Christian Sonic » Heavy/Hard/Metal

As Hell Retreats – Volition (2011)

Matthew — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:44:22 +0000

Artist: As Hell Retreats
Album: Volition
Release Date: July 26th, 2011
Style: Metal / Hardcore
Label: ANGR / Century Media Records
Location: Hendersonville, TN

About:

As Hell Retreats have proven themselves to be one of the most progressive young metal acts in the Christian community. They have a sound that is not easily duplicated. The creativity on Volition is awe-inspiring.

Listen to 3 new songs below:

In it’s entirety, Volition tells a chapter by chapter story that defines what an individual goes through in the deepest depressions of life only to ultimately end up in the loving arms of Christ. The story is incredibly personal and profound. It serves as a great example of how even in the darkest of times, God’s love is still evident and prevailing.

Track Listing:

1. Young Heretic
2. The Loss
3. Matriarch
4. Shun
5. Heaven’s Bane
6. Misanthropist
7. A Beggar.
8. . And His Faith
9. Transgress
10. Desperation
11. Creator(s)
12. Only Hope

Young Heretic

Matriarch

Shun

Sleeping Giant – Kingdom Days In An Evil Age (2011)

Matthew — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:34:35 +0000

Artist: Sleeping Giant
Album: Kingdom Days In An Evil Age
Release Date: July 12th, 2011
Style: Metal / Hardcore
Label: Aint No Grave Record / Element Music Publishing
Location:Redlands /S alt Lake City

About:

Sleeping Giant is one of the most energetic, inspired and passionate bands to ever emerge from the hardcore / metal band. The group is comprised of dedicated men whose focus is on truth-telling, worship and ministry. In the darkened corners of clubs across the world, they shine a light with their songs of declaration, hope and intent. Charismatic and engaging frontman Thom Green wears his heart on his sleeve and is backed by a quartet of Southern Californians whose unique and shared passion has few parallels in any genre. Kingdom Days In An Evil Age is their third album.

Continue Reading + Listen below:

Sleeping Giant’s Kingdom Days In An Evil Age comes in both a standard edition and a Deluxe Package. The band is a draw on the Scream The Prayer Festival year after year and has been seen on tour with groups like Demon Hunter and more. Previous releases include Sons Of Thunder (2009) and Dread Champions Of The Last Days (2007). Sleeping Giant are militant, unafraid and unashamed of who they are and what they represent.

Track Listing:

1. Throne Room Militance

2. Dead Men Walking

3. Eyes Wide Open (Feat. Frankie Palmieri of Emmure)

4. The Cross Is Suicide

5. ICXC

6. Tithemi

7. Tongues of Fire

8. Jehova Shalom

9. The Unnamable Name

10. Morning Star

11. Enthroned

Disc: 2
1. Defiance (Deluxe CD Only)
2. Father to the Fatherless (Deluxe CD Only)
3. Holy Is the Lamb (Deluxe CD Only)

“Kingdom Days In An Evil Age” album trailer:

Watersedge – Watersedge (2011)

Matthew — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:29:32 +0000

Artist: Watersedge
Album: Watersedge (Self-Titled/Debut)
Release Date: June 28th, 2011
Style: Hip-Hop / Rock / Metal / Pop
Label: Unsigned / G2:20 Records
Location: Omaha, NE

About:

What happens when you take a group of young people whose musical backgrounds derive from hip-hop, soul, rock, and metal and who are sold out to their God? HEAVY FREAKING WORSHIP. This is the soundtrack to the revolution. This is WatersEdge.

Continue reading + Listen to previews below:

The WatersEdge team was formed back in 2002 by Youth Pastor Mark McGaffin. “Worship is all about connecting peoples heart to God’s heart. If we can do that, then we did our job,” says Pastor Mark. WatersEdge leads worship every week at G2:20 and the Excellerate Youth Conference that takes place annually at Tulsa, OK. They combine hip-hop, soul, and rock genres together to make one original sound. “We want to reach people from all backgrounds,” says hip-hop vocalist, Joshua Crum, “We wanna make sure people from a walks of life will have something to attach themselves to through the music.”

“Don’t worry what my name is, I’m up on this stage here, simply to make God famous.” that’s a line from the song Famous from WatersEdge’s upcoming self-titled album. That’s the heart for WatersEdge. Every line of every song is an effort to spread the Lord’s fame. Every guitar riff to every snare hit is an attempt to motivate change in people’s lives. “I want them to experience God,” says vocalist Miah Marion, “Feeling His grace and His power and not being ashamed with that.”

