Philmont- Attention

Last year, a little-known band called Philmont introduced us to a fun EP called Oh Snap. But the year before that was what earned Philmont the attention they felt deserving of. After getting a spot at Cornerstone festival (which, by the way, doesn't sound too easy), they worked non-stop to attract people's attention and draw in as many fans as possible. Their commitment and killer performance was recognized by EMI/Forefront Records, and they signed shortly after. Now if that kind of hard work doesn't deserve just one or two listens, I'm not sure what does. And with a rather obnoxious album cover assaulting people's "attention" with that exact same word, Philmont pleads you to give them one shot with this debut.

Now, if you aren't familiar with last year's EP, let me fill you in. To start off, Oh Snap--the rather punny title, taking into consideration the rhinoceros crushing the title on the cover--pretty much sets the tone for the EP. Their pop/punk style mixed with a few electro elements and crunchy guitars suits their quirky--and sometimes slightly cheesy--lyrics. Of course, it's evident that they do love God, and however odd their method of displaying that might be, they've done a good job of creating some honest music. They're without a doubt aiming at a younger audience, but that only makes their meaningful lyrics more impacting. For example, the line from their single: "Tear down these walls; I'd climb, but I can't stand to fall without You." It's a good, heartfelt lyric, and at the same time holds a quality that's just kind of childish. But that's not always a bad thing, right? Just look up Matthew 18:3. The simpleness of it might not satisfy those looking for deeper, more intriguing lyricism. But, songwriting aside, Philmont managed a fairly respectable pop/punk first effort. Songs like "The Difference" and "My Hippocratic Oath" hold Philmont's heavier guitars. "Photosynthetic" and "I Can't Stand to Fall" are the more punk sounding tracks, while a rather boring and anti-climactic ballad, "Another Name," parted the EP in two.

Those songs from the EP take up a good portion of the newer album, which fans of Oh Snap might be slightly disappointed about. But if they're fans of the EP, they'll find the full-length much to their liking, so that's not a huge issue. The first track, "Hello, Jack," is one of the heaviest songs on the album. Some fans will recognize it from before they were signed. It sounds identical, except for the screaming in the bridge which is a little bit quieter and harder to hear over vocalist Scott Taube's singing. The song talks about a plane crash and questions who's really in control of the flight. We know that nothing is out of God's control, and the song points that out very well. "To Say They Hit It Off Would Be An Understatement" gets a little boring, and uses a lot of synths, which kind of makes things sound even more juvenile. In fact, a good majority of the songs have a point or two where a dance beat or synths are introduced. It sounds good in spots, but I don't think it complements the punk style or should be a prominent factor in a lot of songs.

The song "Back Down," has something of a pre-chorus that says over and over, "Back down, get your back down, baby, tonight," and almost wrecks a very good song with the cheesiness of it. Other than that piece, it's one of the most fun songs on the album, whith a chorus which sings, "I'm growing tired of climbing higher. Your love is all I have to keep me strong. As I'm ascending, I feel You with me. You wait with outstretched arms in case I fall back down." "Setting Off" is one song that is a little bit more different from the rest, and stands out considerably among the newer set of songs ("The Difference" standing out the most, for me, on the EP). The lyrics are still not enough, but the song loses all electronic influences for the entire song, something that is very rare. The song is also very catchy and very hard to get out of your head once it's in there. "Letter to the Editor," the next song, works a lot better for Philmont than "Another Name" did on the EP. This is one point where the lyrics are a bit more grown-up, and you can tell they're sung passionately, just like the final song, "The Terminal."

So if there was one thing that would make Philmont a better band, it would be maturity. It's great that they're reaching out to younger kids, but what kids listen to nowadays could be anything. It's hard to deny that these guys do have great hearts for God, and I give them lots of credit for that. Maybe as they grow up as a band, their music will follow...

Oh, Sleeper- Son of the Morning

Controversy isn't always a bad thing. Enough of it can draw in those brave and curious enough to find out what it's about, hence bringing more exposure and maybe even a few fans. Like when Oh, Sleeper released their debut in 2007, titled When I Am God. At a first look, that might seem very prideful and completely out of place. Some people might have found themselves checking the label. "That does say 'Solid State,' right?" So then what was this Christian metal band doing with a title like that?

"Vices Like Vipers"--the track from which the album title was taken from--talks about how "When I am God, the church is unsound," letting God be God, and allowing Him to rule your life. See? So this time, when their sophomore album cover was released to the public, revealing part of a pentagram, people might have taken a second look to see what this one was really about. And by not jumping to conclusions, they discovered that, again, things are not what they seem at first look. The upside-down star normally has the bottom two points at the top (those being the devil's horns) and the single point at the bottom (that being the head). However, the horns are missing, relating the the final song, "The Finisher," in which God tells Satan, "My angels will sing to a world reborn as I cut off your horns. I'll cut off your horns." Makes sense now, right?

