally, this EP came out on Valentine's Day.

The fourth song, "More (Ooh La La)" is hands down the best song on the album. This was one of the easiest picks ever for a favorite song because of how amazing the track is. Every time I listened to it, it reminded me of something I used to listen to, but I could never quite put my finger on it. Then after probably the fiftieth time listening to it, I realized who it reminded me of: a secular band I used to listen to by the name of Call The Cops. Before I got rid of all my secular music, I used to listen to Call The Cops all the time, and this song reminds me so much of them. (I would not recommend listening to CTC by the way, just because their lyrics are garbage.) The lyrics to "More (Ooh La La)" are super infectious, and the techno-ish sound of it is really good. Jones' voice is amazing on this song too, just like it is on the rest of the EP.

The EP closes out with "Steady Aim," which sounds a little more like the first two songs, but still has a little bit of a different flair to it from even those two songs. Jones' voice sounds a little different on this song, but still great. The track talks about aiming for your dreams even when people tell you not to or that you do not have what it takes. I love the positivity of LOL's songs, which is definitely a breath of fresh air in today's music scene.

I have seriously fallen in love with Love Out Loud. It has been a while since I have loved a punk rock band this much, probably the last time was when I discovered Stellar Kart. Every part of this EP is perfect, from start to finish, and I recommend Catch Me if You Can more than almost anything I have listened to all year. This EP will be a great addition to anybody's music library. You will definitely want to at least check these guys out and be able to say you knew about them before they were famous, because they are definitely going to be famous one day.

Favorite Song: More (Ooh La La)

Favorite Lyrics: "You have an extra band-aid? It seems I've scraped my knees falling for you." (From the song "Crazy Over You")

Tracklist:

1. Who I Am
2. Not Alone
3. Crazy Over You
4. More (Ooh La La)
5. Steady Aim

Json: Growing Pains

Release: February 21, 2012
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
Rating: 4/5

Json is a part of that group of great Christian rappers who is not part of the Reach Records group. He has been on many Reach projects, and has become very popular, but for some reason they have not signed him to the record company, even though I feel he would be a great fit for 116 Clique. Json is signed with Lamp Mode Recordings, which also boasts Shai Linne, Stephen The Levite, and S.O, among others. Growing Pains is his fourth album, and definitely his best to date. The album shows a lot of maturity in Jason 'Json' Watson, with every one of the tracks being emotional and hard hitting.

The intro is a cool song that opens up the album very well, showing exactly what Json wants us to get out of the album: through pain and suffering comes growth in Christ. After that come two of my favorite songs on the album. The first is "Making Me Over," which features AD3 and Tedashii and is definitely a highlight of the album. The song has a sweet beat and spells out exactly what the theme of the album is, just like the intro did. Json sounds spectacular on the song, and it is evident that Tedashii was perfectly cast for this track. "2 Human" then follows that up with a much more emotional and heartfelt song. The song features Lecrae and is another one of the better songs on the album which talks about how he and all the other Christian rappers make mistakes because they are just humans. Many people put Christian artists on pedestals and then think that they cannot mess up because they should have an amazing spiritual life, but this song exposes that lie and Json says that really they are not unlike the rest of us - he is just a human.

"It's Alright" fits in the new trend of Christian rappers having CCM artists on their songs. Json chose Mikeschair to be on this song, which I believe is my favorite choice so far by a Christian rapper. The two mix together really well, and it made for a very emotional song that talks about how even in the hard times Christ is there for us ready to hold us up.

"Brand New" is definitely one of the lows of the album. The beat is alright, and the rapping by the guest artists is decent at best. The lyrics are great, and Json did a pretty good job, but the chorus really gets on my nerves after 10 seconds of listening to it. Steve T really seems to be striking out this year. He was on my least favorite track on Flame's album, "Running," and now he is on my least favorite on Json's album. He is a pretty good rapper, but they keep putting him on the weaker tracks unfortunately.

I am really starting to gain a lot of respect for Chris Lee. He does an amazing job as a guest artist on every song he touches, and "Behind the Clouds" is no exception; he always seems to mesh well with rappers, and I have come to really love his voice. "Behind the Clouds" talks about how through pain and hard times there is always a silver lining in Christ, and is a very uplifting song to listen to. "We Not Folding" follows up this song really well with a more hard hitting and true rap song. I love the beat to this one, and the guest artists are banging. Trubble is still not one of my favorite artists, but I think she is slowly growing on me. "We Not Folding" talks about how even in the hard times we do not have to give up, because we have Christ on our side.

Benjah has the utmost respect from me; I think I may respect him more than anyone in the Christian music industry. He can sing well, rap well, produce well - everything he touches seems to turn to gold. I love his part in Json's song "Credits Roll," which talks about the fact that when we become Christians the curtain comes goes down on our old lives and we can live in the freedom of Christ from then on. It is a great song, and one of my favorites on the entire album.

Json has proven once again that he is one of the premier Christian rappers who definitely deserves a part of the spotlight. Growing Pains is as mature an album as it gets, and I love the lyrical content on the record so much. The beats are pretty good throughout the album, and most of the tracks are solid. There are a few songs that I feel are not up to the level they should be, which is why I have given it a little bit of a lower rating. I would still highly suggest checking this album out if you like rap music.