WatersEdge is not about putting on a show or a concert, they are all about serving Christ. They want to lead this broken generation to the One that can restore. They are not the headliners, they are not the main attraction. They are merely vessels who are willing to be used. This is their worship. This is WatersEdge.

Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Defiance
3. Adopted
4. Crimson Flow
5. Compassion
6. Love Unshakable
7. Ink
8. All You Are
9. Spark Fire
10. Preaching Jesus
11. The Portrait
12. Gave It Away
13. Pages
14. Crazy Carnival
15. Famous

Preview Songs:

A Past Unknown – To Those Perishing (2011)

Matthew — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:29:58 +0000

Artist: A Past Unknown
Album: To Those Perishing
Release Date: July 19th, 2011
Style: Metalcore / Funcore
Label: Victory Records / Red Cord Records
Location: Cedar Falls, IA

About:

After releasing their 2010 demo a year ago, A Past Unknown is looking to release their full length album. Recorded by Jamie King, (For Today, Alesana, Between the Buried and Me) at The Basement Studio in North Carolina, the album captures the heavy and melodic presence with emotion filled lyrics striving to show the world what hope is truly about with the power and love of Jesus Christ. Expect this album to be released late spring/early summer.

Listen to “Nothing To Hide” single:

Track Listing:

1. Voice to the Willing
2. The Consequence of Silence
3. No Strength for the Weak
4. Nothing to Hide
5. Wide Is the Path to Destruction
6. The Critic
7. This Is Where We Meet
8. What If You’re Wrong
9. Philosophy of the Dying
10. Oblivious State of Mind
11. A perfect Pledge

Listen to “Nothing To Hide”:

August Burns Red – Leveler (Deluxe Edition) [2011]

Matthew — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:43:34 +0000

Artist: August Burns Red
Album: Leveler (Deluxe Edition)
Release Date: June 21st, 2011
Style: Hardcore / Metal
Label: Solid State Records / CI
Location: Lancaster, PA

About:

“There’s something special about August Burns Red (ABR). Thrill Seeker introduced it, Messengers proved it wasn’t an anomaly, Constellations hinted at even more and Leveler showcases it for everyone to hear. Their fourth full-length proves that ABR still have room for expansive, heartfelt innovation and creativity. Leveler doesn’t reinvent the wheel – there are no auto-tuned lead vocals or emo ballads or anything vastly different from the abrasive metalcore of the past three albums. But there is a palatable sense of maturity and growth in the songwriting as well as the overall sound of Leveler.

Listen to the whole album + watch album trailer below:

Constellations hinted at the maturity and growth in songs like `Marianas Trench,’ `White Washed,’ `Indonesia,’ and `Meridian.’ They weren’t vastly different but they were different – a good thing. You still had the relentless fervor of past albums in songs like `Rationalist,’ `Thirty and Seven,’ and `Existence’ on Constellations – also a good thing. But there were more obvious variations in song writing than ever before.

Leveler takes the variation and growth to a new level. `Empire’ starts the album off with the familiar onslaught of constant force before it dissolves into a beautiful change of pace that peaks with (GASP!) actual singing (it’s just gang vocals singing `ohh, ohhh, oohhhh’) before delving back into an onslaught that mirrors the start of the song. It could be the best song the band has written. It is (personally) the most moving song they’ve written. `Internal Cannon’ has a different kind of breakdown than what we are used to. `Divisions’ kills it like you would expect. `Cutting Ties’ opens with one of the coolest riffs I’ve heard from the band and sounds like it could have been on Constellations. And that’s just the first four songs.

Other songs like `Carpe Diem,’ `Pangaea’ and `Salt & Light` aren’t your normal fare either. But Leveler isn’t like switching from whole milk to skim milk. There’s enough of what you would expect from ABR on this album with songs like `Leveler’ and `Poor Millionaire’ to keep the band rooted in their trademark sound. The entire album is full of little twists and turns that (should) make the familiar ABR listener smile with pride and pleasure because the band released a unique new album and not Messengers pt 2 or more Constellations or another Thrill Seeker. (Although deep inside I have to admit Thrill Seeker pt 2 would be AWESOME.)

