Fans of heavy music got their first taste of what Refiner would be bringing to Rottweiler Records back in February. The introductory dual single was followed up by two more singles in May, which further whet the appetites of those wanting more. Now, Christopher Adam, the man behind the project, is finally unleashing his label debut, a self-titled EP that hits hard and heavy.

The digital version of Refiner contains six tracks, including the four singles from the first half of the year. Regardless of how much time you've spent listening to them already, they still sound great, and it's particularly refreshing to hear them in the context of a proper release. The EP opens with a brand new, short intro track called "All Aboard" before jumping straight into "Not the End," an excellent choice to open the project. "Return To Dust" is still a highlight as perhaps the strongest offering here. It's also a song that gives the listener the full range of Adam's musical identity, so it's the go-to recommendation if you want to sample before committing. The lone new song, "Selfish Days," is a solid addition to the bunch. It joins "Return To Dust" as being one of the more melodic tracks, with a heavy emphasis on clean vocals and even a dash of post hardcore. The layered vocals in the chorus singing "He took my place" harmonize in such a strange way, but it sounds fantastic and a little haunting.

Refiner is a short EP, but its short runtime still packs quite the punch, with not a dull moment to be found. Adam has loaded it up with plenty of great riffs, an abundance of musical layers, and a strong vocal performance. And if you decide to buy the CD copy, you'll also be treated to the instrumentals for each song and a couple of alternate versions as well. It's been an amazing and prolific year for heavy Christian music, but be sure to not miss this one.

- Review date: 9/25/25, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

 Record Label: Rottweiler Records
 Album length: 6 tracks, 17 minutes, 58 seconds
 Street Date: September 26, 2025
 Buy It: Bandcamp

1. All Aboard (1:00)
2. Not the End (3:20)
3. Upside Down (3:12)
4. Return To Dust (3:57)
5. Selfish Days (2:24)
6. Mistake (4:05)