Christian Rock Reviews

This new release that dropped yesterday is a lighter side of Emery that I haven’t heard before.  Their last 2 CDs that consisted of beautifully melodic voices mixed with screaming harmonies and accompanied with a good, alternative style of rock-n-roll.  The new CD, while it remembers much of the old style, is quieter and softer and on music side, and there simply isn’t as much screaming.  That isn’t really a good or a bad thing, it is simply an observation.  Emery’s previous style of mixing the melodies and loud screaming was what attracted me to them, much like the popular sound of Anberlin.

I am pleased with the growth of this new sound that Emery has and happy to see them expand.  The first 2 songs grab you with the traditional Emery sound, then a whole new sound takes over for the next 2 songs and the switchback continues throughout the entire CD.

Also, right now Amazon has the CD selling for at $1 cheaper than iTunes.  Check out this link to download the full CD in MP3 format.

Lyrically, Emery is just the same as always.  Strong, yet quiet, Christian Lyrics.

Type: Alternative/Modern Rock
Lyrics: B
Sound: B+
Song Diversity: B+
Overall Rating: B+

I am finally getting around to reviewing this album. I bought it on iTunes the day that it came out, and listened to a few songs here and there since then, but never could get the whole CD in one fell swoop. So this weekend I went to New York and finally got the chance to listen to the whole CD on the plane.

This CD, while very good as a stand alone, doesn’t live up to the previous CD, Potter’s Field. But that didn’t make me regret buying it, I still think it was a great CD. The lyrics weren’t as solid as some of their previous work, in fact a couple of the songs spoke to a woman rather than God. That is fine, there is nothing wrong with that, but this is ‘Christian Rock’ right? But still, I have seen many Christian Artists write love songs to their wives or loved ones and I think that is cool. It just doesn’t happen all the time.

Anthem for the Underdog provides solids lyrics on their songs about God, unique sounds so that every track doesn’t sound the same, and updated tunes to previous CDs.

I’ll tell you something and that is that I didn’t think this band was together anymore. I bought their first 2 CDs and loved them, then thought there was a delay in any more releases. One of the DJs on the radio mentioned a while back that they hadn’t heard anything from this band in a while, then BAM, here is this CD. So I am glad that the band is still active and together.

Great CD, 12 Stones! I’ll listen thankfully and look forward to the next one.

Type: Alternative Rock
Lyrics: B
Sound: B+
Song Diversity: B+
Overall Rating: B+

Similar Artists: Must, Creed, Evanescence

From their site at www.demonhunter.net

Become our friend on Trig.com to see our new album cover! Storm the Gates of Hell in stores 11/06!

Demon Hunter is one of my favorite bands right now. They blow you completely away both with their grinding metal-core style and their lyrics as well. I saw them play last year at The Door in Deep Ellum and they were fantastic. I am REALLY, REALLY stoked about this new CD!

Relient K, while starting out as a rather “modern punk” band, has released their next CD with a theme that has changed and grown for a newer, more unique sound than the standard punk that you hear from so many bands today.

I bought this CD for one song only: Track #3, I Need You. It was the single being played on the local radio station in Dallas, TX. Sadly, this was the best song on the CD. I was disappointed that the other 14 songs weren’t in closer relation to the sound of Track 3, though I often complain that I don’t like it when all the songs on a certain album all sound the same, too. I can definately say this CD didn’t have that problem.

Each song was uniquely different, most of them holding a definition closer to “modern pop” rather than “modern punk” So if you like a more melodic and mellow sound, this CD is probably for you. Thankfully, I enjoy a various and eclectic selection of music, so I didn’t mind that this CD sounded different than what I was expecting it to be. I listened to it 3-4 times at work the day I got it, and I will likely continue to do so.

Also, I thought it was pretty cool they covered a Beach Boys song on Track 15, Sloop John B.

Type: Pop/Rock
Lyrics: B+
Sound: B
Song Diversity: B+
Overall Rating: B

I heard a radio interview with Jonah 33 on the local radio station of 897 Power FM, and the lead singer talked about where they got their name. Since there are not 33 chapters in the book of Jonah, he explained that Jonah 33 actually meant Jonah 3:3, which says…

³So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.