I know this to be true because I used to be `that guy’ that wished every band `sounded like they did on _____.’ But then I grew up – trust me – no one wants to hear a band put out the same album over and over. You try that and you end up sounding like Weezer – you try to sound like you used to but it ain’t the same, no matter how hard you try. It’s tough to admit, especially when you love an album so much (Pinkerton?). We all bemoan and wail when our favorite bands sounds `different’ or `changes things up’ or `experiments.’ We long for Saves the Day to go back to the `Through Being Cool’ sound or for the Get Up Kids to go back to the `Four Minute Mile’ sound or for Cave in to make another metal album. Give it a rest. We’re all growing up and so are the dudes in these bands. Some of the best albums by those aforementioned bands (Stay What You Are and Jupiter, respectively) would have never happened if the band didn’t `change.’ Instead we’d be stuck with rehashes and pale imitations.

Having said all that, August Burns Red hasn’t radically changed. They’ve matured, they’ve grown and thankfully it shows in the continued progression of their music. Very few bands get better from album to album but ABR has with every release. A band is allowed a dud every now and then, but if a band isn’t consistently getting better, then what’s the point? If we aren’t consistently growing and maturing as people, then what’s the point?

August Burns Red has done it again. They have made another phenomenal album and they have, yet again, set the standard by which their peers will be measured.

* The bonus tracks are cool. The Bells track is great, the MIDI version of Empire is neat. The others are nice as add ons. Is it worth an extra $2 for 4 tracks? Probably. ” – Andy

Track Listing:

1. Empire
2. Internal Cannon
3. Divisions
4. Cutting the Ties
5. Pangaea
6. Carpe Diem
7. 4 Nights
8. Salt & Light
9. Poor Millionaire
10. 1/16/211
11. Boys of Fall
12. Leveler
13. Internal Cannon (acoustic) (Bonus Track)
14. Pangaea (Performed By Bells) (Bonus Track)
15. Boys of Fall (Performed By Zachery Veilleux) (Bonus Track)
16. Empire (midi) (Bonus Track)

Listen to “Empire”:

Listen to “Internal Cannon”

Listen to “Divisions”

Listen to “Cutting the Ties”

Listen to “Pangaea”

Listen to “Carpe Diem”

Listen to “40 Nights”

Listen to “Salt & Light”

Listen to “Poor Millionaire”

Listen to “1/16/2011″

Listen to “Boys Of Fall”

Listen to “Leveler”

Watch “Leveler” album trailer:

These Hearts – Forever Ended Yesterday (2011)

Matthew — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:35:04 +0000

Artist: These Hearts
Album: Forever Ended Yesterday
Release Date: June 21st, 2011
Style: Pop / Rock / Screamo
Label: Victory Records
Location: Fargo, ND

About:

THESE HEARTS reflects the tradition and urgency that propelled bands like HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS and TAKING BACK SUNDAY when they were at their peaks coupled with where A DAY TO REMEMBER currently sits. Their fantastic debut, ‘Forever Ended Yesterday’, was produced by CHIODOS’ / D.R.U.G.S. frontman Craig Owens. ‘Forever Ended Yesterday’ is loaded with magnetically addictive hooks, high energy guitars, gritty heaviness, mixed with post-hardcore rhythms, and heartfelt songwriting. THESE HEARTS will enter the hearts and minds of young rock fans in short order.

Listen to Previews:

Track Listing:

1. Apology Rejected
2. Quitting While You’re Behind
3. Denial Is Not Just A River In Egypt
4. Romans 15
5. Self Respect
6. Forever Ended Yesterday
7. Are You Mad?
8. She’d Like To Wear Pants, But She Can’t Fit Into Mine
9. Live To The Points Of Tears
10. Thinking In Terms Of Two
11. Dime A Dozen

These Hearts “Apology Rejected” Music Video:

Dynasty – Truer Living With A Youthful Vengeance (2011)

Matthew — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:34:48 +0000

Artist: Dynasty
Album: Truer Living With A Youthful Vengeance
Release Date: May 24th, 2011
Style: Hardcore
Label: Strike First Records
Location: Los Angeles, CA

About:

Playing music together for the past 6 years in Los Angeles has prepared Dynasty to bring a fresh dose of west coast hardcore to the Strike First roster. Dynasty has reached back into the hard music archives and honed a revival of classic, driving hardcore in the vein of Terror and Madball.

Continue Reading:

The band will be releasing their Strike First debut Truer Living With a Youthful Vengeance, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror, Ignite), on May 24. Dynasty will be out promoting the new album with Call To Preserve on CTP’s farewell tour this summer, dates TBA.

Like all Strike First Records releases, Truer Living… is a limited edition,environmentally friendly packaged Digi Pack made out of 95% post consumer recycled cardstock and no PVC plastics.

