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JFH Music Review


The Violet Burning, The Story Of Our Lives
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The Violet Burning
The Story Of Our Lives
(3 Studio Albums: The Fantastic Machine / Black As Death / Liebe Über Alles)



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 34 tracks: 148 minutes, 29 seconds
Street Date: 2011


Michael Pritzl has unleashed a career-defining album with The Story of Our Lives: Liebe über alles, Black as Death, and The Fantastic Machine. Having made music with a rotating cast of musicians as The Violet Burning for over two decades, Pritzl's latest project is a massive, three disc, 34-song concept album about a character's decision to choose life or death. With a guest appearance by Jeff Schroeder (The Smashing Pumpkins), The Story of Our Lives is The Violet Burning's most ambitious and hardest hitting record to date.

The Story of Our Lives is divided into three parts (each disc is a different part). The first disc, The Fantastic Machine, introduces listeners to the story's character and follows him as he struggles with life, God, and the decision over whether he will ultimately choose life or death. The Violet Burning have at times flirted with the heavier side of rock music, but here they cross into Sabbath-tinged metal, a natural fit for Pritzl's powerful voice. The music helps reinforce the theme and allows The Violet Burning to expand its sound into new territory. Because this is a concept album, the songs are designed more to progress the story than to stand out on their own. However, the two "Br0ther" songs on this disc are some of the most biting commentary on the Christian entertainment industry/Christian culture in recent memory. Pritzl compares the industry to 1984's iron-fisted Big Brother, and the songs feature a robotic voice making promises of wealth and fame while Pritzl sings, "I'm still looking for Jesus." Disc one ends with the haunting "Leaving (but I don't want to leave you)" in which the story's character chooses death.

Disc two, Black as Death, explores the results and consequences of the character's decision to choose death. This disc features the heaviest music of the album (although it still has its quiet moments). The character, having chosen death, tries to make sense of the confusion and chaos that has now become his life. In the acoustic "Where do We Belong?," the character longs for God and asks over and over "where do we belong?" The rest of the disc portrays God's pursuit of the character and the character's recognition of his need for God.

Liebe über Alles (German for "love above all" or "love more than anything else"), the third and final disc, is the quietest of the three and sounds more like The Violet Burning's previous albums. In this last chapter of the story, the character realizes that God has been with him from the beginning and turns to praise Him. There are some beautiful praise and worship songs here, and after the sonic blast of the first two discs, it's nice to have a disc that is softer. The story ends with nine-minute track "Made for You," a worship song that is among The Violet Burning's finest.

The Story of Our Lives is Michael Pritzl's greatest musical accomplishment and succeeds where many concept albums fail. It repeats key musical and lyrical themes and phrases while maintaining song variety and tells a story without getting convoluted. Some may find the album daunting, and indeed it is, but it is worth the time it takes to listen to and digest it. Digital music and the age of downloading has made listening to an album in its entirety in one sitting a rare occurrence, but this is the kind of album that demands and rewards it. The liner notes enrich the listening experience by featuring beautiful illustrations, and the special edition packaging is arranged like a classic book. The Story of Our Lives is a story of struggle, pain, death, beauty, and redemption. It is the story of us.

- Review date: 5/16/11, written by Laura Love of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 34 tracks: 148 minutes, 29 seconds
. Street Date: 2011
. Buy It: TheVioletBurning.com

    Disc One: The Fantastic Machine
  1. Aurora (1:08)
  2. Where it all Begins (3:26)
  3. Lights Out (3:55)
  4. Graves (till the end) (3:44)
  5. br0thr (1:53)
  6. Machine Beat Sabbatha (3:48)
  7. Imminent Collapse (4:36)
  8. there is no end (3:15)
  9. br0thr (the lights have gone) (1:59)
  10. I Don't Belong (4:02)
  11. Firstborn From the Dead (4:22)
  12. the letting (4:50)
  13. TH3 FANTA5T1C MACH1N3 (2:38)
  14. the loudest sound in my heart (2:53)
  15. Leaving (but, I don't wanna leave you) (2:13)
    Disc Two: Black As Death
  1. My Name is Night (4:27)
  2. Maelstrom (4:37)
  3. Breakdown (6:04)
  4. Where Do We Belong? (2:50)
  5. Rock is Dead (3:51)
  6. Nowhere, CA (6:42)
  7. Sung (4:31)
  8. In Ruin (5:20)
  9. Lacuna (4:19)
    Disc Three: Liebe Über Alles
  1. Mojave (4:08)
  2. mon désir (5:37)
  3. finest hour (3:52)
  4. the light poured down on me (2:47)
  5. arc (3:32)
  6. I Caught Fire (4:57)
  7. cardiac (4:16)
  8. Liebe über Alles (3:52)
  9. change of heart (5:11)
  10. Made for You (9:10)


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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
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Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
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Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
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SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
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SINGLES
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ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
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Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
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DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
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SINGLES
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