Showbread "Who Can Know it?"

Showbread's new album "Who Can Know it" in every aspect is typical

"Showbread", and what I mean by that is, ask any Showbread fan

what kind of sound is Showbread?

what "scene" would you throw them in?

It's hard to define Showbread

because frankly every album is different,

they don't stick to a certain "shtick"

they bring a new flavor and variety

through their work.

Now I realize to some this can be annoying,

specially if you were digging what they were doing on a certain album and expect more of the same.

I absolutely loved "The Fear of God" screams and all,

however when I heard Josh Dies say..

"there would be no screaming on the new album." I was a little taken back,

as every album so far has had some variant form of "screaming".

Rest asure though the new album,

which by the way is ABSOLUTELY FREE,

yes free! as in you don't have to pay anything for it,

it's a free download!

it's a great album! there...i'm done...thats the review..it's great!

go buy it..erm

I mean go download it for free! yes...right now...go...seriously go!

ok fine, I'll give you a little more info.

It's kind of strange reviewing a FREE album,

and the "Cliche" you get what you pay for,

well can't really be used because you

are not paying a thing.

I thought maybe with a free album it might be 4 songs?

maybe 6? and I figured it would be lack luster,

and even the quality of the songs would be horrible,

thankfully I was wrong on all aspects! first of all

"Who can know it" which is taken from..

The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9

Has ten tracks which are as follows..

1. A Man With A Hammer

2. I Never Liked Anyone And I'm Afraid Of People

3. Dear Music

4. Deliverance

5. The Prison Comes Undone

6. Hydra

7. Myth Of A Christian Nation

8. You're Like A Taxi

9. Time To Go

10. The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

The sound quality is not lacking whatsoever, and the lack of screams?

who freakin cares? the album is still SHOWBREAD, and still

very much ROCKS. Just as with "The Fear of God", Showbreads

"Who can know it" brings quality sound, and quality meaningful

rock that is very lacking in the Christian music industry, specially

the Christian mainstream. The songs and lyrics, as with most Showbread songs, make you think, it challenges your relationship

with Christ(in a good way), some might say the album questions

the existence of God, but to me that would be somebody who is

not understanding the lyrics or what Josh(And showbread) are questioning, which isn't God, but questioning the theology

of most Americans, it's questioning American Christianity,

which truthfully is more about prosperity and Blessings and

a belief in a God who only blesses America, which would be

NOT God at all.(Which to that point I can agree with)

Showbread always seems to challenge their listeners to actually "Think", yeah imagine that, and they seem to bring controversy, or maybe I should say people who just don't get it, bring the controversy. The most "Controversial" songs

would probably be "A Man with a Hammer" and

"Myth of a Christian Nation" the latter being probably my favorite

on the album. "Myth of a Christian Nation" has a great tempo and really is a stand out track not only for the lyrics but because of

the "raw rock" it creates. "Myth of a Christian Nation" (which is taken from a book written by Greg Boyd with the same name) will rub

a lot of people the wrong way as "un patriotic" but really

if you listen to the song, and actually "think about it" where

should your loyalties as a "Christian" be? to country? or to God?

what KINGDOM are you to be "Patriotic"/"Loyal" to? the worldly

kingdom of a country? or the Kingdom of God? Does God put America above all other countries? These are

the questions that Showbread brings and others through-out the album. While I don't

agree "Theologically" with everything Showbread says and does, and specially with Greg Boyd

and his theological conclusions, I don't believe there

is anything wrong with healthy debates and questions that Showbread tends

to bring up through-out their albums. (that is of course if you take the time

to really listen and research what they are saying, which I tend to do with everything

I listen to, when the artists challenge me to)

If I were to describe the sound of this new album to Showbread fans,

or name older Showbread songs that this album sounds like,

I would say the title track from last album "The Fear of God"

and their extremely popular song from

"No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical" called "Matthias Replaces Judas" would be a good start,

I suggest to everyone interested in this new effort from Showbread

to check this song out, and if you like this song(as most do) you will love the new album.

"Who Can Know it" is full of songs with desperation, desperation

to live in the image of Christ. It's a wonderful thought provoking album that you shouldn't miss, some of the stand out tracks

include "A Man with a Hammer" "The Prison Comes Undone" "Hydra"

"Myth of a Christian Nation" and a song that seems to have some

NIN influence "The Heart is Deceitful above all things". I give the album a

4 out of 5

Children 18:3 "Rain's 'A Comin' "-Review

Children 18:3's new album " Rain's a Comin' " brings the popish punk rock,

and a decent amount of diversity through-out the whole album.