Favorite Song: It's Alright

Favorite Lyrics: "Give me the scraps, I don't deserve the feast from your table. But Christ died for the broken, frail, weak, and disabled - meaning me. So I will not accept the sacrifice, do I think my righteousness comes in when I'm just acting right?" (Form the song "Credits Roll")

Tracklist:

1. Growing Pains Intro
2. Making Me Over (Feat. AD3 & Tedashii)
3. 2 Human (Feat. Lecrae)
4. G.P. (Interlude 1)
5. Held it Down (Feat. Butta P & Ron Kenloy Jr.)
6. It's Alright (Feat. Mikeschair)
7. I The Beast
8. Brand New (Feat. God's Servant & Steve T)
9. G.P. (Interlude 2)
10. My Joy (Feat. Jai)
11. Behind the Clouds (Feat. Chris Lee)
12. We Not Folding (Feat. Trubble & Black Knight)
13. Secrets (Interlude)
14. Secrets (Feat. JR)
15. Credits Roll (Feat. Benjah)
16. G.P. (Interlude 3)
17. Goodbye
18. Parent Me (Bonus Track)

Paul Baloche: The Same Love

Release: March 13, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 3.5/5

After being in the Christian music industry for 20 years and releasing 11 albums, Paul Baloche has released his twelfth album, The Same Love. Baloche is known for writing stirring worship ballads, and has long been one of the top worship leaders. The Same Love has some very stirring songs that were wonderfully crafted, and are very pleasing to listen to. As a whole, the album is good, but it is not great. There are some songs I love listening to, but there are parts of the album where I could easily just skip over them and feel like I did not really miss anything.

The album starts off with the best song on the album: the title track. It has a very catchy chorus that I get stuck in my head all the time, and the lyrics to the whole song are spectacular. If I had to choose one strong point for the album, it would have to be the lyrical content. I do not think there is a song on this record where the lyrics are lacking. Each song ministers to the heart, and it is easy to see that Baloche is a very gifted lyricist, which is proven right off the bat with "The Same Love." This is one song on the album I absolutely love listening to, and it is a great way to start off the album.

"We Are Saved" is another one of my favorites off the album. The song features Ben Fielding of Hillsong, which is definitely a great pairing. The song talks about how wonderful it is that Christ died so that we could live, and the song is all about how amazing the resurrection of Christ truly is. The track is truly uplifting and is really catchy just like the first song. "King of Heaven" is a little different than the first two, but a good different. It is a little simpler, which could have been influenced by All Sons & Daughters who are on the song as well. The concept of the song is that God is all-powerful and through Him we can do anything - a great reminder.

The seventh song on the record, "Oh Our Lord," is a cover of All Sons & Daughters' song by the same name, and they do some background vocals on his version . I loved this song originally when it was done by All Sons & Daughters, and Baloche did a great job with it as well. (I think I may still prefer the original though.) That song is followed up by the more fast-paced "Christ the Lord," which celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Then "Reign in Me" slows it down again with a very somber and passionate track that talks about surrendering to Christ and allowing Him to be the sole owner of our hearts, desires, and actions.

"Loved By You" is one of my favorite tracks near the end of the album. It features Kari Jobe and Angela Krusi, and I especially like Jobe's presence on the song. Her presence on just about any worship song is usually really good and it definitely made this one that much better. The song is a very comforting song that talks about how Christ is always there for us and is always there to love us. The album ends with a fast one in "Shout For You," which is a great ending to a good album. The song has a feeling of finality and is very enjoyable to listen to, and is all about telling everyone about how awesome Christ is and how great it is that he died for us.

Paul Baloche has so much experience in the Christian music industry, and this album definitely shows his professional experience. The album is very polished and the lyrics are definitely the highlight of the record. There are some songs on here that I have quickly grown to love, and will be listening to for a long time, but as a whole, the album feels like it is missing something. Overall it is not spectacular, but there are some songs on here that are definitely worth checking out.

Favorite Song: The Same Love

Favorite Lyrics: "Nothing can reach the end of all Your faithfulness. Your grace is with me through every shadow every test. I'm hanging on, I'm leaning in to You." (From the song "My Hope")

Tracklist

1. The Same Love
2. We Are Saved (Feat. Ben Fielding of Hillsong)
3. King of Heaven (Feat. All Sons & Daughters)
4. All Because of the Cross
5. Your Blood Ran Down
6. My Hope (Feat. Kathryn Scott)
7. Oh Our Lord Christ the Lord (Feat. All Sons & Daughters)
8. Christ the Lord
9. Reign in Me (Feat. Jason Ingram)
10. Just Say (Feat. Brothers McClurg & Angela Krusi)
11. Loved By You (Feat. Kari Jobe & Angela Krusi)
12. Look Upon the Lord
13. Shout For Joy

The Beautiful Refrain: Redemption:Daylight (EP)

Release: March 17, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary, Rock
Rating: 3.5/5

The Beautiful Refrain is an adult contemporary type band, that leans a little more towards rock than most adult contemporary bands. They are based of out Harrisonburg, Virginia and originally began writing songs for their church, but they branched into writing more than 'church music.' TBR has a sound that I feel like I have heard before, but the songs on this EP still feel pretty original. It took me a while to even like them, and after listening to them I like them, but not to the point that I will listen to it over-and-over again.

