Artist: Of The Son
Album: At War
Release Date: September 12th, 2006
Style: PraiseCore
Label: Harvest Earth Records
Location: Indiana,US

About:

Flowing out of their dedication to Jesus Christ, Of the Son strives to offer all those that are willing to listen, an opportunity to experience an innovative approach to praise and worship music, “Praisecore”. After coining the term, the founding of praisecore.org followed in an effort to encourage bands to be up-front with their faith and to somehow support bands that do so. In keeping with this mission, Of the Son offers a clear message of hope and love in the midst of a world that is overwhelmed with trite spiritual clichés and empty religious metaphors.

In the fall of 2003 a random and unexpected conversation between friends resulted in a brief and even more unexpected phone conversation between complete strangers. The following practices would result in the friends (Ryan Furr, Jon Ridens, and Rob Dubinski) forming Of the Son. Almost unconsciously the three began the process of writing what would eventually become the December 2004 Wounded Records release The Dead Will Rise. After entering a local battle of the bands in March 2004 Ryan’s younger brother Nathan Furr was added to play bass and the OTS roster was complete. 2005 saw the release of Of the Son’s “At War” e.p. on Harvest Earth Records. Ministry opportunities would eventually lead other members in different directions. In late 2006, Josh Linton was brought on as a guitarist, and in late 2007 Josh Sterling on drums to complete the current line-up of OTS. The band is currently writing for a new full-length album to be announced.

Ultimately, the words of an ancient Jewish sage provide the ground on which Of The Son will continue to build their music and their lives; But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the good news of Gods wonderful kindness and love. (Acts 20:24)

Track Listing:
1.Kill Your Past
2.Sinless
3.I Live For the Day I Die
4.Crucify
5.Sinless – (live)
6.Praise Unto Christ – (live)
7.Lion of Judah – (live)

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Artist: Jesus Wept
Album: Show’s Over
Release Date: April 11th, 2006
Style: Hardcore / Punk / Metal
Label: Strikefirst Records
Location: ERIE, Pennsylvania

About:

Faithful rejoice! The legendary hardcore line-up that helped mold hardcore as we know it through bands such as xDisciplex AD, Shockwave and now Jesus Wept, bring you their latest incarnation on Shows Over with pounding rhythms that are as heavy as the melodies are catchy. Last year Jesus Wept released their debut EP Sick City that was quickly received by their devoted following and widely revered as a hardcore classic gaining them massive press exposure inspiring Skratch Magazine to say the album will satisfy you in every way. Shows Over brings a very personal story of overcoming in the midst of the crushing pain and struggles of life, remaining dedicated and encouraging others. A message we all need to hear sound-tracked by hooks that you will be humming all day long! Comparable to Blood For Blood, Life Of Agony and Hatebreed; get ready for your favorite album of 2006!

Reviews & Opinions:

“For fans of xdisciplex a.d. (obviously) Jesus Wept picks up where they left off with this cd. When I heard there EP, I couldnt wait for the full length. All the songs are good, all of them. Some have clean vocals, but its pretty much straight up hardcore, no emo trash or trashy metal. But there are some sweet solos. I cant stop listening to the title track, and Human Wasteland, Dedicated, and OMG. God Bless.” – Nichols

“when I put this band on, it sounded like Earth Crisis at first. Jesus Wept, in addition to sounding a little like Earth Crisis, also has clean vocals. it is not clear who they are trying to imitate, but they sound like they are blazing their own path. despite being a metal band, they are very uplifting. you don’t get very many bands that are uplifting. also, despite the clean voice, they don’t come off as poppy. look at it this way: they sound like a Christian version of Earth Crisis mixed with a little bit of Helmet. song no. 5, entitled “Broken Crown” has a clean voice throughout the song, and then the hardcore voice resumes on song no.6. if you love Facedown and Strike First artists, put this in your collection. ” - Beagley

Track Listing:
1. Show’s Over
2. Blackout
3. Break Me
4. Human Wasteland
5. Broken Crown
6. Dedicated
7. Against the Grain
8. OMG
9. Nine
10. Still Fighting
11. The Final Word
12. Dear Brothers

For previews have a listen  on their Myspace or PureVolume!
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Artist: Inked In Blood
Album: Lay Waste The Poets
Release Date: Apr 11  2oo6
Style: Post-Hardcore/Screamo/Christian
Label: Facedown Records
Location: Portland, Oregon, US

Reviews & Opinions:

I came across this band when I saw The Agony Scene, Becoming the Archetype, Nodes of Ranvier, and Scarlet back in 2005. The Nodes of Ranvier table was giving away sampler albums that contained songs from Calico System (another great band), Nodes of Ranvier, and Inked In Blood.

However, my first impression of Inked In Blood was not a good one. I thought Joey (vocals) had a horrible scream. I came across this conclusion with the opening of the track ‘These Sonnets Of Our Lives’ (which also happens to be the best song on the CD). Being a vocalist myself, I thought he was forcing his scream too much, and it just wasn’t coming out sounding natural, which is never a good thing when you’re screaming. I was not impressed until I heard his high scream, and that solidified my interest in this band.

I picked up this album along with Calico System’s ‘They Live’ back in June, and I was immediately hooked. Thankfully, the forced aspect of the scream isn’t so apparent on any of the other songs, and some of the best tracks are the best because of that scream- ‘All That Remains…’ and ‘Lest I Sleep The Sleep Of Death’ are some of the better tracks, not that any track is bad on this disc. The vocals range from emo to hardcore to shrieking, and it all sounds great- usually, when there are clean vocals, they’re backed by some shrieks, which compliments the emo sound.

The weird thing about Inked In Blood is the pace at which the songs move. These songs are slow. If you’re looking for something heavy and fast, you’re in the wrong place, because Inked In Blood is anything but fast. The instruments are fast at times, but in general they move very slowly. ‘All That Remains…’ is a slow chugging song that seems to gradually build momentum right at the time it ends. This may bother some people, but I find it to be a breath of fresh air- metalcore tries too hard to be fast and super heavy, and a band never takes a risk like Inked In Blood did on this record with slower moving heavy songs. Good choice!

Overall, this is a great album, but I would listen to a couple songs from it before you buy to make sure you can tolerate his voice. It’s good, but it does take some getting used to.

Track Listing

1. All That Remains… (5:26)
2. Hoping to Dream & Never Return (4:42)
3. Lest I Sleep of Death (2:59)
4. Fall From Your Eyes (3:11)
5. Compassion is my own Dissent (4:39)
6. These Sonnets of Our Lives (3:49)
7. Frame Thy Fearful Symmetry (3:14)
8. Kiss the Lips of Your Betrayer (4:42)
9. Comatose (5:16)
10. …All That I Have (1:31)
11. Ending With a Question (3:31)

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Artist: Venia
Album: Frozen Hands
Release Date: Aug  25  2oo9
Style: Hardcore/Metal/Christian
Label: Blood & Ink Records
Location: Minnesota, US

About:

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, VENIA has a positive, multi-faceted message that stands in stark contrast to the nature of many of their hardcore contemporaries. Following relentless touring nationwide and self-releasing their debut album in earl

Track Listing:

1. It Starts Here
2. Seeker
3. Predictable
4. Hand Of Security
5. Iceburg
6. Force Fed
7. Whats Done Is Done
8. Strength Of Heart
9. Beginnings
10. A World All Your Own
11. Frozen Hands
12. Better Seas

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