Jesusfreakhideout.com: Seth Davey, "Concealed (A Christmas Hymn)

JFH Indie Review

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Seth Davey
Concealed (A Christmas Hymn) - Single

Street Date: December 12, 2024
Style: Christmas / Indie / Acoustic
Buy It: Bandcamp
Buy It: iTunes

Attalus' Seth Davey released a full-length album earlier in 2024, but here in December the singer/songwriter is back and has released a different kind of Christmas song. "Concealed (A Christmas Hymn)" not only tells the story of Jesus' birth, but the story of His entire life. The complete Gospel of Christ is told in this festive sounding tune.

The opening lyrics find Jesus, "Wrapped inside a common cloth and lying in a feeding trough." The story progresses as Jesus grows older. The wise men come, Jesus starts His ministry and calls His disciples, He is then crucified, and then, "Three days after He was dead a word of hope began to spread. The tomb was empty that was sure, the stone had been rolled from the door." There are a lot of Christmas songs that proclaim the birth of Christ, but not many that go onto explain His life and purpose for coming to earth. It's kind of nice to get the entire story here as it serves as a great reminder. Jesus IS the reason for the season, but it's always important to keep in mind just why He came and what He did for us while He was here. The title is a reference to Christ coming in human form and flesh. Davey sings, "This is God revealed. This is God concealed in our own flesh and blood. He is Light, He is Life, He is Love," to close things out.

"Concealed" is an upbeat 6/8 number pushed forward by an acoustic guitar, piano, and drums. There are strings and other instrumentations present, but this trio is the driving force. There is nothing musically that locks this into the Christmas season (bells or other seasonal type instruments), but it does fit nicely into the holiday sound. While "Christmas Hymn" is in the title, the track is open enough that it could be played at Easter or for any other time of the year as well. Even the repeated "gloria's" don't force it into any sort of strict box.

Attalus was a beloved band by many, but Seth Davey is keeping things going. His newest song is a welcomed addition this Christmas season, and provides a slightly more unique lyrical approach than most holiday songs -- even those specifically about the birth of Jesus. This one should be a nice addition to your Christmas music playlist in 2024 and years to come.

- Review date: 12/13/24, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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JFH Staff's Second Opinion

Having just released an album only a few months ago, a brand new Christmas song from Seth Davey comes as a bit of a surprise. It's a pleasant one, though, and one that maintains the same quality as his full-length record. "Concealed" is unique, thematically, as it not only covers the birth of Jesus, but even goes through His life, death, and resurrection. It's an interesting concept, but an appreciated one, as there's so much more to the Gospel than simply His birth. This song is in line with the normal musical style of Davey's solo material, so there's a lot of acoustic guitar and piano. However, fans of Attalus can still find a lot of the band's influence, particularly in the storytelling, melodies, and song structure. Finally, one of my favorite things about "Concealed" is that it's an original song. The Christian music market is oversaturated with "new" versions of the same carols every year, so it's refreshing to hear something wholly new. "Concealed" is out now, and I can see this being a staple of Christmas listening (or even worshiping) going forward. - Review date: 12/14/24, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com