The album starts with "Ran's a Comin' " as the intro which is short at 1:40

but is a great kick-off and a good intro into a stand out song called

"Cover your eyes".

"Cover your eyes" is the first song I heard, and needless to say was my

main reason for purchasing the album. The song is catchy and I can't

stop listening to it.

"The Cruel One" follows and continues with the same pace as the first couple

of songs. In fact the first three songs off this album melt together perfectly,

and would be songs I would definitely have in rotation no matter where they

were placed on the album.

skipping "whispering" (which is just an interlude)

The next song is "Hey Driftwood"

which takes a different pace then the first three songs,

"Hey Driftwood" has it's moments

but just like the next song "Oh, Bravo" the song just doesn't stand out to

me as anything special. Both of the songs in my opinion are just fillers..

and I don't like either of them any more or less then the other.

"Oh, Honestly" stands out to me because it is a totally different vibe then

anything else you will find on the album. the acoustic and melody are

inviting and gives the album a different feeling.

"Wonder I" is well orchestrated and although softer then what I loved about

songs like "Cover your eyes" or "The Cruel one" overall the song has a good

flow to it and the vocals are more dominated by Lee Marie then the lead singer

David.

"Stronger" picks it back up and I can't help getting like an "80's" vibe with Lee

Marie's vocals in this song (I'm not sure why). "Stronger" is a solid song

"Jack 'O' Latern Dreams" follows as the tenth song which is on the shorter

side but I can't really complain about it being short as it's another song

that doesn't draw me in.

HOWEVER "Lost So Long" which is the final song, (unless you want to count

"The Last Laugh" which is just some Piano playing)

"Lost So Long" is my favorite song on the whole album... it's not short and sweet

either, like the other favorites of mine.

"Lost So Long" is exactly what I want to

hear from Children 18:3, a great vibe...catchy chorus/lyrics and an addicting beat.

I just feel Davd and Lee Marie and Seth all really shined through this

song, and wish the album would have been full of moments like this song.

In the end..the latest from Children 18:3 I feel somewhat conflicted about,

the and has a lot of talent that is a no brainer, my problem is with how

very short the album feels. While I want to lean to calling the album

just average, I really can't do that because I like a majority of the songs,

and I like the range of the songs. I figured I'd just get a standard punkish

album where there wouldn't be a lot of difference in the style of the songs,

but like I said there is diversity in this album.

I'm going to give this album 3 1/2 out of 5...It's leaning towards great

but I wouldn't call it a must buy.

Project 86 "Picket Fence Cartel"-Review

Project 86's Picket Fence Cartel is their latest album, and

what an amazing album it is.

The album opens up with the song "Destroyer" which is a top

favorite of mine from the album. A very Manson like song that

rocks on every level. lyrics are

fantastic through the whole song. Nothing else really

sounds like it off the album

The next song is called "The Butcher" and I must say

between the first two songs alone, this album has one of the best opening tracks to start an album off with that i've heard. "The Butcher" has a killer riff

and beat that if you don't fall in love with it after the first listen

something is wrong with you. A song that will so pump me up while

Snowboarding.

"The Spectacle of Fearsome Acts" follows and keeps the album

going strong, not much to say... but it's on the same level as the first two without

slow down..very cool.

"Dark Angel Dragnet" has a different feel then the first couple of songs,

but by no means is a bad song, it does have it's moments where it shines.

"Cold and Calculated" leans more on the hard punk style then the other songs

in my opinion but that isn't a bad thing at all, very cool guitar parts and

it really brings diversity into the album.

"Cement Shoes"

Is another favorite of mine has a cool opening to the song, a catchy melody

through the whole song, and the lyrics are great! really is a stand out

song at number six that livens up the a little more then half way through.

"A John Hancock With the Safety Off"

Kind of like what I said with "Cold and Calculated". As far as my opinion on it

goes.... It's not bad but it isn't great either, I dig the chorus though.

"Two Glass Eyes"

for me is probably the worst song off the album, I can see a-lot of people digging

it, I'm just really not feeling it.

"Cyclonus"

Thankfully brings the album back up after "two Glass Eyes" and this is actually a song where the rest of the song stands out more to me then the "chorus".

Through-out this album guitars are vibrant and catchy and this song

obviously isn't any different.

"The Black Brigade"

Love this song...vocals probably the major reason for that. Again just as the guitars

are vibrant and catchy through-out the album..I think Schwab has some

excellent moments in the album where he just shines.

