Music is very personal. Beyond preferring certain genres, each person’s choice of favorites is entwined with what they can identify with in life. Our personal challenges and experiences or those of people in our lives color the way we receive a song. Our souls can process songs in such a deep way that they somehow become part of us. Counting back his top 5 to number 1, Donn gives us his 2021 choices for the songs that spoke to his soul in various ways.
The Price of Grace is about the brother left behind after a suicide. It’s a deep song, really hitting home for anyone living with mental health issues or knowing people with them. Michael Felker’s vocals truly make us feel the anguish felt when losing someone to suicide. I probably listed to this song a hundred times last year.
With their “in your face” metal, new music from Impending Doom is always welcomed. I love the song lyrics, this one especially spoke to me “Every time I open my heart. I feel the whole thing ripping apart.”
This is another song that hits home with my life and how hard I treat myself. I totally feel the lyrics, “Looking in the mirror, I don’t see anything, anything that looks like me.” Phinehas released my number one album for 2021, The Fire Itself, and “Severed By Self Betrayal” is my favorite song on it.
The lyrics “the nails in your wrist cut the blades from mine”, “I need a miracle”. This song depicts God saving someone from suicide, which he has done for me so many times. The song describes the darkness I felt in 2021 and its release was right on time for me.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/0qcrGqMfpwg
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
To start, I’m blown away by this album. I love the blend of metal styles. Growls, screams and melodic and some numetal sound all mixed in. Very uniqueness to their sound. I love new and different stuff in Christian Metal. I’m telling you that this is the next album you must have. They are going to take us by a storm of wonderfully blended heavy metal. I’m not the best at picking up the lyrics during listening but I’ve listened to the album 4 times so far and I can’t get enough of it. One thing you can tell is that they are souled out for Jesus.
The coolest tune is the last one which is a metal cover of Reckless Love. I love worship tunes given a metal flavor. I love the song Machaira. Definitely has a little P86 vibe going. There is not one bad song on the album. I know you’re thinking that of course I like it, I’m a metalhead. But I’m also picky. I usually end up liking an album over time but I’m rarely blown away by the first few listens. This one has blown my doors off from the beginning.
I’m going tell you that this is a true 4.5 star album. Very close to perfection for my ears. Release on Friday April 5th, 2019. Go and buy the album. Give these guys some love. https://rottweilerrecords.bigcartel.com/
XIII MINUTES BIOGRAPHY THIRTEEN, this number conjures up several images depending on who is observing it. Every thirteen minutes, one American will take their own life. Every thirteen minutes, someone in America dies in a motor vehicle accident. Every thirteen minutes, a woman dies of breast cancer and thirteen minutes is the time the warning sirens give before a tornado hits. Insert XIII Minutes, the metal band from Tulsa, OK taking on the significance of thirteen in the spiritual realm. XIII Minutes is the time it takes every day to be spiritually fit. Thirteen is the number of great blessing. The number thirteen is the number of new life. God’s number (seven) together with man’s number (six) = Thirteen. The number thirteen is the difference of what man can do and what God can do. The dichotomy that is thirteen, perfectly describes XIII Minutes as they work together to infuse such dichotomy into their music blending traditional elements of metal with a touch of post hardcore and nu metal in an effort to expand their sound beyond any particular genre definition. Forming in Tulsa, OK in early 2016 out of the ashes of former projects, XIII Minutes aims to blend brutality with harmony, commercial and underground, the old and the new; taking on the sinful and the sacred. Let the dichotomy begin! XIII Minutes is set to battle on each and every stage in their path using their music to take on the darkness and infusing it with the light; Depression/Hope, Sin/Redemption, Darkness/Light, Evil/Good….The Dichotomies of Life. Let the battle exercise begin.
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
With Spring on the horizon getting your concerts lined up may be on your agenda. Following is a listing of links for concerts , tours and festivals lined up in the US this Spring. If you know of any concerts that aren’t listed, email us at rockinwithpurpose@mail.com so we can add them.
You can track your favorite bands’ concert schedules on
It’s exciting to have concerts lined up to look forward to. It gets you through those long work days. I hope you’ll share your concert experiences with us on the RockinwithPurpose Facebook Page.
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
Messenger of ages, carried on the wings of second birth Unto the silent secrets of the earth Justice generation, anthem for the sense of purpose we lost We rise above and count the cost We are the ones the others left behind Breath of life from the four winds Watch these bones of death now march again
Pay the piper, here we go Got a ticket for a one-way journey Slay the viper, come follow, even if you’re ordinary There’s a place for you here Raise the anchor, all aboard as the Captain calls his misfits This Ghost Ship Sets off to shake the world, Let’s go!
