The Meltdown 2.44

New music from Owl City, Those Who Fear, Propaganda, and Judgement Day.

Judgement Day Joins OnTheAttack Records; Releases Free EP Download

OnTheAttack Records is pleased to announce that American Straight Edge band Judgement Day from Orange County, California, has joined its family of bands. Heavy hardcore forged with brutally honest lyrics about living life with integrity.  Judgement Day unleashes a furious musical hammerstorm to wake up the listener to issues of the working class, human dignity and the plight of the oppressed.  Unafraid.  Unashamed.  Steadfast strong.  

Judgement Day features Levi-vocals, Brandon-guitar, Michael-guitar, Travis-bass, and Joe-drums.  The band will be heading to the studio in October to record its first full length album for release on OnTheAttack Records.

Judgement Day – American Straight Edge.  American Hardcore.
https://www.facebook.com/JudgementXDay

http://instagram.com/JudgementxDay

Download a free copy of the band’s self-titled debut EP at:  http://ontheattackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/judgement-day

The Meltdown 2.43

New music from Tedashii, Wolves At The Gate, & Revivalist. Plus tracks from August Burns Red & Skillet.

The Meltdown 2.42

New music from Tedahsii, Wolves at the Gate, New Empire, Torn, True Liberty, and more.

Tedashii - Below Paradise

I didn't think I was going to like Below Paradise. I haven't given Tedashii a ton of time in the past but what I've heard I've been a little ho-hum on. Sure, I've grown into more of a fan of the "mainstream" hip-hop sound, but honestly, I didn't really think Below Paradise was going to do anything for me.

But I've listened to Below Paradise start to finish a dozen times now. Just because it's that enjoyable.

From time signature and tempo changes, to great hooks and catchy choruses, and hard hitting, introspective rhymes, Below Paradise is a super interesting take and twist on what hip-hip is. It might not be fresh and original, but it's interesting. It's a musical journey and as a listener you're not sure what's coming next. And I love that.

The album's first two singles seem obvious, but both are great. Dark Days, Darker Nights, featuring pop powerhouse Britt Nicole, is a hard hitting, brutal assault, in all the right ways. Great guitar undertones far in the back of the mix that adds a nice layer to drums and Tedashii's verses. Nicole's hook is nice and creates a balance in the song. The second single, Nothing I Can't Do, features Reach Records' top two heavy hitters (Lecrae and Trip Lee). Lee's hook is catchy and it makes sense why this was the first video for the album. If I were picking singles, Fire Away would be my choice for the album's third single. It's the most "pop" song on the record. A little more dance flair, with a super catchy hook and dramatic tempo changes that make it an interesting song that would stand out on the radio. It's my favorite track on the album.

Angels and Demons is a great worshipful track. The strings on the hook that accompany the line "Holy Spirit come" is a beautiful dynamic change. Love Never Leaves is a perfect hip-hop ballad. Kam Parker's vocals on Perfect jump out of the speakers. Catch Me If You Can has a little bit of dancehall influence. It's another track the standouts because it's interesting and intricate. It's not a verse, hook, verse, hook, formula. The simple instrumentation in Chase add to Tim Halperin's vocals and close out the record on an absolutely beautiful note.

Below Paradise has been on repeat nonstop for the last week. Catchy, interesting, great lyrics, intricate beats, and beautiful songs. It's everything one could want from a hip-hop record. Well done!

Revivalist joins OnTheAttack Records , Offers Free Download

OnTheAttack Records is thrilled to announce that Revivalist has joined the OTA family of bands.  With unwavering commitment and passion, Revivalist hails from Abilene, Texas, with the vision and desire to see revival, not only in the hardcore and metal scenes, but in the heart of a generation that the world has turned its back on.  Revivalist’s live show is unmatched in terms of energy, intensity and passion, and that hardcore spirit translated into the studio for their debut single “Weary” (available for free download at http://revivalist.bandcamp.com/track/weary).

Revivalist features Broc Baird (vocals), Dylan Hayward (guitar), Cansas Estep (bass), and Tanner Coker (drums).  The focus and drive of Revivalist is displayed through their hardworking ideals and DIY methods to share the transparency of their testimonies and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone with whom they come into contact.

The band is set to release their debut EP “brother.” on OnTheAttack Records Fall 2014.  That EP will be available as a free download exclusively through HM Magazine, and a limited number of CDs will be pressed for the band’s ardent supporters.

Revivalist  - www.facebook.com/RevivalistTx

New Empire - In A Breath

New Empire is Tooth and Nail's first new signing since the label declared they were once again an independent label. So... I was curious as to what that meant as far as the direction the label was headed. Was New Empire an indication of where Tooth and Nail was headed? (The label has since added two other acts and all three bands vary quite drastically in sound).

New Empire is radio friendly. Alt-pop with a tinge of new wave thrown in on occasion. Songs that could find their way into the hearts of CCM fans just as easily as it could fans of Keane, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, and similar bands. Just mainstream enough to not get any indie creed, but on the cusps where it's ok for the cool kids to listen to them.

Tale of Jonah slowly builds into a beautiful indie pop song. The hook is catchy in a weird way. It's beautiful and intoxicating, but it's not necessarily going to get stuck in your head for days. Which might make it the perfect hook. Relight The Fire has all the makings of a CCM super hit. It's an instantly catchy tune that works for both a purely CCM audience and one that's more inclined to listen to indie pop. The chorus is beautiful and the song is steady throughout. It's was made for radio. The Sun Won't Sleep is a gorgeous pop rock song with another excellent hook. Say It Like You Mean has a new wave vibe, but that modern new wave vibe that's been popular over the last 5 years. The subtle intro on In A Breath gives way to a beautiful upbeat chorus, complete with mini choir accompanying the band.

The second half of the record is less memorable. It's not bad. It's not as if New Empire front loaded the record and the b-side is a bunch of throw aways. The songs are good. But they don't have that it factor that the first half of the album has. Wise Fox has a great beat but it feels like the song never gets to this crescendo it's building toward. Fallen Soldiers has all the makings of the second hit single for New Empire. Great hook but the song feels like it's being contained.The little rap section on Left Behind doesn't feel out of place, but it feels like a little forced and unnecessary. Outshine The Brightest is a nice song, reminds me of Copeland, but it's a little weak as an album closer. Again, it's a song that builds up to an unsatisfying ending.

There's a lot of great things about In A Breath. When it's good, it's beautiful pop rock perfection. When it's less than perfect, it's not that's bad, it just feels like it's slightly off. New Empire could be a huge band you're hearing about a lot!

The Meltdown 2.41

New music from Artifex Pero, Tedashi, and Audrey Assad. Plus Rob Jensen from No Lost Cause joins the show.