"Page One" is the first single from the record and is by the far the best song on the EP. Cameron Gwaltney automatically intrigued me because of how polished his voice sounds. I really like his voice, and the fact that he sounds like everything he says he means, which is proven right of the bat with this song which is about the faithfulness of God and how amazing it is that even though we messed up as badly as we did, He still loves us and draws us towards Him. "Run Away" is another one of my favorites, and it talks about leaving our old lives and instead focusing on Christ. The first two songs are a pretty good way to start of the EP, and "Page One is definitely the highlight of the whole thing.

"Tiger Face!" is up there with "Page One" as far as being one of my favorites. It is definitely more rock-based than the rest on the EP, and it feels like one they definitely had fun making. It talks about being unafraid of the things that threaten us, and has a more old school feel to it which makes for a fun song to listen to. "Lowly Sound" follows up "Tiger Face," with a much slower track that shows a much more passionate and emotional side of the band. It talks about how lowly we truly are compared to Christ, but He came down to earth and willingly gave of Himself so that we would not have to be in hell for all of eternity.

"You Said" finishes up the EP on a good note. The song I feel really showcases Gwaltney's vocals and is definitely geared towards making people focus on his voice. I love the concept of the song which is that Christ is there for us no matter what. However, the instrumentals are not spectacular on any of the songs, but at the same time it does not detract from the album, they are just kind of there. Gwaltney's voice is really the highlight of the EP.

The Beautiful Refrain has potential, and I like what I have heard from them so far in Redemption:Daylight. The EP is not absolutely amazing, but it does not fall into mediocrity either - it is good and worth listening to and checking into. TBR still has some work to do, and with a little hard work I feel that they could become really good and really popular. They have the sound that I feel like I have heard before, but I like the style and it is one that I definitely feel they should try to further develop.

Favorite Song: Page One

Favorite Lyrics: "With a broken heart I'll praise you. With a broken heart I'll give you all I am." (Form the song "Page One.")

Tracklist:

1. Page One
2. Run Away
3. Tiger Face!
4. Lowly Sound
5. You Said

Jimmy Needham: If I Ever Needed Grace (Single)

As I posted a little earlier, I had the chance to see Jimmy Needham in concert. I love how after seeing bands live, their songs come alive. "If I Ever Need Grace" is his latest single from his upcoming album, Clear The Stage, which comes out March 27. Needham talked a lot about grace at the concert and it made this song that much better to me. "If I Ever Needed Grace" is one of my favorite songs by him ever, right after "Yours to Take" and "Forgiven and Loved." His lyrics are poignant and relevant, his voice is so smooth, and the instrumentals are usually really good on most of his songs, this one included. Needham said at the concert that this song came out of a moment when he felt so hopeless that he told God, "If I ever needed grace, it is definitely right now." He said he then thought about it, and he realized that we need grace all the time. Needham has never been one of my top artists, but this song has really made me excited for the album, and I think that if the rest of the album is like this song, it will be really good. I definitely cannot wait to hear Clear The Stage!

Rating: 4.5/5

Jimmy Needham Tour

Date of Concert: March 17, 2012
Venue: Murray Hill Theatre, Jacksonville, Fla.
Artists: Jimmy Needham, Andy Cherry, Adam Sams
Rating: 4.5/5

Jimmy Needham is a man known throughout the Christian music world for having an amazing voice. He has a very clear and recognizable voice that I think most people love when they hear. I was so excited to be able to go to this concert, and I really did not know if I was going to go to it until the morning of the concert. (I love it when that happens!)

I arrived at Murray Hill Theatre about 30 minutes before doors opened ready to buy a ticket, when a nice guy came up and said he had extra tickets and just gave one to me. It was a great way to start off the night, and it definitely put me in a good mood for the concert.

I loved being able to see my friend Adam Sams in concert, finally! I have tried to go to a few of his shows before, and I am never able to make it. So, needless to say I was pretty excited to finally hear his music live. He opened up his set with the song "Smaller," which has become one of my personal favorites off his debut album, Welcome to the Motion (check out our review here). He then played "Foreign," "My Faith is in the Grave," and "This Old House," all great songs I might add. He finished off his set with the title track off his record, "Welcome to the Motion." I loved his music before the concert, but I have to say that I love it even more now that I have heard it live. He is a great performer and someone I highly recommend checking out. Also, be on the lookout for an interview with him in the near future!

