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SERVANT interview conclusion
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every single individual. I would honestly say that our lives have been very different from most of our peers. Our life has been much fuller and richer than I would have ever imagined, the things that we've been involved with. And yet, we are committed to not living in our past. When we stopped the band and the community, it had been with the intention that these things had come to an end and what has God for us next. I think that we have a responsibility to not live in our past, that we immerse ourselves in the moment, that we dream about the future.
If someone has the desire to figure out how to live their life to the fullest, and to me that has everything to do with how we live our life out with God, then they'll find ways, and they may be unconventional ways. They might be conventional ways. Whatever they are, that life might be lived to the fullest. I would say at this particular point that I know a lot less than I thought I knew when I was younger, but life has been pretty rich and I perceive life to be a lot more difficult now than I did when I was younger, with the passing of friends and other things. But God doesn't give up on us. He moves us on, and I think that as long as our commitment is strong and resilient, if we go through times of doubt or difficulty, the resilience will carry us through to the other side.
Interview by Al Newberry (Owlman)
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my attention. Like its unbelieving counterparts, frustration over social injustice, defiance, and doing their own thing are common themes in the lyrics. However, love and compassion are also themes on here. The song "Opposite" is about how Dad and Son were so opposite, yet so much the same. The relationship was broken, both father and son found Christ separately and then later the relationship was restored with mutual respect. "History Lesson #1" is a song about social injustice, about the hypocrisy of the United States government through history in dealing with the Indians, African Americans.("Your oppression is justified") Productionwise, this sounds pretty good. Nice and raw, yet well-produced(?). This release is different from past Crashdog releases, so if you haven't liked Crashdog in the past, you should still check "Mud Angels" out. If you hate punk rock, don't waste your dough.
by Owlman.
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SIX FEET DEEP
"STRUGGLE"
R.E.X. RECORDS
Since Cornerstone last year, there has been a buzz about this band from Ohio. I have been waiting to hear them for a year. It's been worth the wait. Good debut from this young band. Somebody compared Six Feet Deep to Pantera. It's a good thing I've learned not to believe everything I hear, though, or I would have been disappointed. While I can see the comparison to Pantera (these guys really have a groove to their music), they don't sound like them. I would describe the music as very heavy, moshy music with a groove and a hardcore edge. The vocals are absolutely brutal. While the guitar tone is pretty ruthless, I think the guitars could have been even huger(that Pantera Dinosaur Guitar Tone), but that's just my personal preference. Jeff Bellew (formerly of the Crucified) produced the album, and it shows he knows this style of music. The mix is really good.
This album goes along at a good moshy pace, with Myk Porter bellowing out vocals like a monster coming to kill you. If you fell asleep listening to this album, you would wake up ticked off. Maybe that's where the resemblance to Pantera is. The rhythm is such that sometimes the vocal lines sound like rap vocal lines.
The musicianship and songwriting on this album are above average for a debut. I'm looking forward to hearing future releases from Six Feet Deep. This one is absolutely BRUTAL!!!!!! If you hate lounge singers, Mr. Ed., reggae, or Sandi Patti, you need Six Feet Deep!!!
by Owlman.
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THE CHOIR
"SPECKLED BIRD"
R.E.X. RECORDS
Alright, Ill admit it right now. I have a bias on this one. I've always loved Derri Daughtery's voice. I've always loved every Choir song I heard on the local Christian college station, however, I've never gotten the courage to buy a Choir album. Kinda afraid of finding a couple great songs and a bunch of throwaways. Well, R.E.X. sent me this one, and I've found that my fears were wrong. There's not a song on here that I don't like. The music is, for the most part, very uplifting, even in some of the darkest moments. For those who are not familiar with the Choir's music, they are basically straight-ahead alternative rock--very melodic, lots of feeling in the vocals. Derri sings very musically. Lyrically, I can't figure out a lot of the time what a song is about. I guess this is what legalists mean when they heap condemnation on groups who use vague, artistic lyrics. Personally, I like this style. It makes me really think about what the artist may be saying. I also don't think that the point is vagueness as much as a creative way to express an idea. Highlights are, "Weathergirl" ("Never trust a weathergirl. She laughs as she kills you."), which is a semi-dark song which I'm sure must have a meaning to someone. Another highlight is "Speckled Bird" ("You blow the candle out/You take a shovel to my head/Hey, I appreciate that sound"). Its really a cool song. "Love Your Mind" seems to be a song about a guy telling a woman he loves her for her mind, but yet won't keep his hands off of her. This is a great album. If you're into good alternative rock-and-roll, you need "Speckled Bird" in your collection.
by Owlman.
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HEY YOU!!
If you're reading this magazine and you're not a Christian, I just want to tell you that Jesus Christ wants you just as you are. If you feel like you're beyond His reach, you're wrong. There was a time when I felt like God would never accept me because of the things I had done. I felt like the most worthless creature alive. Maybe I was, but that didn't matter to Him. You see, Jesus gave His life so that we wouldn't have to work our way to Heaven. Anyone who says that being good has anything to do with being a child of God is wrong. Jesus conquered death so that He could offer us life. That's our basic need. Without Him, we are simply dead. We can be saved from death because Jesus Christ is good and perfect, not because we are. If we had to earn salvation, it would not be a gift. And since it is a gift, we are not obligated to pay God back for it. The Bible gives only one requirement, that we believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. So believe and receive the Life that He offers. by Al Newberry
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CRASHDOG
"MUD ANGELS"
R.E.X. RECORDS
It seems that everybody has their own idea of what punk is, especially those who know nothing about it. They either romanticize it or they just scoff at it. I've gotten to know it and love it over a few years and so now I can appreciate a Crashdog album. Crashdog is definitely a punk rock band in the truest sense. No hardcore here, just raw, tough music--not too complex, but with enough substance to hold
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