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 Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Royal Diadem, Jesus Over All
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Royal Diadem
Jesus Over All

Street Date: October 29, 2021
Style: Metalcore / Worship



In 2005, then-hard rock band Kutless broke the mould by releasing a worship album called Strong Tower. The album featured a host of popular praise and worship anthems (and some originals), but in more of a rock setting than previously performed. Sixteen years later, countless other Christian rock bands have followed suit. Now it's the turn of John Wesley Osborn, the vocalist and songwriter for metal band Diatheke, whose side project, Royal Diadem, is unleashing a worship album that's heavy, but still relatively accessible.

If you're unfamiliar with Diatheke, they're a progressive metal band with elements of metalcore, thrash, and death metal, and all of their singles thus far are lengthy - from 8.5 minutes to a lofty 13. This is where Royal Diadem differs. Though Jesus Over All is largely a metal album, the track lengths are more digestible for an album's worth, and it drops all of the thrash, death, and screaming. Yes, all of the vocals on this album are of the clean-singing variety, save for "Show Yourself Strong (Psalm 68)," which dives into nu-metal territory and brings some rapcore with it. But even with almost entirely clean vocals, the songs are mostly pretty heavy, with classic metalcore-style guitar riffs, plenty of double bass, and Osborn's thick, full vocals that might remind you of a deeper Benjamin Burnley (Breaking Benjamin) or Michael Barnes (RED).

The album is fairly musically diverse, though. While we do get straightforward metalcore in "Praises" and "Let Us Gather," a few tracks heavily feature a much calmer acoustic guitar. "Build My Life" starts off sounding much more like the original Passion version before plugging the amp in, and the album even ends with acoustic versions of two of its louder songs, "Glory and Honor" and "Let Us Gather." Osborn also makes use of string sections, such as in the electric version of "Glory and Honor" (which at times reminds me of Comatose-era Skillet), "Medley of Royalty," and "Worthy Of It All."

Speaking of "Medley of Royalty," this 5-minute journey may be my favorite track here. It efficiently slams together several different classic hymns, starting with "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," into one of my favorites in "How Deep the Father's Love," and finishing with "Blessed Assurance." The medley also features powerful vocals from singer/songwriter Shelbey MacKay, who would've stolen the show if the glory weren't clearly being given to Jesus.

As with Diatheke, Osborn handles all the composition and arrangements of Royal Diadem's music. He did utilize other musicians for the recording, including Mike Osborn (Diatheke, City of Auburn), and almost half of the tracklist is cover songs, but Jesus Over All gives us a great glimpse of Osborn glorifying the Lord, not just with the simple, worshipful lyrics, but with his creativity and gift of music composition. Yet even then, the lyrics and melodies are effective and congregational. This may not be the metal album to scream and mosh to, but it succeeds in both leading the listener into a time of worship and being well-written.

- Review date: 10/26/21, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks
. Street Date: October 29, 2021
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Praises (3:10)
  2. Glory and Honor (4:45)
  3. Exalted Over All (4:08)
  4. Build My Life (4:56)
  5. Show Yourself Strong (Psalm 68) (4:44)
  6. Let Us Gather (4:58)
  7. Medley of Royalty (feat. Shelbey MacKay) (5:11)
  8. Worthy Of It All (5:01)
  9. Glory and Honor (acoustic) (4:08)
  10. Let Us Gather (acoustic) (4:16)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, April 15, 2025
BOOKS
Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson Maker of the Mountain [B&H]

This Friday, April 18, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Darst In The Mighty Name (Live) [Fair Trade]
Ronnie Martin Consume Like A Moth What Is Dear [Velvet Blue]
Sixpence None the Richer Live at Gruene Hall [Flatiron]

SINGLES
Doulos Worship Jubilee Song - Single (independent)
Fred Hammond, Khristian Dentley, Gabriel Preisser Via Dolorosa - Single [Tomb Slayer]
LO CLOUD Dreams Fail - Single (independent)
Stars Go Dim A Little Light - Single [Curb]


Next Friday, April 25, 2025
ALBUMS
PJ Bostic Hope In The Winter Stage (independent)
Megan Danielle Grace - Single [Provident]
Disciple Skeleton Psalms (Deluxe) [Tooth & Nail]
Smokey Robinson What The World Needs Now [Gaither]
Stephen Stanley trustfall [Capitol CMG]
UPPERROOM 1350 (Live) [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Big Daddy Weave Stranger No More - Single [Curb]
bodie SAY SO - Single [Provident]
Bongo Chico Wrongside Right - Single (independent)
Dan Bremnes Cortado - Single [Curb]
Mainstream Worship CHANGED! - Single [DREAM Worship]
Xander Sallows superficial - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images