Next up was the hilarious Andy Cherry. I felt really bad for him because his guitar broke about an hour and a half before the concert started so he had to buy a brand new one right before the show. Needless to say, his guitar was having issues staying tuned, and it turned into a hilarious time of him telling jokes while he was trying to fix it. When he was playing songs though, it was amazing. He has a great voice, and his guitar playing skills are really good. He played songs from his album like, "Our God's Alive," "Nothing Left to Fear" (the title track), "Nothing But the Blood," as well as a nice hymn: "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." He said that this show would be the one he remembered by the fact that he gave up a song to impersonate Arnold Schwarzenegger, by saying "This is not a tumor," over-and-over again. He was so funny, and definitely a great entertainer! He even did a cover of the Beatles song, "Come Together."

Last, but certainly not least, came Jimmy Needham, the headliner of this amazing concert. He started off with his song, "Moving To Zion," a very explosive way to start, I thought. He then followed that up with a few of my favorites: "Yours To Take," "If I Ever Needed Grace" (his latest single), and "Grace Amazing," which he did with Trip Lee on his album. He just finished touring with Trip the day before he played this concert unfortunately, so he wasn't there to do his part in the song. Needham did a pretty good job of rapping though, and I could not help but notice he was wearing one of Trip Lee's new shirts.

Best part of the concert, hands down, was when Needham, Cherry, and two members of Needham's band did an oldies set together. They all got up there with black fedoras, and did the songs like a true quartet. I think they did three different songs, but the only one I could remember the name for was "ABC" by Jackson 5. After that he played some more songs, including a new one called "Daddy's Baby Girl," and did a little bit of 'preaching.'

This concert was amazing, and I would highly recommend going to see these guys if they come near you. I think they have a a different local artist opening up for them at each concert, but Adam Sams did a great job here in Jacksonville. Probably 75% of the concert was acoustic, which was a big change from the lost concert I went to at Murray Hill: For Today. The focus of the night was definitely on Christ, and that is what will always make a concert really good. Needham and Cherry are definitely not afraid to preach the Gospel, and are both amazing musicians.

The Hope is Alive Tour Review

Date of Concert: March 16, 2012
Venue: Oceanway Assembly of God, Jacksonville, Fla.
Artists: Ascension Worship
Rating: 4.5/5

I did not plan on ever doing any concert reviews for events that are just local ones. Originally I was just going to do reviews of tours that are going around the United States or even the world, but I decided that I really wanted to review the Hope is Alive Tour which is done by Ascension Worship. The tour is through all of 2012 and will be held one Friday night a month at a different church in Jacksonville, Fla. The band is comprised of a bunch of different people from local churches and has been playing for the last two or three years I think. They recently released a live album from their Recollect Tour last year, which I was actually in attendance for. (Look for a review of the album in the near future!)

March 16, Ascension kicked off their tour at Oceanway Assembly of God, a church that has recently been going through changes to become more contemporary. The church looked really nice and had a really awesome stage and lighting. Peter Dearing opened up for Ascension with an acoustic worship set that really surprised me. He did an amazing job, which I should have expected though, because usually they have really good musicians open for them. (The last time I saw them, Corey Kilgannon opened for them, which was pretty spectacular.) Niki Dawson did guest vocals on most of the songs with him, and later I found out while doing research for this review that she was on NBC's The Voice last year, which blew my socks off. They both did a great job, and their song choices were really good too.

After a five minute break, Ascension came on singing their song, "Hope is Alive." The next two songs the band played were personal favorites of mine: "Love Came Down" by Bethel Music, and "Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)" by Robbie Seay Band. They started off really well with those three songs and it really warmed up the evening. After those three songs Blake Bennett, Minister of Emerging Generations at Journey Church in Pone Vedra, Fla. came up and gave a 20-25 message. He spoke on hope, since that is the theme of the tour. His sermon fit in perfectly with the mood of the evening, and he mixed humor in well with his message. I personally prefer expository preaching over topical, but most guys who do events like these do not preach in an expository way, which is completely fine with me. Either way, he brought the message very well and it corresponded perfectly with the theme of the tour.

After the message and the invitation, Ascension came back out singing "Great I Am," by New Life Worship and , "Wonderful Cross," which is on their latest live CD. After that they sang, "Never Once" by Matt Redman, which is a beautiful worship song that I have loved ever since I heard it on his latest release, 10,000 Reasons (Live). They followed that up with the best song of the night, "One Thing Remains," off Bethel Music's 2012 release, The Loft Sessions. They did a phenomenal job with the track, and it made for a very emotional part of the concert.

The last three songs of the night are all on their new album: "Rooftops," "For Your Name," and "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble." It was a wonderful night of worship where I believe everyone came away feeling closer to God. The night was a special one, and I loved that even though it was a big show, you could definitely feel that the focus was on God and being closer to Him. The thing I look for most in a concert is what the focus of the night is. If the focus is on the band and how awesome they sound, then it is really not that great of a concert. If the focus is on glorifying God, building up the body of Christ, and witnessing to nonbelievers, then I believe it is a successful concert. Ascension did a great job, and I highly suggest checking these guys out if you live in Jacksonville. If not, I encourage you to find out if there are any local worship bands like Ascension near you. They are usually worth going to see, and they are almost always great shows.

