I am an unashamed apologist for Jeremy Camp the Pop Artist. While longtime fans may begrudge Camp's move away from the rock sound that earned him a string of Gold-certified albums in the early aughts, I believe that Camp is a far more interesting vocalist when his gritty, earthy vocals are placed over pop hooks, whereas he can easily sound like your typical post-grunge frontman in a rock setting. He specifically won me over with 2017's The Answer and its equally good follow-up, The Story's Not Over. However, even I can acknowledge that 2021's When You Speak was a tepid affair, with snoozy, uninspired ballads outnumbering its few highlights. Failing to reach the heights of its predecessors, When You Speak suggested that Camp had run his course with the synth-pop sound, but he bounces back in a big way on his latest album, Deeper Waters, in large part thanks to the incorporation of an instrument that has recently become mainstream again: electric guitars...

It's hard to believe that it has been more than twenty years that the multi-talented Mat Kearney has been on the music scene (starting when his independent EP, West In November, dropped back in 2003). In those years, Kearney has traveled a melodic, spiritually restless, and creative path as a songwriter, with highlights and radio hits such as "Nothing Left To Lose," "Hey Mama" and "Heartbeat" (just to name a few) that challenged the listener lyrically while riding a unique, bouncy wave that was all his own...

P.O.D., short for Payable on Death, returns with Veritas, their latest nod to the potent blend of nu-metal and reggae that catapulted them to prominence at the turn of the millennium. With a career spanning over three decades, this San Diego band has survived through the evolving landscapes of rock and alternative music. Their ability to fuse spiritual fervor with a raw, energetic sound scored them a place in the hearts of fans and critics alike, with hits like "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation" becoming anthems of resilience and hope...