When one thinks of Christian rock stalwarts, a few bands come to mind, each for their own reasons. Petra for their longevity, Disciple for the consistent strength of each subsequent album, and Skillet for their breaking the barrier that is the secular/sacred dichotomy. The Nashville, Tennessee band Red has found itself consistently falling in each category over their twenty-one year, seven studio album career. Three years removed from their first independent release, 2020's heavy Declaration, Red looks to continue the consistent output with their eighth album, Rated R.

Typically, my initial interaction with a release is to consider the packaging and title of said album, admittedly my first thought upon hearing the title was to wonder out loud...

Blanca's remarkable 22-track album, The Heartbreak and the Healing (Deluxe), takes us on a deeply soul-stirring musical voyage. It's a journey that not only showcases her extraordinary talent, but also lays bare her willingness to embrace vulnerability and delve into her profound relationship with God amidst life's tumultuous seas. This expanded album, with an additional 10 tracks from last year's previously released The Heartbreak and The Healing, serves as a testament to the enduring notion that, regardless of the trials we endure, God's steadfast presence offers solace and renewal. From the very outset, with the opening track "Start Over," Blanca's courage to bare her soul through her music becomes strikingly evident...

If you haven’t heard the name Cory Asbury, then you’ve certainly heard his worship songs "Reckless Love" and "The Father's House." The former has nearly been inescapable for the modern Christian music fan or regular church attender, specifically in the years 2018 and 2019. Research reveals Asbury has an impressive worship leader resume. It includes an internship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (2005), time on staff at New Life Church in Colorado (2012), and inking a deal with Bethel Music in 2015. And that's what makes his road-less-traveled approach to album number four, Pioneer all the more interesting.

Instead of resting on his laurels, so to speak, Cory goes country. That's right, Pioneer is a full turn to a who's-who of country writers and an album chock-full of slide guitars and relationship-focused...