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JFH Music Review




The Showdown
A Chorus of Obliteration



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks
Street Date: November 16, 2004


Few bands define "metal" with as much purpose as Mono Vs. Stereo's latest act The Showdown, and few acts play it so well. Fusing metal's roots with more modern fare, these guys from Tennessee bring forth their brilliant first effort A Chorus of Obliteration.

The minute-and-a-half long intro to the album's opener "A Monument Encased in Ash" begins with Andrew Hall on drums, then kicks in with distorted guitar, and fill-in guitar provides the metal licks. The intro to ...Obliteration itself is enough to get metal heads salivating; but once vocalist David Bunton's screams and gutteral growls finally emerge, you know you are in for a metal experience unlike any before.

The Showdown's musical maturity is matched only by its lyrical content, which could also double as a rallying cry. The album's message can be summed up in the title of "A Proclamation of Evil's Fate." Each song is a message to Christians of the terror that would befall evil if God's people rose and stood up to Satan's attacks. There is nothing cryptic at all about ...Obliteration. "Epic: A Chorus of Obliteration" proclaims, "We march our war. Clothed in dust and fear, we ride/Host of the Lord about us on our every side/...Loose Your voice and split the sky/Draw your swords. The hour is nigh/We sing as one tonight. We sing as one."

What makes these guys different? They play metal. Real metal. The Showdown, unlike others, does not sugarcoat their act my peppering in elements of other genres to appeal to more fans. Rather, their appeal is found almost solely in the fact that they play metal for all it is worth. And never have I heard such a boldness in the lyrics of an album. The Showdown is one of the best new acts of the year, and not one to be missed.

- Review date: 12/16/04, written by Josh Taylor




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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Mono Vs. Stereo
. Album length: 10 tracks
. Street Date: November 16, 2004
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. A Monument Encased in Ash
  2. Hell Can't Stop Us Now
  3. Epic: A Chorus of Obliteration
  4. From the Mouth of Gath
  5. A Proclamation of Evil's Fate
  6. Dagon Undone (The Reckoning)
  7. Iscariot
  8. Dolor Per Proelium (Your Name Is Defeat)
  9. Deus Invictus (Your Name Is Victory)
  10. Laid to Rest
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
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Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
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Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
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Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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