Ascension Set List:

1. Hope is Alive - Ascension Worship
2. Love Came Down - Bethel Music
3. Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down) - Robbie Seay Band
4. Great I Am - New Life Worship
5. Wonderful Cross - Ascension Worship
6. Never Once - Matt Redman
7. One Thing Remains - Bethel Live
8. Rooftops - Ascension Worship
9. For Your Name - Ascension Worship
10. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble - Ascension Worship

The Devil Wears Prada: Dead Throne

Release Date: September 13, 2011
Genre: Metal
Rating: 4.5/5

Dead Throne, The Devil Wears Prada's fourth album recorded with Ferret Records, came onto the scene in September of last year, and it will melt your face off. Anyone who enjoys metal will find some redeeming value in listening to TDWP, whether it be their tech sounds mixed in with heavy instrumentals, or their newer, heavier sound brought out through this album. TDWP has come out with, I think, their best project of their musical career.

To kick it off, the title track, one of the shortest and heaviest on the album, comes out with blazing guitars and in-your-face vocals. This song has to be one of my favorites on the whole album because of its musical qualities, that shows how TDWP chose to go heavy on Dead Throne. I think it was a great decision; they sound a lot better and their music is very hardcore. To follow it up a few songs later, "Mammoth" also maintains the heavy qualities of the first song. If the guitar in the beginning is not enough to get me psyched up, the vocals and lyrics get me out of my seat. The one thing I wonder, though, is why I do not hear much about the Gospel in their music. Their music is great and attracts a large crowd, but I wish I heard more divinely inspired lyrics.

Also, on the topic of lyrics, "R.I.T." is also a favorite of mine for the band's music overall. I doubted them for a while when I first heard one part of the song that sounded like cursing; after I looked it up though, I still wondered how they did not think about using some words that were a bit less suggestive to Christian listeners. Aside from this, they did a fantastic job with their instrumentals and there were solid vocals throughout. One of my favorite songs on the album follows it up, "My Questions." The lyrics are what you would expect from most metal bands today, but the song is catchy, the instrumentals maintain a good drive, and the clean vocals give me chills. I love this song, and still listen to it all the time, along with bands like I, The Breather.

One small letdown on the album is the instrumental song, "Kansas." The instrumentals are good, but I feel like some good lyrics would improve the song further and make it better than it is. It is quite the opposite on "Forever Decay." I do not see how the words to this song could be uplifting at all, and the instrumentals could be a little better. Although it is not one of my favorite songs, I can still enjoy listening to it, partially because of the breakdown, which is one of my favorites on the whole album.

One highlight of Dead Throne would definitely be "Constance." I like how the song begins immediately, and that it has good lyrics, great instrumentals, and there is a lot of quality in the song. I enjoy listening to it, and it is one of my favorites songs from TDWP's musical career. They even guest star the lead vocalist from As I Lay Dying, another metal band considered Christian (Check out our review of Decas!), in the breakdown. This song can be representative of what the rest of the alum will sound like in many different ways. The song is enjoyable to listen to for metal fans, and it is a tune that will stick in your head.

The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite metal bands of all time, and I enjoy listening to their many albums and seeing how they have grown as a band and become so popular in the midst of the culture that they attract. Hopefully they will continue to create music, because they are being noticed. I hope they seize the opportunity to share the Gospel through their music, and that they keep making quality music like all of the songs on Dead Throne.

Favorite Song: My Questions

Favorite Lyrics: "We will not be forgotten! Hold fast, hold fast! I will never subject myself to the flames." (From the song "Holdfast")

Tracklist:

1. Dead Throne
2. Untidaled
3. Mammoth
4. Vengeance
5. R.I.T.
6. My Questions
7. Kansas
8. Born To Lose
9. Forever Decay
10. Chicago
11. Constance
12. Pretenders
13. Holdfast

Fades Away: Perception

Release: November 29, 2011

Genre: Rock

Rating: 3/5

Fades Away, a rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, came out with Perceptions in November of last year, and it is a decent rock album. Anyone who enjoys bands like Disciple, Red, or Thousand Foot Krutch could appreciate Fades Away's new project. It brings forth a hard rock instrumental set, good clean vocals, and a screamer that puts them on the border between metal and rock.

To kick off Perceptions, the title track starts with a kick and has a good tempo. Arguably one of the best songs on the album, the guitar has a good sound, and the clean vocals are a good compliment to the band. There is not as much of a scream in this album, which I like, but it still brings a good element into their music that highlights the sound overall. The background clean vocals also compliment the song very well, with the lyrics to the song being pretty brutal as well: "You're just as sick as the rest, with your backbone gone and a hole in your chest." This song does a good job of showing the potential Fades Away has as a band in the future.

"The Remnant" has a quicker tempo, and the song is good for their second album. The clean vocals are really good in this song, just like in "Perceptions", and the screaming is a good addition to this song. They seem to lack quality though in this song; I feel like it could be a lot better. This could apply to the album as a whole as well; if they could have an improved, crisp sound, they could sound a lot better than they do on this project. A lot of the issues with the album mainly stem from poor album production. If they could get into a really good studio to record their next one, I think it will be 10 times better.