"To Sand We Return"

It may be my favorite..but I can't decide, favorite off this album changes the

more I listen to the album. Half way through this song there Is a sweet

acoustic guitar solo and then when Schwab screams in with "Who do I belong to?"

just awesome...awesome song.

In the end this album has a good variety through-out and really shines

on many different levels. You'll hear some influence from bands like

Manson/Tool ect...

This is just a stand-out album that any fan of Project 86 should already have,

and if you haven't heard of Project 86... just go pick this up it's their best album. This album is in heavy rotation on my Ipod..

As I Lay Dying- The Powerless Rise Review

This was my first As I Lay Dying record, So I personally can't compare it

to any of their previous records. I have heard quite a few

songs from AILD though and it doesn't seem

like they made any drastic changes to their sound.

The Powerless Rise starts right off with

"Beyond Our Suffering" a song that says

"Hi we are AILD, and we are going to rock your face off"

they don't pull any punches and just do what they do best.

"Beyond Our Suffering" isn't the best song on the album,

(in fact, it's just "OK"..in my opinion)

but it does grab you by the collar and let you know

you are in for a ride.

"Anodyne Sea" follows and is easily a favorite of mine

from the album. To be honest I've been listening to this album

for a couple weeks now,and the first couple of times I listened

all the way through it "Anodyne Sea" along with a few other

songs were the only songs that really jumped out at me as great.

However I must say that the album has really started to grow on me..

Anyways as for the song "Anodyne Sea" what can I say? I love

the clean vocal mix in heavy metal, which is probably why Demon Hunter

is my favorite band as they have clean vocals in almost every song.

"Anodyne Sea" has great lyrics and amazing guitar work

that sticks in your head. A must hear song...

Let me also say that through-out this whole album there is some

stellar guitar work and heavy drumming that will keep you coming

back for sure.

"Without Conclusion" is the next song which to me stands out more

for the Drumming then anything else. I also dig the lines

"In looking to the end, we have lost sight of where to begin"

but again really this song is being held up by the drumming.

"Parallels" is the fourth song on the album and like "Anodyne Sea"

it mixes the clean vocals, a very catchy chorus I might add as well.

This is easily another stand-out on the album and everything

to me from the Vocals,Drums and Guitars come together

perfectly.

"The Plague" follows and again feels they are hitting on all

cylinders. This song is fast and hard, and at first it was a song

that had it's moments, but now has really grown on me. Lyrics

really stood out to me before I even read them.

"Anger and Apathy" is the sixth song and didn't have to grow on me at all.

It was one of the first songs I heard and fell in love with right off the bat.

This song falls right in line with "Anodyne Sea" as far as all that I liked

about that song, this song has it. This is probably actually my favorite

song off the album.

"Condemned" comes screaming through as the seventh song,

it has some cool spots specially at around 2:25 with the guitar..

(sadly song is pretty much over at that point)

but isn't really a stand-out song to me at all.

"Upside Down Kingdom" was the final song that stuck out to me

on this album the first couple of times I listened through it.

Thats mainly because of the freakin awesome opening to the song...

the beating of the drums as the guitars slowly wail in is epic

to say the least. Love the whole song and the lyrics really stand-out

as well.

"Vacancy" is the next song and is a weaker song on the album

when you compare it with the rest. Actually I can safely say

"Vacancy" is the worst song on the album..

the next song "The only Constant is Change" is better

then "Vacancy" but that isn't saying very much.

Nothing really I can say about either of those songs...

positive that is.

The final song is "The Blinding of False Light"

so the question becomes does AILD end the album

off with a bang? well maybe not a huge bang...but

"The Blinding of False Light" does stand on it's own

and really shines through-out with it's guitar riffs.

In closing..I enjoyed this album...a lot actually.

It makes me wonder why I waited so long to actually

purchase a A.I.L.D album.

The Wedding "Polarity"-Review

The Wedding is not a sound that is shockingly new, they got that

pop/punk flavor down to a T. The lyrics are great in many songs from

the album "Polarity" some of which isn't exactly what I would call

original or something you haven't heard before, but good none

the less.

"Polarity" opens up with "The Call" which isn't really a song per-say

as it is just 48 seconds of trumpet playing which perfectly leads into

the first real song which is "Say Your Prayers"

I absolutely love this song, and it is actually the first song

that I heard from The Wedding and it is what got me interested

in the band. I love the lyrics and the meaning behind the song,

which isn't hard to figure out what the song is talking about.