Track Listing:

1. Worthless Will
2. Voice Of Truth
3. Wisdom Is Supreme
4. Triumph And Truth
5. Alpha
6. Back To Life
7. Demolish Strongholds
8. Way Of The Wolf
9. Dangerous Minds
10. Sitting Back

MySpace | Amazon: Audio CD / Mp3 | iTunes | Facebook | MerchNow

A Sequence Of Ghosts – Hostage(s) (2011)

Matthew — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:39:23 +0000

Artist: A Sequence Of Ghosts
Album: Hostage(s)
Release Date: April 29th, 2011
Style: Hardcore / Ambient
Label: Unsigned
Location: Kansas City

About:

“Rarely do EPs make such a meaningful and impactful mark on a music scene ripe with rip-offs and the same old same old. While A Sequence of Ghosts have drawn comparisons ranging from As Cities Burn to Bring Me the Horizon, the Kansas City five piece has no intentions of being anyone but themselves. Hostage(s) is a crushing second effort in which ASOG truly shows their developed colors. The record is miles ahead of their previous self-titled effort and being only a year into their careers, ASOG are poised to become giants.

Preview songs below:

The record includes guest vocals from Poema’s Elle Puckett, A Bullet for Pretty Boy’s Danon Saylor and solo artist Jake Germany. The guest spots only serve to emphasize the power and heart of these tracks as they drift from the soothing ambient to the bone shattering breakdowns that carry the listener to a different world.” – The Cadence PR/KTC Publicity.

Track Listing:

1. The Enabler
2. The Hostage
3. The Bee & Its Swarm
4. The Politician
5. Reach The Shore

Preivew album:

Hope for the Dying – Dissimulation (2011)

Matthew — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:53:55 +0000

Artist: Hope for the Dying
Album: Dissimulation
Release Date: April 26th, 2011
Style: Metal / Progressive
Label: Facedown Records
Location: Jonesboro, IL

About:

In early 2011, Hope for the Dying finished writing and began the tracking process for their new album. Upon completion of the recording process, the band entered 456 Recordings outside Huntsville, AL, to mix and master the album with the help of engineer Brian Hood (A Plea for Purging, The Crimson Armada). The new album, titled “Dissimulation,” is set to be released on April 26, 2011.

Preview 4 full tracks below:

Track Listing:

1. Exordium
2. Vacillation
3. Orison)
4. Transcend
5. Imminent War
6. Perpetual Ruin
7. The Awakening
8. The Awakening: Dissimulation
9. The Awakening: The Veil, Lifted
10. Vile Reflections
11. Derision

Listen to: Orison

Listen to: Transcend

Listen to: The Awakening Dissimulation

Listen to: The Awakening

Various Artists – X2011: Christian Rock Hits! (2011)

Matthew — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:19:27 +0000

Artist: Various Artists
Album: X2011: Christian Rock Hits! 2011
Release Date: April 5th, 2011
Style: Rock / Alternative
Label: Bec Recordings / Tooth & Nail / Solid State

About:

X 2011 is ready to bring the thunder with the most popular Christian Rock hits from artists like: Hawk Nelson, FM Static, The Letter Black and more. The “X” brand is a necessity for any Christian rock fan!

Listen below:

1. Hawk Nelson with “Crazy Love” the single from “Crazy Love” album

2. FM Static “My Brain Says Stop, But My Heart Says Go” from the album with the same title.

3. Sanctus Real brings “Take Over Me” from their “Pieces Of A Real Heart” album

4. Aaron Gillespie “We Were Made For You” from “Anthem Song” album

5. Emery shows up with “Fix Me” from “We Do What We Want” album

6. The Letter Black with “Believe” track f rom “Hanging On By A Thread” album

7. Demon Hunter brings “Driving Nails” from their previous “The World Is A Thorn” album

8. Switchfoot shows up with “The Sound” from their latest album titled “Hello Hurricane”

9. Manafest comes with “Avalanche” from his album “The Chase”

10. Sent By Ravens with “New Fire” from “Our Graceful Words” album

11. Abandon brings us “Hero” from “Abandon II” EP album

12. Thousand Foot Krutch with “Forward Motion” from “Welcome To The Masquerade ” album

13. House Of Heroes sing “God Save The Foolish Kings” from “Suburba” album

14. The Almost with “No I Don’t” from “Monster Monster” album

15. Kutless brings “Remember Me” from the album titled “It Is Well”

16. Underoath comes with “In Division” from their latest album titled “Ø (Disambiguation)”

AVAILABLE NOW!

Watch Official Album Trailer: