Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


DENS, No Small Tempest
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

DENS
No Small Tempest



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Indie Rock
Album length: 4 tracks: 20 minutes, 3 seconds
Street Date: June 29, 2018


READER RATING:   


Shortly after Indie Vision Music resurrected, they released a massive free music sampler called Hearts Bleed Passion, Vol. 6. The very first song of the two-part sampler was called "Hopebringer," by a band I hadn't heard of called DENS. The song ended up being a standout track, and they were later featured on JFH's sampler, Songs We've Been Trying To Tell You About (And Others We Haven't), Vol. 6. On a bit of a grander scale, the Richmond, Virginia natives caught the attention of Facedown Records, who is now the home of DENS and their national label debut EP, No Small Tempest.

No Small Tempest is no small EP; while it only boasts four songs, it's twenty minutes long, and most of that time is beefy. "Deadrise" wastes no time displaying the incredible musicianship of this band. DENS offers high quality indie rock music that fits in quite nicely with My Epic and the now-defunct Attalus. The music is interesting and well-written, with no piece out of place, and Shaun Hypes' vocals are super tight, effortlessly crossing between smooth singing and yelling/screaming when appropriate. Hypes' singing vocals are almost like a blend of Zach Bolen (Citizens/Citizens & Saints) and Joel Davis (Ascend the Hill), but at the same time, he sounds more like a new voice than anything. That being said, you can hear the resemblances fairly well in the beginning of "(W)retched," despite the slightly muffled effect on his voice.

"Sackcloth & Ash" is a highlight; gang vocals jump you right into the thick of it at the start, but it almost throws you off, as most of the song is a bit more tame. I particularly like the drums in this song, as Brandon Osborne keeps a pretty basic time signature, but refrains from simply using the kick-snare-kick-kick-snare beat. He keeps himself busy in this song without overwhelming the listener. "Vice & Virtue" closes the EP with a sound more akin to a band like Artifex Pereo, but mixed with some classic rock characteristics. It's a strong indie rock song with a nice groove, and some of the guitar riffs remind me of an era of rock long before their time.

One thing I like about No Small Tempest is that everything feels purposeful and intentional. One of the clearest examples of this is that the first three songs all end with a slower, modern rendition of some classic hymns: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "It Is Well With My Soul," and "Down to the River." Truth be told, you can also see this in their debut, From Small Seeds Come Giant Trees, where each song title is a different description of God ("Lifebreather," "Peacemaker," "Debtpayer," etc). DENS is a band with a purpose, and it's highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with them. I anticipate greatness with their next full-length.

- Review date: 6/28/18, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

. Record Label: Facedown Records
. Album length: 4 tracks: 20 minutes, 3 seconds
. Street Date: June 29, 2018
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Vinyl

  1. Deadrise (4:52)
  2. (W)retched (7:04)
  3. Sackcloth & Ash (3:51)
  4. Vice & Virtue (4:16)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images