"I Still Miss You" sounds a lot more like modern rock music today; it is a quick-paced love song. The lyrics do a great job of illustrating the events that the vocalist experienced, and it is a lyrically great song, probably one of the best on the album. The guitar and drum licks are catchy, and the song flows well with itself, but the band needs to decide whether or not they are a rock or a metal band. They have potential to be great in both genres, but their mix of metal and rock does not always go well together. Anyone who likes a good rock song would still enjoy this one though.

"Choir of Failure" is one of the songs on the album that I do not enjoy as much as the others. The instrumentals are good, and sometimes the vocals are similar to that of Red, but the quality in the song is not as good as it could be. The song is quite stressful to listen to, but there are thoughtful lyrics throughout. "Toast To The Fallen" has the same qualities of "Choir of Failure," the lyrics are as brutal as always for Fades Away, but the musical quality is also lacking, and the sound is scarred badly by lack of crisp sound. The song and lyrics are dark like a metal song, but the instrumentals are similar to most rock bands I listen to today.

Fades Away is a good band with great potential, but I think they need to sound crisper and have a better quality sound. They have great lyrics that are deep and have obviously had a lot of time and effort poured into them. They can sound a lot better, and Fades Away is a lot like many of the bands I listen to, but they have not reached their maximum potential. I think that anyone who likes rock bands that are a mix of metal and rock will enjoy this band, and it might be worth your time to check them out. Definitely be on the lookout from the next release from this band, especially if they get into a great studio!

Favorite Song: Perceptions

Favorite Lyrics: "Take all the filth and remains and make me new inside." (From the song "Choir of Failure")

Tracklist:

1. Perceptions
2. The Remnant
3. Not Ready to Run
4. I Still Miss You
5. Right Now (We'll Stand)
6. Never Say Never
7. Home
8. Choir of Failure
9. Toast to the Fallen
10. These Hands
11. Broken Empire

Fight The Silence Tour Review

Date of Concert: March 11, 2012
Venue: Murray Hill Theatre
Artists: For Today, Mychildren Mybride, A Skylit Drive, Stick To Your Guns, Make Me Famous
Rating: 3.5/5

Once I found out that the Fight The Silence tour would be coming to Jacksonville, I was definitely ready to rock out. I had dreamed of seeing For Today since I started listening to their music in 2009, along with Jonathan and a few of my friends. I was so psyched for this tour to hit Murray Hill, but I was slightly disappointed at the turnout of the entire concert. Murray Hill is a movie theatre turned concert venue that can usually pack up to 700 people and can make for a very intimate show since not too many people can fit into the place.

Before the concert, I went to Jonathan's house to spruce up our review questions for Mattie Montgomery the lead singer from For Today. (Yes, we got an interview! We will post it as soon as we can!) We did the interview about 2 hours before doors were opened, so we interviewed him and went back to grab our stuff and get in line. After getting there and getting in, we waited for an awesome concert, only it was not as great as I though it would be. I soon discovered that most of the bands on tour were not Christ-honoring, Christian bands. To start off, Make Me Famous, a particularly heavy band, came on stage and had a decent performance, but they were certainly not a Christian band. They played a few songs, and did a decent job performing. But the thing that really perturbed me was the fact that they cursed during an intro to one of their songs, the lead singer later apologized but the damage had already been done.

After Make Me Famous one of the sponsors of the tour, XXX Church, got up and talked. Levi the Poet did the presentation, doing a spoken word piece. At first I questioned where he was going with the poem, but his point quickly developed and I think it was received very well by the audience. He was a little too graphic in what he was saying, but overall I would have to say he did a pretty good job. He definitely caught people's attention. The organization, from what I have seen in the past, is amazing, and they are doing a great job of helping men with pornography problems. I highly recommend checking them out if you struggle in that area.

After they came off stage, MyChildren MyBride came on. They did a great job, which made me wonder why they were not headlining with For Today on this tour. They played some new songs from their upcoming self-titled album (review coming soon!) as well as their new single, "On Wings of Integrity, Pt. 2." Their performance was full of energy, and it was a relief to hear after Make Me Famous. Their music is great, and worth a listen; they did a fantastic job playing live. If you are a metal fan and you like them, you need to find out when this tour comes near you. Their live performances trump their sound on CD.

Afterwards came my least favorite part of the concert: Stick To Your Guns. They are most certainly not a Christ-honoring band. From what I could draw, they had a decent live performance, but they are definitely a secular band. Their use of profanities was shocking to the crowd that was there that night. I ended up leaving the room for this performance, mainly because I did not approve of the things they sung about. A Skylit Drive was not much better. Their music is secular as well, and their performance was slightly better than STYG. Their music was decent, but their live performance was not very impressive. Their songs were not nearly as profane as STYG, but there was still no redeeming quality in their music. I found their performance to be slightly shallow, but besides that, they did an okay job on stage.

