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Refiner, 'Return To Dust / Not the End - Double Single'
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Refiner
Return To Dust / Not the End - Double Single

Street Date: February 28, 2025
Style: Deathcore



If you're a Christian metal fan with any kind of social media use, you're likely familiar with For The Rock, a platform dedicated to supporting all things Christian rock and metal. You also may know that For The Rock's founder, Christopher Adam, has a one-man deathcore act called Refiner. What few knew until very recently is that Adam signed a deal with Rottweiler Records a couple of years ago. Now, 2025 is looking to be a breakout year for Refiner, and it's starting with Return To Dust.

Return To Dust isn't a big offering in terms of runtime, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in quality. Refiner has always put out good deathcore, but these two new songs are on a new level. Adam has honed his craft in the performance and production aspects, and one can't help but notice an improvement from the Firewalker EP. In other words, it's hard not to agree that this is his most well-written and best-sounding material to date.

"Return To Dust" features a powerful, dynamic vocal performance from Adam, as he uses the full range of his vocals, from deep growls to cleans to high-pitched shrieks. They're accompanied by riffs galore, symphonic synths, and nu metal-esque glitchy sounds. "Not the End" is the heavier of the two, dropping most of the electronics (save for the occasional haunting melodies) in favor of a full-on assault of guitars and double bass. As the song says, it'll "hit like a ton of bricks." The messages of the two songs work well together, too. "Return To Dust" quotes Luke 15 at the beginning and goes into the reality of searching for something other than what God has for us and the meaninglessness of life without Him. "Not the End" almost echoes this sentiment, but more from the perspective of encouraging a loved one at the end of his rope to cling to the truth ("This is the end of life as you know it / don't be consumed, there's no use / some way, somehow / you've always known the truth").

Rottweiler has added a lot of new artists to its roster over the last year, and Refiner is definitely one to be excited about. These two new songs are killer, and they're more than enough to whet the appetite as we (hopefully) prepare for more to come. I know I'll be on the lookout for it.

- Review date: 2/26/25, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: Rottweiler Records
. Album length: 2 tracks: 7 minutes, 17 seconds
. Street Date: February 28, 2025

  1. Return To Dust (3:57)
  2. Not the End (3:20)

 

 

 

 

 

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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]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
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]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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