So to start off the album, the title track speaks from Satan's point of view. A bunch of things against God and His children are said. The only part seen from God's point of view is the chorus, where He says, "If you could see like Me you'd see you haven't won anything, If you could see like Me you'd see it's by My grace you're breathing." It's a really powerful son, and can easily make us angry at Satan's mindset, all building up to the satisfying finale where God promises his demise. But between the beginning and the end is where God goes about bringing people to Him and preparing an army to defeat Satan. That's what takes up the eight tracks between.

As far as the music goes, it's your typical metal. There isn't a whole lot that sets it apart. Micah Kinard's screams are intense--as usual--but aren't as deep as a lot of metal vocalists'. They're more like the higher screams of TDWP's Mike Hranica. In most songs there are spots where things slow down temporarily, but nothing is too shockingly drastic. Kinard's singing voice is crystal-clear in places, and in others sounds like a combination of the growling and singing. The usual doubl bass becomes highly impressive in the songs "World Without a Sun" and "Commissioned by Kings." Some might even find themselves wondering how it's even possible that someone could move their feet that quickly. It's unbelievable.

Other than the fact that there's only one song over four minutes and only ten tracks, I'd say Son of the Morning is a great sophomore album for Oh, Sleeper. Any fans of Solid State should be prompted to give this album a listen with no hesitation. A great album that fantastically displays spiritual warfare, any fan of Christian metal should check this out--and always remember to look past the surface of things. They aren't always what they seem.

Demon Hunter's 5th Album

Not too long ago, I told you about Don Clark leaving Demon Hunter. Well guess who's replacing him? Randy Torres of Project 86!!! Also, Ethan Luck's tour fill in, Patrick Judge, will be permanently replacing him. In Ryan Clark's announcement, he also released some rather exciting news:

"...We have been busy working on material for our 5th album, which we will be entering the studio to record in October. At this point, I would say about 90% of the music has been written, and probably about 40% of the lyrics/melodies. As cliche as it can be to say, the album is shaping up to be heavier, faster, and more aggressive than previous Demon Hunter material (and there might be a ballad or two in there for good measure). As always, we're doing our best to maintain the classic DH sound, all the while introducing some new and exciting ideas to keep things exciting. I'm extremely proud of what we have so far, and I can't wait to enter the studio and hear it come to life!

Stay tuned in the coming months for additional news regarding the new album!

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support.

-Ryan Clark & Demon Hunter

Skillet- Awake

The now three-year-old Comatose was the album that put Skillet where they are now. Where exactly are they? Stuck somewhere between tons of Christian fans and tons of mainstream fans. Their fantastic live show and hard-rock/cello style combination have been pulling in more and more loving fans from both sides over the past few years. But it seems that this time, Skillet aimed more at mainstream fans with their newest, dozen-track effort, Awake, than Comatose originally was.

Being a predominantly mainstream artist with Christian faith isn't exactly a bad thing. By sticking subtle messages into the lyrics, the band can reach out to non-believers without overwhelming them. And, as we all know, any clean music nowadays is greatly appreciated among Christian fans, and is a great witness to unbelievers. Something is different about Skillet, and one of these days those mainstream fans will figure it out. It seems abundantly clear in the track, "Lucy," which talks about the loss of someone who was loved. Lead vocalist John Cooper sings, "I'll see you in another life, In heaven where we never say goodbye." All songs can be traced back to God in some way, but you'd have to know Skillet was a Christian band to realize the connection, as there can be many interpretations to more than a few songs.

Another thing the band seemed to aim for this time was to bring back fans of Comatose's musical style. While it seems that in 13 years, an ever-changing band would find some other direction to go with, musically, Skillet seemed content to stick very closely to the style heard three years ago--almost to the point where things are scarily similar. The song "One Day Too Late" sounds way too much like "The Older I Get" in certain places (it even sounds similar lyrically). And while Ben Kasica's guitar solos are pretty unbelievable, the one in "Awake and Alive" almost sounds recycled from "Rebirthing" and would even work as a better sounding continuation of it.

A few differences on the album come from the new drummer fro the UK, Jen Ledger. She does vocals on a few songs (yet she doesn't have any solo songs, which seemed like an obvious thing to do), and is a great addition to the Skillet team. Her vocals are most prevalent in the songs "Hero" and "Awake and Alive," providing a better change from Korey Cooper's more solemn voice. Also, the album is a bit heavier. Granted, there is no screaming (sans a distorted growl during "Monster" just for effect), which I suspected might have been present because of their live CD/DVD. Half of the songs are power ballads, all of which makes it a bit more radio-friendly. That's just one other way they'll be able to reach out to the mainstream. Although half of the time Cooper's growly voice is just enough, I think it would've been cool for him to do a little "Savior" type screams.

There are a few other spots here and there where Skillet went out on a limb to try something new. Besides the mainstream focus and the new BGV, a lot of Kasica's guitar solos are even more impressive than previously thought. Also, a lot of the violins and cellos are a lot more intense in places--and others rather calm and peaceful. They're something that makes the album a lot more enjoyable, added in places where things would've been too dry without.

