Samuel Lane

I am loving me some Samuel Lane right now. Really reminds me of secular artist Ray Lamontagne, but better obviously. His lyrics are really loving towards the Lord.

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Four Star Revival - Knights Of The Revival

Four Star Revival is a Hard Rock / Metal band based out of the Dayton, Ohio area. The singer has Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) similarities at times, but also has a real Power Metal aspect to him. The guitar playing is very decent. You have to have good guitar stuff going on in metal. That's just a prerequisite. Drumming and bass are also very, very good. I am impressed that these guys are making this kind of solid Christian music. 


Their overall sound has Hard Rock and Metal elements to it that definitely remind me of 80's/90's with some Black Sabbath nuances. After a little investigation, I found out that the singer was in a band with former members of metal giant Armored Saint. I think I may have even had something by them on cassette back in the day. Too long ago... Anyway, the guitarist was also in an 80's band called Warminister, which I never heard of, but I checked them out online and they were the real deal. They had the whole 80's getup going in their pictures, and if you had that, you were serious. You can also hear the 80's solo thing in Benny Bodine's (guitarist) playing. He rips through some flying guitar solos on their debut album called Knights Of The Revival. Knights Of The Revival is one of the better albums I have heard all year in 2014. As a Christian, I seriously recommend getting their album if you're looking for solid Hard Rock and Metal. 

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Loud Bird - New Album "Live Quietly"

Jared Shotwell, the man behind Loud Bird, has just released a new record called Live Quietly. To be honest, I rarely look forward to an artist's new release much more than his material. Why? It's different. It doesn't lend the same predictability that I hear too often lately. This album in particular draws the listener in to a very contemplative state of mind, which is good if you would like to ponder your life or just chill out. 

Listen to the Album

Cory Enderby - Oh Lord

My son Colson does music video production, is available for hire and if you need his services, contact me at christianartistreview@gmail.com. Here is an example of a music video that he did for me. This is not my original song. It was written by Jeremiah Foley.

Urgent Prayer Need

I got this email from Christian Surfers the other day.

It is with tears in my eyes that I type this email.  I received word this morning from missionary friends that ISIS has moved into new towns.  They are going house to house and asking the children to denounce Christ - not a single child has, as of yet.  They are then killing the children in front of their parents and leaving the parents alive. My heart breaks but remains filled with hope in Christ.  As I "pray for those that persecute you" I am reminded that we are each engaged in this battle.  It is not a battle for land but souls. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."  ISIS and the people doing these horrendous acts are not the enemy.  They are blinded by Satan.  We need to pray for their freedom in Christ.  But, we also need to pray for our brothers and sisters that are standing in the strength of our LORD.  We must remember that though the battle is far more subtle here at home, it is the same battle - there, the weapon is fear and persecution.  Here the weapon is the lullaby.  We must awaken that we are here to make disciple-makers by proclaiming the only Good News for this world - JESUS! Please pray and forward this to others to pray.  Below I've attached actual email communications that came in this morning. A Text Message from today: "We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food to. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN evacuated its staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay. Prayer cover needed!" Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region. May I plead with you not to ignore this email. Do not forward it before you have prayed through it. Then send it to as many people as possible. Send it to friends and Christians you may know. Send it to your prayer group. Send it to your pastor and phone him/her to pray on Sunday during the service - making a special time of prayer for this. We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians. Thank you for all your prayers !!!!" An email from the field Missionaries who are in the areas that are being attacked by ISIS are asking to be showered in prayer. ISIS has taken over the town they are in today. He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and asking the children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has. And so far all have consequently been killed. But not the parents. The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families - even if it means their own deaths. They are very afraid, have no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have had seen their children martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called them for some reason to be His voice and hands at this place at this time. Even so, they are begging for prayers for courage to live out their vocation in such dire circumstances. And like the children, accept martyrdom if they are called to do so. These brave parents instilled such a fervent faith in their children that they chose martyrdom. Please surround them in their loss with your prayers for hope and perseverance.

Satan, Father of Isis

This morning as I was reading through the new Voice of the Martyrs magazine, I noticed this story. Really impacted me as to how truly evil these people are. I can see satan's fingerprints written all over it. What I am seeing here would go nicely with a Slayer soundtrack. Truly, these thoughts and actions are coming from their real father, Satan.

Revelation - This is written to the church.

If you name the name of Christ, then pay attention to these words. These verses let you peek in and see the mind and heart of God with regard to his church and holiness. 

Revelation 3
3And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Quiet Waters - Comfort

Ok, so I have already written about this album and artist, but I wanted to call more attention to this side project, by former Separatist member Sam Dishington, called Quiet Waters. The EP is titled Comfort and if you donate, the proceeds go directly to the A21 Campaign.

What makes this project really intriguing is that Sam is a big-time metal guy and this is a straight up Alternative Rock album. So you have some serious skill behind the album. It's like toned down energy that's explosive. I will admit... When I first heard the album, I thought it was ok, but the more I have played it, the more I realize how refreshing it is, in a scene that is too predictable.

