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Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review




Letter Kills
The Bridge



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 40 minutes, 16 seconds
Street Date: July 27, 2004


Mainstream label Island Records has pulled a "Wind-Up" and signed a group of "Christians in a band." Yes, Letter Kills says they don't want to isolate the kids that "don't really care" about Christianity. "Our big thing is to unite people, not push them away with the music we play," says the band on their official site. A debatable idea, but, to each his own.

After releasing a successful EP, Letter Kills hits the national stage with their debut The Bridge. You can trace elements from many different emo/rock bands, but the best representation of their sound would be a direct mixture of Kids in the Way and Dead Poetic. Take Kids in the Way's rock ‘n roll swagger and Dead Poetic's signature melodic hard rock sound, and it all adds up to Letter Kills. In addition, Matt Shelton's voice sounds, at times, like Dave Pelsue of Kids in the Way and, at other times, a lot like Bradon Rike of Dead Poetic. And anyone familiar with both of those bands can tell you of the diversity between them, making a train wreck in the middle of the tracks an intriguing listen, to say the least.

Grinding guitars and Shelton's emotional vocals lead the way through twelve tracks that at first listen may seem a bit repetitious, but after a few more spins, most every fan of emo, rock, alternative, and the like will find a new favorite in Letter Kills.

With the exception of obvious spiritual topics on "Lights Out" and "Carry You" (The former of which speaks about living your life for God, and the latter talking about God carrying you through the hard times), Letter Kills mostly deals with broken relationships and wanting to work through them. The lyrics are, at times, even a bit cryptic.

They share a label with Hoobastank, Sum 41, Thrice, Thursday, and Saliva. This Fall, they'll be on tour with lostprophets and Story of the Year. And they have the talent to possibly even be the "next big thing" in the music industry. Not bad for a band that formed less than two years ago. Let's pray they use this opportunity to be a light in a very, very dark world.

- Review date: 07/26/04, written by Josh Taylor



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. Record Label: Island Records
. Album length: 12 tracks, 40 minutes and 16 seconds
. Street Date: July 27, 2004
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Lights Out
  2. Don't Believe
  3. Whatever It Takes
  4. Brand New Man
  5. Clock Is Down
  6. Time Marches On
  7. Carry You
  8. Hold My Heart (Part 2)
  9. When You're Away
  10. Radio Up
  11. Shot to the Chest
  12. Hold My Heat (Part 1)

 

 

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This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS
BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow]
Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG]
Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent)
Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel]
Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent)
Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records]
Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity]
Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music]
Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]

SINGLES
Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite]
Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG]
ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM]
Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Salvation - Single [Syntax]
Drenae To the Cross - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade]
Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident]
The Forerunner Manifesto (independent)
for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records]
Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House]
Vic Lucas Make a Way - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY - Single [Syntax]
Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent)
Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Razzie SHORTCUTS - Single [Syntax]
Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler]
Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]

VINYL
Bleach Live/The Lost Show Vinyl (independent)

Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]


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