Cast off for the journey, join us as we sail the open seas Unto the great adventure – follow Me All the world’s unwanted Come aboard and leave your darkness behind Desperate to count, redeem the time We are the ghosts awakened to the light Forged and branded in His name Ancient workmanship before ordained
Pay the piper, here we go Got a ticket for a one-way journey There’s revolution in the air Slay the viper, come follow, even if you’re ordinary There’s a place for you here Though you were dead, come alive Raise the anchor, all aboard as the Captain calls his misfits This Ghost Ship Sets off to shake the world – let’s go!
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
Another memorable year for Christian rock and metal to celebrate. These songs will be with us for years to come, adding to the legacy of music exploring life from the view of a believer in Jesus Christ, unashamed, honest and transparent even when some may not understand. Bands that express faith are often criticized for some lyric that stirs up the Christian community or by others who feel that there’s audacity in strongly sharing faith in your music. Honest music can push the boundaries on either side. That’s what makes the music real and not the status quo. We hope you enjoy this playlist of music released in 2017.
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
With lead vocalist, Ryan Clark’s side project of electronic pop, we were worried that they’d go soft. But worry no longer. The new release is plenty heavy. There is some electronic sound but it fits nicely. The album is a great release from a band that is just straight heavy metal. They don’t really fit a genre. They’re just straight up metal and they are in your face with it. One Less and Jesus Wept are the hardest tracks on the album. Died in My Sleep has that electronic sound I talked about but it’s still solid. The lyrics are solidly Christian. They’re in your face with their faith and I just love it. I may be biased but I love this album. It’s the release of the year so far in my opinion.
I give it a full 5 out 5 stars. I recommend you pick it up immediately.
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
This is the new project from Jason Wisdom, the former lead singer of Christian death metal band Becoming The Archetype. But he’s come up with a totally different sound while still getting his trademark growls into the vocals. What makes it so interesting is that for a metal band, there are no electric guitars. There’s a bass guitar, drums, and keyboard/synthesizers. It makes for a very electronic metal sound. It very interesting and I really like the different sound produced. I would say it compares to the secular band, Nine Inch Nails. A definitely different sounding metal and pretty unique to the Christian genre. My favorite song so far is Wake Me(when I’m dead). But make no mistake, Jason is a full on board Christian and it speaks in his music. My only complaint is that there’s no lyric book with the cd. It’ll take me time and google to delve deeper into the lyrics of this album. It’s a 10 song cd but several songs are short and this is more of a long EP, than a full album. I hope there’s a longer release not far down the road. I’d have to classify them as kind of industrial metal. It’s a sound I enjoyed in the 90s and it’s nice to see Christian music come out with this sound. I give the album a solid 4 stars out of 5 for a real good solid start. Can easily see them going to 5 stars with their next release.
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
From my first listen, this album just blows me away. Most albums take me a few listens to fall for, especially hardcore heavy metal. I like to read the lyrics and then listen again but that was not the case for this album. It’s a perfect blend of screams and melodic singing. Everything just blends together in perfect harmony, with the lyrics going deep throughout the album dealing with abusive relationships. The band is not afraid to call abusers the cowards that they are. Norma Jean rocks as hard as any band out there, but more than that this is definitely the most polished that I’ve heard hardcore metal.
I first discovered Norma Jean back in 2006 right after getting saved and listened to Redeemer. I was shocked that Christian bands could sound like this. Norma Jean is more Christians in a band than a Christian band with some controversy to the lyrics. In the song 1,000,000 watts, they drop the f-bomb at the end of the song. It’s hard to hear but it’s there. I don’t agree with using curse words and try hard to avoid it myself. I think our language is to seasoned with salt but not salty but I will not condemn this album for their use of the word.
Quite simply this is my favorite album of 2016 and it was a stellar year for Christian music. I cannot recommend this album enough and can easily give 5 out of 5 stars. It may not be everyone’s taste but if you like good, hard metal, give this a listen.
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
Definitely a heavy metal band with good screaming. This is the group’s third release and might be a little controversial as the lyrics are pretty dark and delve into the violence and sometimes hopelessness of today’s society. The first track is titled, “Pissed Off” and you might wonder what’s Christian about that but we should be pissed off at the violence in society. I don’t find the language is an issue. My favorite song is ‘Cold Room’ and the best lyric is “I know it’s hard to forgive yourself, but there is life beyond the pain.”
I think that’s what I love about this album, yes, it’s dark and life can be dark but we know we have a light in Jesus. I’m glad that don’t shy away from the tough stuff.
