hahaha this cracks me up, an excerpt from @altpress on yesterday’s email blast.
but on some serious notes, i am every day more and more inspired by my brothers and sisters fueling modern metal. while so much of christian culture seems like a half-hearted, watery version of mainstream culture, christians make up some of the most well-respected and well-loved acts in metal and its subgenres.
there are some amazing up-and-comers putting out the uplifting music we NEED, combating the alcoholic, drug-induced, party powered, loose nonsense put on the radio.
some of them DO actually need help in the graphics department though. hire me?
blergh,
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somebody has got to appreciate my phone background.
i know the devil wears prada is a band that strives to not be in the way of their message, but mikey hranica is definitely someone i truly look up to. from the way he writes and sings to the way he and the rest of the prada boys are certain, confident, even, in what they believe in every way they believe it, they are some real heroes of mine.
they also write sick music. it is my firm belief that for most genres, especially those dependent on lyrics, christians should be at the forefront of the respective style. it’s pretty true for metal, post-hardcore, screamo, rock, and pop rock/pop punk. fellas like prada aren’t the only ones. demon hunter, underoath, august burns red, switchfoot, and relientk are all bands that are almost undeniably at the front lines of their genres. these are truly talented brothers with truly divine gifts. maybe one day i’ll join the ranks.
i say this all the time. kids need more role models. we need more role models. i need more role models.
cheers,
edit: this smile he’s cheesin out with is definitely my signature smile. and i’m missing part of the same tooth. coincidence?
]]>underoath | desolate earth… the End is here.
i have an experiment for you, but let me set it up first.
i’ve always loved this song, and underoath in general. in my mind, they have been and will continue to be the premier christian screamo band. the things they’ve been through individually and together while proclaiming their faith throughout is just inspiring. truth be told i’ve kind of not been following them since drummer/vocalist aaron gillespie left to start his worship project, but i have a healthy respect for them and almost all of their past albums are still on heavy rotation on my ipod.
anyways. i did this when i was at uni [what they say in HK for college..], and i tried it today in the business district of hong kong. i listen to this song as loud as i can, and just immerse myself in the crowds. invariably i get a sense of how lost and hopeless people look, myself included. i look at faces, at posture, and how people carry themselves and i realize how burdened people are. of course, the song ends on a positive note, closing the track and the album with the only lines in the entire song:
“you said there’s nothing left down here.
i roamed around the wasteland.
i swear i found something.
i found hope.
i found God.
i found the dreams of the believers.
oh God, save us all.”
i’d encourage you to try the same thing. if you are a person i can easily get in contact with, i’ll gladly pay you the $1.20 it costs to buy a legitimate version. it’s an encouraging experience for me, and maybe it will be for you too. if you’re worried about it being screamo, don’t worry. it’s extremely, extremely mild, and honestly i often have a hard time keeping tears out of my eyes with it.
cheers.
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