Jesusfreakhideout.com: Ransomed By Grace, "Bloodline" Review

JFH Indie Review

CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Ransomed By Grace
Bloodline

Street Date: February 12, 2025
Style: Alternative Rock
Official Site: RansomedByGrace.faith
Buy It: Amazon Music

Ransomed By Grace is an alternative rock band and ministry to spread the word of God. Lead singer Willie Parlier has roots singing country music in the bar scene, but walked away from all of that and the lifestyle after conviction from the Holy Spirit. Ransomed By Grace was formed shortly after when Parlier began writing Christian music with his wife Kelly and was soon joined by their son Connor as well in 2018. The plan has always been for Ransomed By Grace to be more than a band, but to be a unique gospel sharing experience. Today, the band is still a family affair, fronted by Willie and Connor, along with Connor's cousin Jacob and Jacob's wife Alisha. The group has released a series of singles and an acoustic EP since 2000, but their new album, Bloodline, released in February 2025.

RBG's music on Bloodline can best be classified as alternative rock but also has some clear country influence. This not only comes across in some of the music, but also in some of the vocal performances ("Never Leave" and "Up To You"). Some of the sounds ("Through the Glass" and "The Giant") even bring to mind a band like 3 Doors Down. The musical side of RBG is the strongest side. Nice compositions on guitar and on keys highlight the album throughout. The vocal performances aren't bad, but you can hear Willie's experience over Connor and Alisha's. Willie's songs sound stronger and display a little more confidence, but Connor and Alisha still offer up a nice change and show a different side of the band. Lyrically, RBG is all about lifting up the name of Jesus. Either by directly doing so by singing about what Christ did on the cross in a song like "Up on Golgotha," or through a story about someone who needs to find Him, like in "I'm Not the Son," the focus is always on the ministry. The best combination of music, vocals, and lyrics come together in "Through the Glass." It's a rocking track with a great riff -- especially in the pre-chorus. The song is about a person crying out for help from God and finding Him there in that prayer. Parlier sings, "I finally found you, Jesus. Rescue me," in the culmination of the song's message. This one is a fantastic example of everything RBG has to offer.

Ransomed By Grace is not a new band, but this is their first full-length album. There is a lot to like about Bloodline. There is a solid mix of upbeat rockers and mellow ballads, meaningful lyrics, and a clear heart for spreading the message of Jesus. Songs like the aforementioned "Through the Glass" or "I'm Listening," the latter of which blends Willie and Alisha's voices nicely, are the strongest examples of this. The production here is solid and the album is easy to listen to as well. Fans of alt/rock and country music are the best candidates here, but there is a little something for most music fans here.

- Review date: 2/14/25, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Record Label: None

Album length: 9 tracks: 35 minutes, 58 seconds

Street Date: February 12, 2025

Buy It: Amazon Music

Prelude (0:39)
Bloodline (2:49)
Through The Glass (3:26)
I'm Listening (4:15)
I'm Not The Son (3:52)
Never Leave (6:00)
Up To You (3:05)
The Giant (6:47)
Up On Golgotha (5:05)
spacer

Jesus Freak Hideout (Michael Weaver): Ransomed By Grace has been around in some iteration since 2018. How long has the current line-up of Willie, Connor, Jacob, and Alisha been in place?

Jake Johnson: I'd say Alisha joined somewhere between February or March of 2023

Willie Parlier: Jake has been around since 2019 when we recorded the Clay’s prayer

JFH (Michael): While Ransomed By Grace originally started as a solo thing, it quickly became a family ministry. I appreciate that you have three different people singing. Is it a very conscious idea to ensure that it's never about one person, or have the songs just sort of organically come out this way?

Willie: They just come out that way. One of the first songs “I’m Not the Son” was actually written with two perspectives even before Connor became a part of it. When he started singing with me he naturally had a place to fall into. I think where we are today was definitely God’s intent. We even wrote The Giant before Alisha became a part of Ransomed by Grace and the song just never worked out until she started singing with us.

JFH (Michael): You’ve been releasing singles here and there since 2020, what’s the feeling of putting an entire album together and getting it released?

Jake: Good! It became a reality!

Willie: It was a relief! I feel like we’d been recording an album for years, but it never really fell into place. I just remember sitting in the studio one day and realizing God finally had the ministry how He wanted it, and everything went so smoothly after that.

JFH (Michael): Bloodline has some solid songs, but my personal favorite is easily "Through the Glass." Do you mind giving us a little insight into that song?

Jake: That is the Willie testimony song!

Willie: It really is. The song is about me fight to try to meet God. I always knew that a God existed, but I always wondered why I could never reach him. Through the Glass talks about my struggle through agnosticism and trying to figure out who God truly was. I always felt like I was looking at him through a wall of glass, but he could never hear me. It wasn’t until after I met Jesus that I got to meet God himself. The metaphorical glass wall between Him and I was broken. The glass wall is very symbolic of the veil that was torn when Jesus died on the cross.

JFH (Michael): I notice you have several upcoming dates in North Carolina throughout the year. Are you planning to put some more shows together now that the album has officially released. If so, where is the best place for people to stay tuned?

Jake: Whatever opportunity the Lord puts in front of us we will always consider it. That’s the goal! Not just to go out and play shows, but to share the gospel! Willie: The best place to find out where Ransomed by Grace is playing is by going to ransomedbygrace.faith or to follow us on Bands In Town. We will always post our shows on there.

JFH (Michael): I can tell by listening to the lyrics of your songs where the heart of this band is. It’s very clearly meant as a ministry and outreach through music. With that said, what is your hope for God’s work through Ransomed By Grace and the release Bloodline?