The best performance though, undoubtedly, was For Today. The played all of their most popular songs, plus a few more. The band opened with "Saul of Tarsus" off their second album, Portraits, and about halfway through played their latest single, "Fearless.' (You can check out my review of that song here). They preached as much as they performed, which was especially impressive. I loved the messages that Mattie brought to the crowd in between every few songs. For Today then ended with probably their most famous song ever, "Devastator," off their last album Breaker. The band's performance did not go as long as I thought it would, but the important thing was that he dealt with the people that wanted to accept Christ after he performed. For Today was phenomenal live, and they did a great job of prioritizing their time on stage and directing praises back to God.

If you are willing to listen to a few decent bands to see a few great ones, then I recommend this tour. Otherwise, be careful when choosing to go to one of these concerts, and remember that not all of the performing bands are Christian. The concert was worth going to just for Mychildren Mybride and For Today, and if you like their music then you will definitely love their live performances.

The Waiting Kind: The Waiting Kind EP

Release: October 11, 2011

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Rating: 3.5/5

The Waiting Kind came out with their new self titled EP, and it is a lot better than some would think. Even though I have never heard of them previous to The Waiting Kind, their original sound brings out a soft mood that reminds me of many worship bands. You will enjoy The Waiting Kind if you enjoy listening to most of today's modern worship or adult contemporary bands.

To start off, "Love Rises" has to be the highlight of the album. The singer projects his voice very well on this EP, and the instrumentals are fantastic. Apart from that, the thing that would make this song most appealing to listeners is its worshipful lyrics. The singer did a very good job of putting life into the words and giving them depth for the listener. The song has life and so do the elements of worship in it. I think anyone who enjoys the genre would love this band.

Another song I would like to touch on is "Heaven Calls My Name." The words of this song are also very deep and, I think, meant for praise and worship songs. The song talks about the calling of God's grace and how it can transform your shame into something new. It is a fantastic song, and it has a good catchy tune that sticks in your head. This song is very representative of what the rest of the album would sound like.

"Cross of Love" is a song almost just like "Heaven Calls My Name" with a different tune and tempo. The song is a calling for people to go back to the cross and remember all that Jesus did for us and continues do do in our lives. This song highlights the forgiveness of the Lord through the sacrifice he made on the cross. The Waiting Kind did a great job with this song all around: the instrumentals and vocals blend very well together, and the message is boldly positive and uplifting to an adult contemporary audience. Many times in the song, their sound reminds me of Ascend The Hill, and the vocalist reminds me of Brandon Heath.

This EP is worth getting. Even though it came out in October last year, it is a good project and The Waiting Kind did a great job. If they found something that would make them stand out more, they could potentially become very popular. I would love to hear some of their music live, but for now, I am satisfied with this album, and I think that anyone into this adult contemporary or worship music would think the same.

Favorite Song: Love Rises

Favorite Lyrics: "Come, come to the cross of love, come see what He has done for us, it's bringing our hearts to life." (From the song "Cross Of Love")

Tracklist:

1. Love Rises
2. Greater Stronger
3. Your Love is Strong
4. Heaven Calls My Name
5. Cross of Love
6. Trust in You

For Today: Fearless (Single)

One of the best songs I have ever heard from For Today, "Fearless", released on March 6, brings a new sense of expectancy for the new album Immortal, releasing on May 22. This song is creative, melodic, and brings out a new side of For Today with their production on Razor & Tie Records. The song includes similar instrumentals to that of Breaker, their third album released in 2010, but "Fearless" definitely puts emphasis on the lead vocalist, Mattie Montgomery. Also, there is a new element to this song, which can be expected for the rest of Immortal: newer vocals. I would not consider them clean vocals, but there is certainly a new dimension added to the music that For Today creates. Even though it sounds somewhat identical to the sound of their old music, this song will still capture your attention and will leave a rhythm that will repeat in your head over and over again. If you are a fan of metal music at all, you can appreciate what For Today has brought to the table. It will leave you excited, to say the least, about Immortal.

Rating: 5/5

Sarah Macintosh: Current

Release: March 6, 2012
Genre: Alternative
Rating: 4.5/5

I am not usually one to listen to female vocalists a lot, but Sarah Macintosh has very quickly changed that about me. Current is her latest release on Integrity Music, and it is a masterpiece. Her voice is captivating, and her alternative style of music is perfect. After only the first 30 seconds of the first song I was already in love with her. This year seems to be the year where female vocalists really break out. I loved Kari Jobe's album Where I Find You, and Lindsay McCaul's If It Leads Me Back To You was pretty good too. And now I am really getting into Audrey Assad's album Heart (review coming soon!). Of those four, Current is my favorite though, and one that I find myself listening to once or twice, or three times a day.

The album starts instantly with my favorite song, and also the title track of the record. "Current" has very interesting instrumentals that automatically caught my attention and fascinated me. Her voice also immediately drew me in, and I had a feeling that I was going to really like Current just from this song. The song talks about being swept away by God and not by the things of this world, and the majesties of being swept away in God's grace and love. Needless to say, Macintosh starts the album off very well.

The first and only single from the album, "We Should Run," follows up the title track and is just as good as the first song. The track basically picks up right where the title track left off by talking about the joys of abiding in Christ's will. One thing that really cemented my love for Macintosh and her music is the intricacy of the instrumentals in each of her songs - they sound unlike anything I have heard. The next song, "Take it All," is about giving all our sorrows, burdens, worries - all of it - to God. The song feels more suited for Christian radio than most of the others, and one I would definitely love to see go to radio.

