Skillet is an artist that needs no introduction. Soon to be hitting the three-decade mark as a band (in various membership combinations, but always with the distinct vision and voice of lead singer and lyricist John Cooper at the helm), the group has managed to surf the changing tides of the music industry and remain relevant and consistent with their musical and live output from day one.

Alas, their new album Revolution finds the group...

“I was the antagonist in my own story,” indie artist John Van Deusen said in an interview preceding the release of his newest album. Anthem Sprinter works as a prequel to the four-part I Am Origami series, which Van Deusen brought to a conclusion in 2022. Many of these songs were started in his teen years and recorded during the same sessions as I Am Origami, Pt. 3 in 2019. This is a glimpse into the man Van Deusen was in the past, so keeping that firmly in mind, listeners can relax as they hear the angst of an unsettled soul. This is merely the setup, featuring songs largely written in chaotic, angry, and painful seasons of life. Across the track listing, John acts as our tour guide as he searches for temporal highs, relational carnage left in his wake. That’s why, for a period of time, he had asked his label (Tooth & Nail Records) to shelve this album. He had moved so far past these songs that he wrestled with the pain of revisiting them regularly...

Rend Collective has been playing their rambunctious brand of Celtic worship on the global scene for close to twenty years now, and it's safe to say that there seems to be no let up in sight as the band continues to tour hard and produce their raucous music at a steady clip. With a distinct, rowdy sound and a true heart for leading the church in worship, the band has the feel of medieval wandering minstrels going from town to town to sing about the Lord.

The quickly made (judging from the group's own social media posts) FOLK! (Pt. 1) is both a wild batch of worship tunes and a surprisingly peaceful and soul affirming balm for these anxious timesy...

Convictions' latest album, The Fear of God, is a focused effort that highlights the band's ability to blend the raw emotion and technical prowess that is a must for any metalcore act. Since their inception in 2012, the Fremont, Ohio-based band has slowly-but-surely built a strong following in the heavy music scene. Known for their self-described genre of "Aggressive Worship," Convictions have consistently delivered music that is all at once spiritually intense and emotionally raw...