I also must say there is actually quite a few songs where I get this

"Fall out-boy" kind of vibe, and this song would be a major one.

The lead singer is amazing for The Wedding, he obviously

stands out as he has major range. He can scream(which isn't

a lot, it isn't a screamo band) He can sing(hi-low doesn't matter)

and he can have that forceful punk style? I don't know the guy just

flat out rocks..

The next song is called I'll Sleep When I'm Dead..

It opens up with some bag-pipes and then quickly

some wicked guitars. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is

a straight up Punk song...that picks up the pace after the first song,

good song.

Next is a song called Staring at the Light, and really has a catchy tune

and chorus a great start to the album that should hold your interest

with the first three songs.

This One is for You introduces a Piano and goes a little softer,

but probably not as soft as you think. The song is really only worth listening

to for the lead singers range through this one song, I'm not really feeling

the chorus or the song in general but it does have it's moments.

Next song called I-540 opens with a beautiful piano peace,

and goes as soft as soft can go I suppose. Probably the softest song

along with Revelation, it's not a bad song though but obviously

doesn't rock your face off or anything.

It's Time to Rock, OK? comes up next and the album again picks up

with a pop punk vibe, very cool song to listen to while hitting

the slopes I might add =)

Next is a song called Rebound and really it's just and OK song, nothing

really stands out as amazing, it's catchy in some spots and throws in some screams which is a plus in my book, but is nothing to write home about.

Schizophrenia and it is my second favorite song on the album...

it hits on all levels with me, lyrically it may not be all that

original but I think it very much stands out on this album.

I would say if you don't like this song, you probably won't like

The Wedding at all..

The Last Stand(Wake the Regiment 2) brings the punk and it just has

a great beat and overall feeling to the whole song

( kind of has a Hawk Nelson feel) a good song once again,

I just love:

"and I can't wait to get to heaven,

but I'm pretty sure i've already been to hell,

and it's the love hate part of it

a captain goes down with his ship"

Misery Love Company comes up next, and I must say most of these

songs have really grown on me after listening to this album for a year or more.

Misery Loves Company has just grown on me this past week,

and I think it has great range with the guitars blaring and

the lead singer shines again here showing he can sing

in many different ways.

So now we come to the eleventh song if you don't count

the opening song, and this is where the album really drops

off for me. Besides the couple slow songs I mentioned, they

really end the album poorly in my opinion...

Southside is not that slow at all but it really has nothing that

I like about it until around 2:25 but even thats not worth

listening to.

Revelation is really slow, and don't get me arong I don't have a problem

with slow songs, just I want them to be really good if your going

to slow it down make it worth it. Then the last song "Fireworks"

is really not a way you should end the album, you would think

you would want to end in a bang, well "Fireworks" doesn't do that whatsoever.

In the End I would say there is a lot of potential with The Wedding,

they have one hell of a lead singer, and I can't deny that.

There is a good amount to like about "Polarity" and I'd

give it a 2 1/2 out of 5

The Wedding - Say Your Prayers

Showbread "The Fear of God"-Review

Showbread, one thing I really respect about the band is they do what they do

and don't care what anyone thinks, and it's usually judgmental

Christians tearing them down, which makes no sense seeing

as they are Christians and their lyrics affirm that.

"The Fear of God" is great on many different levels.

If you are wondering what Showbread sounds like,

first of all I'd say they are very original, specially in the Christian

music scene. The lead singer sounds like a mix between

Marilyn Manson and Billie Joe Armstrong(lead singer for Green Day).

Showbread calls themselves "Raw Rock" maybe a play on "Shock Rock"?

I really don't know, but I can say they are all over the place, and

I really couldn't label them as a certain type of music.

They got a Goth/Punk flavor to them but bottom line

I find them to be refreshing..

The Fear of God starts out with I'm Lost

which is really just a lead into the real first song which is called

"Nothing Matters anymore"

"Nothing Matters Anymore" is a great song and opens the album with a bang,

this song alone stands for so much. I really enjoy it on a lot of different

levels, I'm personally one who enjoys lyrics that are not overly simplistic

and make you think, and that is what this song and most

of this album does.