One of my favorite decades in music is the 90's, and the sound he has captured on this one, incorporates a lot of those elements. But beyond the sound, it is total one on one worship to Almighty God. I read somewhere that Sam said that he got sort of complacent singing other peoples worship music. He wanted to do something on a personal level between him and God. And let me tell you, it is powerful. Sometimes, I get seriously taken aback by the raw emotion on this record.

I just had to share it again....

Promise Land - Harmony In Ruins

I came across this album by Promise Land a while back and finally just got around to listening to it. It's really decent if you're into Theocracy-type bands. The genre is basically symphonic metal that reminds me of a movie score at times. My favorite song on it is The Piper Illusion. Check em out.

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Hello Industry - Matter

Where have I been? I had no idea that Hello Industry had released another album. If you're not familiar with them, definitely check them out.  I sort of think of them as a classy, intellectual band with a vibrantly, melancholy vibe. This might be the best band you've never heard of and their albums just keep getting better and better. Wow, I can't believe I just stumbled on this tonight. This record is great!

War Of Ages - Chaos Theory

Wow, Facedown just left a monster at my doorstep. War Of Ages' Chaos Theory is a super gnarly new track that will leave you feeling very satisfied. Watching these guys evolve over the years and explode into this sound is nice. They have literally gotten so much better at writing, exploring new avenues in music and at their instruments. Really digging this.

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Homeless man - David Allen Welsh plays piano like nobody's business

This brother taught me something today.

Hymns For Selena

I want to share something special that I have recently come across called Hymns For Selena. This is one of the most Christlike stories that I have learned about this year and it has really touched my heart. The story in a nutshell is Josh and Angela Walker were on a mission trip in Guatemala where they fell in love with an orphan named Selena who has cerebral palsy. Their heart was overwhelmed with love for her and they wanted to adopt her and bring her back to the states. But due to changes taking place with international adoption laws they were unable to do that and still haven't been able to after 6 years.

However, the story doesn't end there. They love her, they pray for her and want the best for her so they put together a project comprised of 12 different artists doing 10 hymns in modern fashion. When I listened to the album I discovered a beautiful taste and selection of instruments where the arrangements were obviously well thought out. I was also very surprised at the talent displayed and the high level of production value. The important question for me when looking at an album made by Christians is whether or not the Holy Spirit is involved, and on this one, I definitely felt God present. Overall, the album left me feeling very satisfied and uplifted, and is one of the best I have heard all year.

Please watch the video and go to their website to get involved. The album is available for free on NoiseTrade and I encourage you to go there, download it and leave a tip. 100% of the proceeds go to her foster family in Guatemala to meet her needs.

Download The Album HERE

For More Information, Visit Their Website HERE

 

Josh, Angela and Selena

Future of Forestry - All I Want

I just continue to get blown away by Future of Forestry and what God is doing through this band. They are serious professionals behind their instruments and are not putting anything cheesy out these days that I have seen at all. This is their latest video.

My Epic - Arise Instrumental

My Epic is releasing an instrumental version of Behold. The album will drop this Tuesday May 27 digitally.

And quoting from Facedown Records,

"Arise is the first track on Behold and is the first of a trilogy of songs depicting the return of Jesus. This is a look at the magnitude & brevity of the world He holds together. "

I have listened to Arise and it's gnarly good. Check out this video for it.

Christian Aid Mission

I know that a lot of people that I've talked to about supporting ministries are unsure of who is really legit. I am here to tell you that I believe Christian Aid Mission is totally legit. What I suggest doing is reading a book called Finishing The Task that covers a lot about this ministry. Then decide. The book itself talks a lot about indigenous missionaries (mostly to other countries) and the persecuted church. Here in America, we really have no idea. I know you hear that a lot, but it's true. In other countries, people are literally risking their lives and freedom to follow Jesus. The book talks a lot about that as well as what Christian Aid Mission has done and continues to do all over the world.


FREE BOOK  -  Finishing The Task

Christian Aid Mission Website

Atrocities - Set Free

Atrocities has some gnarly new tunes out for FREE right now. Of course, I recommend giving these dudes a donation. They're brand of punk rock is just too rad not to.

Quiet Waters

I came across a really nice artist by the name of Sam Dishington today. He is possibly more well known as being in the death metal band Separatist. On his worship project called Quiet Waters, he basically wanted to write and record some worship music coming from his heart. This is a most intense disc. It is psychedelic, ambient and at times very solemn, but very intimately worshipful. Definitely a record that you should know about.

Theocracy Debut Album Reissue

I just wanted to bring to your attention that Theocracy has re-recorded and re-released their debut album with drummer Shawn Benson. On the first run, it was singer Matt Smith doing all the arrangements, which if you listen to it, will likely be blown away. Now they have redone it with real drums.  Check it out!


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Derek Close - The Beta Sessions

Just want to give a quick update for my friend Derek Close. He has a new release out right now called The Beta Sessions. Derek Close was formerly the bassist in the Washington-based Grunge band My Cat Puddinhead. He has physical copies of his new album available or you can get it as a digital download.

Derek's Music