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

Adrian Mathenia

Adrian Mathenia
Rise Anew

Street Date: October 20, 2015
Style: Folk Rock
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes


Adrian Mathenia is a singer/songwriter based out of Louisville, Kentucky. His second full-length record is entitled Rise Anew and features excellent production; it was mixed and mastered at Resonate Recording. Adrian's background is largely in bluegrass, folk and classic rock. Those influences certainly come out in his music -- especially the latter two genres. Rise Anew focuses on the acoustic guitar, but nice smooth electric leads and piano highlight songs throughout the album.

The album starts with two solid tracks in "The Sun Hides" and "Far Away," but begins to get more interesting with "Paradise." In the chorus Adrian sings, "I made a desert of this paradise You gave. Behold the Lamb, behold the monsters that He saves." Following "Paradise" is the first true taste of the classic rock influence in "Blue/Black." The more folk-inspired "Company" introduces a piano and some rather impressive female vocals. "No Enemies" changes it up a bit more with a country inspired number, complete with a fiddle. Adrian flexes his lyrical muscles again on this with the second and third verses. An example is the third verse's lyrics, "I am promised to a bridegroom; I will have my wedding dress. And one day by the sea of glass, when the table has been set, the last thing on my married mind will be your feeble threat." Softly picked guitar comes back for "Slow Bones" and carries the album to its conclusion with "The Water," picking the pace up only slightly.

Rise Anew is full of songs about grace and mercy, beautiful imagery, thought-provoking lyrics, and personal stories. Adrian Mathenia has done an excellent job in crafting this wonderful piece of art. This album just continues to show proof that some of the best artists out there today are in the independent scene. Fans of folk music, or just acoustic music in general, will likely find a lot to love about Mathenia's second album. It's a true singer/songwriter album and sounds great. "Far Away," "Paradise," Black/Blue" and "Company" are excellent starting places if you're looking just to get a small taste of what Adrian has to offer. Overall, Rise Anew is on point for all aspects: Musical, lyrical, and vocal. This one is unquestionably worth checking out.

- Review date: 3/31/16, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 40 minutes, 23 seconds
. Street Date: October 20, 2015
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. The Sun Hides (4:06)
  2. Far Away (3:48)
  3. Paradise (4:05)
  4. Blue / Black (4:41)
  5. Company (4:42)
  6. No Enemies (3:16)
  7. Slow Bones (3:06)
  8. In Darkest Wood (4:04)
  9. When We Meet (4:38)
  10. The Water (3:57)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 3, 2025
SINGLES
Sixpence None The Richer The Needle and the Damage Done - Single [Flatiron]

This Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]
Hopeful. The Wild One - EP (independent)
Christy Nockels King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest [The Fuel]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down My Will - Single [BEC]
Bill B. & Cyrus Sonata Kevlar - Single [Syntax]
Elan Brio I'm Satisfied (ft. Henry Israel) - Single (independent)
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD - Single [Provident]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Ic3rd & EJ Swavv Woke Up (ft. CJ Emulous & George.Rose) - Single [Syntax]
King David tha Vessel Consistant - Single (independent)
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA [Provident]
Myles Maestro Flood (ft. Ace Savage & Shruumi) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Wave - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Mr. Pilot - Single [Syntax]
River Valley Worship Time For Revival - Single [BEC]
Roy Tosh Everything's Gonna Be Alright (feat. PEABOD) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Solachi Voz All I Need - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Genesis (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
Ayiesha Woods I Have Hope - Single [Backsider]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego [DREAM]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images