The first verse of "Hope" kind of reminds me of Gungor, just because it sounds very similar to some of their songs. I love, love, love the chorus to this song, which is all about how we have hope because we know Christ is coming back for us. I love that she talks about how we can have fun and spread our arms out and be comforted in the fact that Jesus will one day come back for us. Sometimes it feels like there are shifts in an album, and "Laughter Comes Upon Us" definitely feels like a shift in Current. The style of the music feels a little different than the style of the beginning of the album and for some reason it just feels like the album shifts a little bit at this point.

"Galaxy Former" is a really cool song, and one that is a definite highlight in the middle of the album. The instrumentals are superb and her voice is definitely right on par. The song follows in the theme of the some of the earlier tracks by talking about the wonders of Christ and how truly great He is. I think the highlight of the song, for me though, is her voice - it sounds perfect on this song.

Probably the best track at the end of Current is "Calling, Calling." It is a very calming song and I think, once again, her voice sounds fantastic. The concept of the song is that through faith in God we can truly do anything, which is always a great reminder for me, and I think for all Christians.

Sarah Macintosh's Current is truly a masterpiece worthy of being on everyone's iPod. Her voice is superb and the instrumentals are great and original. Right now it is one of my favorite albums of the year and I have a feeling it will be one that I listen to for a very long time. As I said earlier, I am not always a huge fan of female vocalists, but Macintosh has very much captivated me with each and every song on this record. Even if you do not necessarily like female vocalists or the alternative genre, I would highly recommend giving this one a chance.

Favorite Song: Current

Favorite Lyrics: "Words from my heart have found their way to Your mouth. I know You sing. You're prayers are for me." (From the song "Hiding Place")

Tracklist:

1. Current
2. We Should Run
3. Take it All
4. Hope
5. Laughter Comes Upon Us
6. Galaxy Former
7. The Damaged
8. Hiding Place
9. You're Coming
10. Calling, Calling
11. Joy Comes In

I, The Breather: Truth and Purpose

Release Date: February 28, 2012
Genre: Metal
Rating: 4.5/5

I, the Breather bursts forth onto the metal scene again with their new album Truth and Purpose, which is a fantastic album in and of itself. I have never heard a song by I, the Breather previous to this album, and I am very impressed by the talents this band has. Their new music is highly impressive for a first time listener, and if you have never heard of them before and are a big fan of For Today, MyChildren MyBride, or even heavier bands like In The Midst Of Lions and Impending Doom's most recent album, There Will Be Violence, you should appreciate the talent that this band has put forth.

To kick off one of the best metal albums I have ever heard, "False Prophet" starts slow with background sounds, but builds up quickly and demands the attention of the listener with emphasis on smashing cymbals and a simple guitar lick to create a great album opener. The verses speed up, and the unclean vocal talent that the screamer possesses enhances the song and the album, and creates a resonant sound throughout Truth and Purpose. If I were to make comparisons, I would say that the vocal talents of the screamer are somewhat similar to that of Righteous Vendetta. (Check out our review of their first album, Lawless!) The rest of the beginning of the album does not fail to disappoint the listener, and carries the themes of the first song mentioned here through each song. You will not be able to stop listening to it if you like them at all.

After the first five songs, the album seems to plateau at "Knights & Pawns." This song is really good, but not as good as some of the other songs on this album. It is still really good compared to any average metal band you have listened to, but it still seems a bit lacking in the song blending with itself. What I mean by that is if you listen to songs on Truth and Purpose like "Bruised/Broken", you will hear a catchy song with not just good-sounding instrumentals and vocals, but a good song that the listener can get into and listen to over and over again, taking them into the beat and making them feel the tempo. I know that with metal songs it can be hard to understand getting deep into a song when there is someone screaming in your ears, but simply being able to appreciate the song is important. I feel like I can somewhat appreciate "Knights & Pawns", but not as much as other song on the album.

The album picks back up with "Judgement." The beginning of this song reminds me of Attack Attack's new album, which has songs beginning with piano as well. (Just a heads up, they are not a Christian band.) The scream begins, and you will have chills running down your spine. This song really shocked me in a good way and gave me a new way to like I, the Breather. The end of the album really highlights with this song and "Rephaim." The song begins with fast drums and vocals that pace with it well. The guitar in this song is exceptional, and I feel like it is highlighted in this song more than others on Truth and Purpose.

If you are a fan of Facedown Records or Christian metal in general, you should be able to appreciate this album. It gets better every time you listen to it, and they could very well become one of your favorite bands if you give them a chance.

Favorite Song: False Prophet

Favorite Lyrics: "Can we take on the weight of the world, this corrupt world? ... We will rise up!"
(From the song "Mentalist")

Tracklist:

1. False Prophet
2. The "Beginning"
3. Bruised/Broken
4. Mentalist
5. Meaning
6. Lunar
7. Knights & Pawns
8. Judgement
9. Rephaim
10. 4.12.11