So, given three years, I think Skillet should've been able to come up with something a little newer for them. That's what an artist is--not making the same album a bunch of different ways to please people. Just ask Emery. But given that the gap between albums was three years, it's good to hear anything new from Skillet. A lot of the songs are very enjoyable, but I think most fans will consider Comatose to be their favorite, something which is always a little hard to duplicate. But Skillet will definitely be picking up a lot of mainstream fans, and I give them a lot of respect for reaching out to those kids who need something good to listen to. The band members all have great hearts for Christ, and this album is going to help stretch out their ministry on a huge scale.

OFFICIAL Capital Lights Breakup Statement

Hey guys, I know a while ago I posted that Capital Lights had broken up, but the only information that proved that was from Bryson Phillips' Facebook page, which isn't too official. But this Friday, they made the announcement on their Myspace:

Hello everyone,

I just signed on the myspace for the first time in forever and I realized that it's been a long time since we have given our friends and fans an update on whats going on with Capital Lights. I know there are rumors, and a lot of people have come to us asking whether or not it's true that the band has broken up. The truth is that yes, with a whole lot of prayer, we have decided to call it quits. All of us in Capital Lights discussed and prayed about this for a few months before we mutually agreed on the decision. Although it's sad to see something that meant so much to us come to an end, it's with complete confidence when I say it's for the better. We all felt God had different plans for our lives, and it would have been impossible to pursue those plans while continuing with the band. I know that's the same thing you have heard time and time again with so many bands. I've always hated when bands break up because members feel themselves being pulled different directions... but the truth is, you never really understand it until your at that point yourself. Words can not stress how thankful we are for everyone who supported us over the past couple years. We loved playing music for all of you and thank God for providing us with the opportunity. Without our fans, we wouldn't have ever done anything more than just jammed in a garage somewhere. We had a blast touring the country for the past year and a half and feel lucky that we were able to meet so many new people. To everyone who ever bought a cd, shirt, sticker, or even dropped change into the tip box at our merch table, thank you so much... without realizing it, you were a blessing that helped us get from one town to the next. Maybe somehow we will see you all again one day. We also want to thank the Hill family, and everyone who ever gave us a home to sleep in. You all made us feel very welcome and ANYTHING beat the van!

It's crazy to reflect on the last year and a half and realize how much has happened. We signed with Tooth & Nail, recorded an album in Seattle, then toured the country. It was something we all wanted to do and once again, we appreciate you all for helping us live our dream. All of us in Capital Lights are back in school and as of last night, Brett is now engaged. So message him and tell him his life is over.

Just kidding.

God Bless you all and thanks again!

-Bryson, Brett, Michael, Jonny, Jon, and Justin.

ps- As of right now our cd's are still being sold in Best Buy, Fye, Indies, Hastings, etc... so go and buy a copy if you haven't already!!!

Thousand Foot Krutch Countdown

If anyone would like to let me know how to fit this on the sidebar, I'd greatly appreciate it. :)

RED- End of Silence

Back in 2006, I wasn't too familiar with a whole lot of Christian rock bands. Even then, I wasn't familiar with any form of rock that fused their heavy guitars with such melodic orchestration. And then there was the fact that Mike Barnes's fantastic voice and violent screams came with heartfelt and passionate lyrics. To say the least, RED won me over in very little time. And since then, RED's debut, End of Silence, has had a ton of singles that have made it really far on CHR and Rock Radio, quickly building on their success. It also proved to be just one more album to forever change the way we look at Christian rock.

The eerie piano/violin orchestration in the beginning demonstrates the mix of soft and hard, light and heavy. The soft music doesn't last long, however, as the first single to come from the band hits hard, asking God to "Breath Your life into me, I can feel You. I'm falling, falling faster. Breathe Your life into me, I still need You. I'm falling, falling. Breathe into me. Breathe into me."

Lyrics are nothing to question when coming from RED. All songs are, without a doubt, expertly written--penned by none other than guitarist Jason Rauch. Every song has lyrics that will haunt you or lift you up. Some are for worship, and some will give you something to think about. For example, we have track two, "Let Go," and track six, "Pieces." "Let Go" is about defeating the sin in our lives, and repeats that "You can't have me anymore" before launching into the longest and most brutal scream I've ever heard-- "LET GO!" And then in "Pieces" we find a beautiful worship song that asks God to put us back together again. There's quite a difference between the two, lyrically and musically. RED does a great job of executing both without leaving any doubts about talent.

The singles take up half of the album, and all are songs that must be heard at one point or another. Because if not, let me tell you, you're missing out. But other than the singles, tracks like "Wasting Time" and "Already Over, Pt. 2" stand out. While both are drastically different, they are both worthy of quite a few listens.

The End of Silence Deluxe Edition DVD is definitely a big addition to an already amazing CD. It features a live portion that displays the intense live show they deliver. If you've never seen RED live, this DVD will make you wish you had.

So 2006 proved to be a year that challenged us to forget what we knew about Christian rock. It taught us that talent can come from the oddest of places, and to listen to things a little more closely. Without RED and this release, I don't think Christian music would be the way it is today. So if you're at all into Christian music, this album is a definite must-own. And if you're into really good live shows, invest a little more to get the Deluxe Edition.