The world is a husk to be peeled back and torn

My body a shell that now breaks

How I long to escape from the chains that I’ve worn

And hasten my greatest escape

And when I breathe my very last, don’t shed a tear for me

Discard the body that once was my prison, for I’ll have been set free

And when the trumpets call us home and I’m no longer bedded by pain

Our tears will be forever dried, for the author of life knows my name

So we trample the hoards of the pointless and blank

We will die for the truth in our hearts

No force that exists will tear us from His hands

Nothing will tear us apart

Though the mirror is dull, the reflection obscured

We look beyond the obtuse

And the world weighs down, beating us to the ground

But her efforts are of little use

The Anointed One has purchased our souls

Death is battered and lifeless before me

The truth rains down for the children of Christ

And the truth has set us free

And through it all we rise when we fall

Though the road grows more narrow before me

Though we ache, though we cry, never break, never die

The one truth there it sets us free

Great song to open up the album for sure.

The next song is called "Lost Connection with the Head"

which has a very catchy rhythm and chorus, and a

pretty cool guitar solo starting at about 1:54.

No drop off here from the perfect opening song..

"Regret Consumes Me"

has a very "alternative Electronic" feel, very similar to

a Nine Inch Nails song, which isn't completely out of

left field as Josh Dies(Lead singer) is a big fan of

Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. brings a little bit

of a different vibe then the first two songs but it

is another good song.

"Out of My Mind" follows and has some good moments,

and the chorus is good but it doesn't jump out at me as a

great song, more like a filler song.

"Vehement" is the sixth song(fifth if you don't count the opening)

and is one of my favorites on the whole album. I love the

meaning behind the song, which isn't hard to see

what they are talking about at all. I wont spoil it, i'll

let you figure it out =)

"The Great Emasculation" continues the Raw rock assault,

but it's kind of like "Out of my Mind" as it just doesn't

really appeal to me and is usually a song I skip.

Next comes "Shepherd, No Sheep"

which slows it down a bit but it's better then

"The Great Emasculation" and "out of My Mind" as it is

worth listening to. It seems to be directed towards the critics

and people who tell the band they should do it this way or that way.

Then comes "Let there be Raw"

which is kind of one of those anthem songs, and has

some cool moments guitar wise, but to me

falls short. and I usually skip, and that might

be mostly because the next song is my

favorite on the album.

"I Think i'm going to see you"

Is Showbread at it's best, and I love everything about the song.

I think it is probably the song to listen to...to see if you

will like this album or not. this verse followed by the chorus

is freakin sweet..

The more the world puts in my mouth,

the more I feel like throwing up
I’ve found the way to freedom and I’m opening the door
The more they tell me how to care,

the more and more I’m giving up
Afraid of God and life and death, I’m not afraid anymore

There’s a hole in the fabric of my sanity and

it’s getting big enough to see through
And on the other side of losing my mind I think I’m gonna see you

The next song is called "Precursor" which is all over the

place vocal wise, and at one moment is fast and hard

then slows it way down towards the last 30 seconds.

another filler song in my mind..

next comes the title of the album "Fear of God"

which is another slow song but is fantastically written

and sung. It is for sure a shining moment on this album

and a favorite..

Dear God, what went wrong?

We hate ourselves, we hate our brother

We so desperately want to find our way,

and all You say is "love one another"

And little babies starve to death, emaciated, out of breath

Unfaithful wives make vows untrue, husbands beat them black and blue

Junkies vomit in the streets, writhing, twitching in their skin

Sell themselves to die some more, rotting from the outside in

Parents steal the innocence from their children, scared and shaking

Drink away the guilt at night, brings quiet to the endless aching

And evil men boast on TV, swimming in a sea of wealth

While misery beds honest men, and lonely people kill themselves

And everyone cries out Your name, as the world is raped by selfishness

And no one knows the way to heaven, we only know the emptiness

And the storm it rages in my heart, and the endless empty roars in my ears

My world is coming all apart, I’ve no strength left to dry my tears

And through it all I hear Your voice, breaking my heart, breaking my will

Calms the storm inside my soul as You whisper "peace, be still..."

The last song on the album is called

"Until We meet again" is another slow song, and is very much

obviously a slow send off. The album may not end in a bang...

but through-out the album Showbread raw rocked your face off...

and touched your heart with the slower songs.

"Until We meet again" probably shouldn't have been the last song

but I can understand the symbolism of it being the last song,

and while it's pretty much a totally different style from

everything else on the album it is good.

In the end Showbread is a band that I've really been searching

for in the Christian music scene, and haven't ever found

until obviously now. "The Fear of God" is something new...

and brings a breath of fresh air. I seriously could give this album

a 4 just for the originality alone, but while there is much to like

about the album there are some things to dislike also, and it isn't

perfect by any means. If you are looking for something different...

then I suggest you pick it up

Showbread "I Think I'm Going To See You" Music Video from Showbread on Vimeo.