Charming to the Last is no stranger to Jesus freak Hideout. The pop/punk inspired band has been releasing great songs for a few years now and JFH has had the pleasure of reviewing most of them. Before releasing their new full-length album, Stick the Landing, Ben Bourque's project released the standalone single, "Battlefield," in the lead up.

"Battlefield" feels like a Charming to the Last song, but it has the vibes of Jars of Clay or Goo Goo Dolls more so than a pop/punk band. It's a serious sounding song that tackles a serious topic. The song's message is about the struggles we face in life and how we have an internal war over these issues. Bourque sings, "My defense falls, my thoughts retreat, I wrestle with the enemy. The guilt, these lies, they torture me. I'm crying out to be set free." It's such a relatable thing and something we all struggle with as part of the human condition. In the bridge, Ben gives the hope that we as believers in Christ have when he sings, "All is calm before the storm. Is my free will worth fighting for? My spirit aches, my body's sore. Can You bring an end to this war?" As expected, the music is spot on, too. It's an enjoyable melody and features an extremely singable chorus. I particularly like the change in tone coming into the bridge. The music here sets the stage for the refocus of lyrics discussed a moment ago.

Charming to the Last continues to show growth in all aspects. Their sound has grown, but has done so in a logical way. They can still write a fun pop/punk song, but also have the ability to release something like "Battlefield" that doesn't really fit squarely within that box. While this single isn't on the newest album, it has to get you excited for what is to come on Stick the Landing. Either way, this is another solid contribution from Ben Baroque and company.

- Review date: 9/27/24, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

Record Label: None
Album length: 1 track: 3 minutes, 29 seconds
Street Date: August 20, 2024
Buy It: Amazon Music

1. Battlefield (3:29)