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 Inspection Review

Testify

Stratiotis
Testify

Street Date: August 10, 2016
Style: Rock / Southern Rock
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3


Boasting an older style of rock and roll with a self-defined "southern fried" sound, Stratiotis is a band that with a bluntness that is often hard to find in the Christian music industry. Their second album, Testify, calls out Christians for watering down the message of the Gospel ("Testify"), preachers for being corrupt ("Preacherman") and young men playing with the hearts of young women ("Daughter"). These topics are all handled with a righteous anger, but the messages are even more powerful in the context of the album because lead singer Jarrod Donnan is not afraid to fess up to his own shortcomings as well. For example, on "Rundown" Jarrod sings with his deep southern/post-grunge vocals "Thought I was a wise man / knew what was best for me... but the Lord gonna run me down." All these convictions are born out of a sense of deep gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice on the cross--a message that is boldly proclaimed on every song. The mixing on Testify is balanced with every instrument being clear, while still allowing each musical element to shine at the right time (such as highlighting the explosive guitar solo on "Judge") but the production quality isn't up to 2016 standards. Unfortunately, this quality, along with Jarrod's post-grunge vocals, the style of music, and the bluntness of the lyrics (most of which are good things), gives this album a somewhat dated feel. If you don't mind that, this album is an absolute gem.

- Review date: 9/5/16, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!


 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 9 tracks: 32 minutes, 00 seconds
. Street Date: August 10, 2016
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Testify (3:41)
  2. Boy (3:26)
  3. Rundown (3:15)
  4. Daughter (3:49)
  5. Judge (3:41)
  6. Preacherman (4:00)
  7. Slave (3:34)
  8. Stuff (3:38)
  9. Seed (3:14)

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images