Jonah 33′s new CD, The Heart of War, is a true accomplishment in the Christian rock era. Unlike their previous albums, they have grown with the new sound requirements as most thriving bands need to do to stay on top of their game. Jonah 33 pulls this task off well. With a CD compiled of songs that are lyrically solid, musically sound and diversely unique, I am quite honored to add their new CD and name to this website. I have listened to their previous works frequently and I am thrilled with the direction the band is going. I will be listening to this CD for a while now and come back to it often, even after the newer CDs that I review on this site are added to my collection.

Anberlin’s melodic tunes, hard-hitting lyrics and alternative rock sound make it a fine addition to any CD collection. I am a new Anberlin fan, ever since “Never Take Friendship Personal” I have anticipated the next release from this band. I am glad that I purchase “Cities” and I look forward to the band’s next release.

If you enjoyed “Blueprints for the Black Market” and loved “Never Take Friendship Personal”, “Cities” is the album that you’ve been waiting for. In a way, it’s more of the same: the winning combo of “Never Take Friendship Personal” with the raw energy of “Blueprints[...]“.

Very few bands can pull off great, alternative sounding music that adds in melodic tunes.  Anberlin excels at this and sets the stage for other bands to follow.  People ask me what Anberlin sounds like and I have to tell them, “..you just have to hear them.  there is no one else like them!”

Rock fans, pop fans, alternative fans, and straight singing-voice fans.. grab this CD.   Become a new Anberlin fan!

Petra’s last CD features something that has never been done before. It has both Greg X Volz and John Schlit on the same CD, at times singing together.

This live album, Petra’s Farewell tribute, contains everything for the ultimate Petra fan…hard rockin songs, a good rock medley with John Schlit, perhaps the greatest and most well-known voice in Christian rock, and also an acoustic medley with Greg X Volz.

I saw the Petra farewell show in Irving, TX in November of 2005. I am sad to see them go, but I will forever keep them in my collection and remember the way they completely changed Christian Music…and invented Christian Rock!

This is the 3rd Project 86 CD I have purchased, and I must say that it is most impressive to see that they have grown as time progresses. The first CD I purchased was about 5-6 years ago and frankly I cannot remember which title it was, but I do remember that it was a screamo, hard rocking album. At the time, I personally didn’t care for screaming lyrics, but I have changed somewhat with the time as well, LOL.

The last CD I bought before this one was their previous release of And The Rest Will Follow and although I liked it, I didn’t list it as one of my favorite CDs at the time.

Now I think that I have changed my mind about them. I purchased this new CD last night, Rival Factions, and I listened to it all day at work today. I really couldn’t get enough of it. Solid lyrics, hard rocking sound, and my favorite part, which was a variety of tunes from all the songs, preventing them from sounding all the same. It is clear that Project 86 is a well-seasoned band with experience, prestige and a great love for what they do.

Anyone who likes modern rock, edging somewhere between Alternative Hard Rock and Metal, needs to pickup this CD. You will not be disappointed with Rival Factions.

Every year or so, there is one CD or band that comes along in the music world and somehow stands out among the others surrounding it on the shelves in the Music Store. For 2006, Red is one of these bands.
Listening to the entire CD, I find a unique, non-repetitive sound with solid lyrics and a hardcore message. Red conquers the world of hard/alternative rock and becomes one of those bands that you cannot easily place in a genre when you start talking about the difference between rock, hard rock, alternative, etc.. Red makes their own style and sounds and compels you to keep checking their website to learn when their next release will be on shelves in stores.

I can honestly say that RED was one of my favorite new bands of 2006 and I very much look forward to their Sophomore album which I anticipate will be an even bigger hit.

Hello and welcome to the new site.  For some time now I have been wanting to launch a site that shows listing of new Christian Rock that is being released, dates, CD names, new Artists, etc.  There are a few sites around the web for this, but most of them lump all Christian music into one “religious” or “gospel” category, and you could have Project 86 and Skillet right next to Jaci Velasquez and Sandi Patti.  So I wanted to make a site specifically for Christian Rock.

Added to that, I will be reviewing CDs when they are released or perhaps when I find new music.  I attend quite a few concerts at The Door in Deep Ellum, Dallas TX, so I get to see new bands, independant bands and CD releases all the time.

If you find this site and want me to review your band or a band you know, email me at jason@christianrockreviews.com.  I will reviews any type of rock, alternative, metal, pop, etc.. type music in the Christian world.

I look forward to seeing where this site goes.  I need some links back to this site, so if anyone wants to trade links from your band’s site to this one, email me also.

Thanks for reading.