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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Aaron Rios

Aaron Rios
Hiding Place - EP

Street Date: April 20, 2020
Style: Worship / Rock / Pop / Indie
Official Site: AaronRios.com
Get It: iTunes
Get It: AmazonMP3



Pastor and musician Aaron Rios’ debut EP, Hiding Place, is an eclectic mixture of the electric guitar moments of early Michael Gungor Band, the theatrics of Israel Houghton, and a sprinkling of Deitrick Haddon's soaring vocals. “You Alone Reign” is the biggest standout of the four songs, with its genre mash-up of 2000s-era gospel, worship, and a few dashes of hip-hop thrown in for good measure. The vocal-shredding yelp in the latter half of “King of Glory” is achingly-passionate and the most interesting moment of the song. However, the song ultimately treads a little too closely in melody and lyrics to a previously released praise chorus written by Donna Atkins titled, “Glorify Your Name.” This may or may not have been intentional due to the limited amount of chord progressions available to any songwriter, but it ultimately left this reviewer distracted. “More of You” is a smooth listen, aided by a vocal assist from Leah Thibodeau. While closer “Hiding Place” and its ambient beginning is pleasant, it - and the two songs preceding it - falls short of the heights of “You Alone Reign.” This is primarily due to song length and lyrical repetitiveness, with some of the lyrics falling prey to cliché. “Hiding Place” does come closest with its slow-burn build, and electric guitar flourishes making for a peaceful and encouraging close to the album. Overall, Aaron shows enough flashes to have high hopes of future releases. One would think that the recordings may lose a bit in translation with the live versions packing a more dynamic punch. Ultimately, with his velvety vocals and passionate desire to usher listeners into praise and worship, Rios is off to a good start with Hiding Place being a solid launching pad for additional music.

- Review date: 4/27/20, Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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This Friday, May 16, 2025
ALBUMS
Confessions of a Traitor This Pain Will Serve You [Facedown]
Free Worship Praise Before It Happens [BEC]
GVTH DVDDY GVTH DVDDY [Velvet Blue]
Karen Peck & New River Good Answers [Daywind]
Lecrae & Miles Minnick Get Well Soon! [Reach]
Nathan Oswalt THE PRELUDE - EP (independent)
Seventh Day Slumber Fractured Paradise: Garden of Shadows [Rockfest]
Sons of Sunday Sons of Sunday [Elevation]

SINGLES
AyeTJ Outdated - Single [Syntax]
Elan Brio Perfect Timing - Single (independent)
Melissa D Will I Be Bored in Heaven? - Single (independent)
Will Kellum Ready or Not - Single [Syntax]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Already Good (Tasha Slide) - Single [TeeLee]
Britt Nicole FAITH - Single (independent)
Makara Walk By Faith - Single [DREAM/DBMIX]
MAYIA Where Do I Go? (ft. Cutright) - Single [Syntax]
Matt Sassano My Armor - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Won't Start Now - Single [Provident]

VINYL
Petra The Best For Last (Studio Edition) Vinyl [Girder]

Next Tuesday, May 20, 2025
BOOKS
Shai Linne Penelope Judd [B&H]
Tauren Wells Joy Bomb: Unleash Jesus’s Explosive Joy for an Extraordinary Life [Zondervan]

Next Friday, May 23, 2025
ALBUMS
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin [Curb]
ELEVATION RHYTHM Victory Lap [Elevation]
Signum Regis The Eyes of Power (Remixed & Remastered 2025) [Beyond the Storm]

SINGLES
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - Single [DREAM]
V1 Worship Fool for You - Single [DREAM Worship]



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