I’m giving them a solid 4 out 5 stars. Definitely check them out.
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
This interesting band fits into the genre called power metal, which is more popular in Europe than in the US. It reminds me a lot of Stryper or from early Dream Theater from the secular scene. There’s no screaming and you can easily hear the lyrics. My favorite song is, “The Wonder Of It All.” A bit of the lyric is, “giving to receive, you’ll be exalted through humility. True freedom found through slavery. Behold: What a mystery. Last shall be first, a living water for eternal thirst. Two natures and a virgin birth, all woven in this story’s tapestry.” In Around the World and Back, they sing, “Grace has a way of building hope out of despair. Peel back layers of the baggage that you bear. And watch your great confusion vanish in the air.” Also give a listen to, A Call To Arms. There’s no doubt through these lyrics that this a Christian band, not simply a band made up of Christians. The heavy metal genre is filled with both, which each have their place. There is no doubt that Theocracy is a full-on Christian band wearing their faith from head to toe in their lyrics.
4 out of 5 stars. Overall, very close to perfect. Give them a try.
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
Brimming with talent and creativity, FTU, a metalcore band from South Africa got their start in 2006 in Benoni, Gauteng. The band members are lead vocalist and guitarist, Gideon Karsten, lead guitarist and vocalist, Mitch Pearson, bassist, Eckard van Tonder, and drummer and percussionist, Craig Palmer. Brimming with musical talent and creativity, Forfeit Thee Untrue has made quite a splash with their first studio full-length album, Cremationem Jesus Lacrimam (2016), with the Rottweiler Record label. They have revealed that the name of the album means “the cremation of Jesus’ tears”.
FTU is on the cutting edge of metal in South Africa, the live metal scene still being somewhat small. They enjoy playing with the local metal bands with no immediate plans to come to the US. Hopefully, a tour including the US will unfold as they gain momentum. The band’s first release was their Blood Soaked Splinter EP in 2013 with the Sanctus Gladius record label. As far as the metalcore/hardcore genre, there is real depth lyrically and musically to FTU’s music. There is a passion for excellence in the execution of each song that comes across the soundwaves and captures the spirit. The spirit of the music is encompassed by their heart for God. In an interview by Mace Beard with Mitch Pearson of the band, at the end of the interview was asked if there’s anything else he had to say, to which he stated “Just that we wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere near this far if it had not been for Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. We don’t take credit for this album or the band. It is for His honour and we do what we do only for the furthering of His Holy Word.”
What is behind the band’s name? In a interview by His Divine Shadow the band explained, ““Forfeit Thee Untrue” comes from an idea, philosophy and band mission statement to get rid of the fake areas in one’s life; whether it be in one’s own heart, at school, at work, in relationships, in politics, in religion, etc. and subsequently to strive for being yourself and being real, to drop the masks and to be/become the person God created you to be.” What a great mission statement. If you haven’t heard Forfeit Thee Untrue, listen to the Cremationem Jesus Lacrimam, you can listen to the album playlist on You Tube using the link below.
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
The eighties had some Christian Metal bands with personality. You’ve no doubt heard of Stryper but have you heard of Stryken? Starting out in Arizona the Band started out with the name Stryker, founded by Dale and Steve Streiker in the 70’s. They hired a drummer by the name of Joey Knight, moved to Austin, Texas and added lbassist, Ezekiel Vade, completing the band. The band created their own record label, Chrystal records on which they released singles and their debut album “First Strike”.
With Stryper becoming more and more popular, the band changed its name to Stryken because the names were too similar. They were sometimes branded as a Stryper copycat band, but their sound has its own distinct sound.
The band members used stage names to conceal their identities. A glam metal band with a flair for drama, the band was once escorted out of a Motley Crue concert in San Antonio, Texas and detained for carrying a wooden cross wearing full body armor representing the armor of God. They were later released without being charged. The “armor” concept came from the Ephesians 6:11 description of the armor of God. The band was criticized by some Christians for their violent tones in songs such as “Crush the Head of Satan” which eluded to passages in the Bible, namely Genesis 3:15. Stryken was an 80’s band radiating a rock/metal sound with their own unique biblical twist. Not as popular as Stryper, Stryken made some noise in their own time.
Stryken – 1987 – Fisrt Stryke (Christian Hard Rock) Complete Album
Pastor Ricardo Castro
Linda Fau
Owner/Blogger
With a passion for Rock and Roll with a purpose-driven message, I've dedicated myself to providing you with all the best news and resources possible for Rock 'n Roll with a Purpose. Rock on!
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