Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

mothaltar

mothaltar
Prologue EP

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: April 2, 2021
Style: Metalcore / Post Hardcore
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Metalcore is a genre that fascinates me, as it has evolved into a sort of umbrella term covering just about anything with breakdowns, double bass, chugging guitars, and screaming. Personally, I feel the style in and of itself hit its peak back in the early to mid 2000's, as exemplified by the success of bands such as Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, and Underoath. However, I have noticed lately there seems to be an uptick in not only interest in metalcore stylistically by heavy music fans, but bands are starting to retrace the steps of the more aggressive bands of the past, as well as bands pushing the envelope and taking more of a progressive approach. This is where I would place mothaltar on this scale.

Formerly known as Forerunner, mothaltar is a four-piece metalcore outfit hailing from Dallas, Texas. Lead singer Johnathan Franco stated in an interview that the band changed their name due to how generic it was, finally settling on mothaltar. The band's name comes from Scripture, as the moth represents the decay of materialism. Franco stated in the same interview that they spell "altar" with an a to signify that the band was laying down their own materialism on the altar of God as a choice to lead more spiritual lives. This desire bleeds through the themes and passion of their debut EP, Prologue.

Musically, mothaltar draws from a great many influences spread over the short, five-song EP. There is an abundance of technology, low riffage, double bass, and ambient moments. The vocals range from harsh, deathcore growls on "Return" to the more spoken word style of "Worth Dying." There is also an abundance of breakdowns spread throughout, and the technical talent as well as the cohesiveness of the band as a unit shine during these moments. At times, the dichotomy between their more aggressive moments and the ambient shades of their sound can be jarring. To someone unaccustomed to the style, it will come across as chaotic, and they do not stick the landing on "Sojourner," but that is the scene snob coming out in me.

Lyrically, the band lives up to their mission statement, as many of the lyrics on the EP are based on Isaiah chapter 6, the band's favorite Scripture. Franco has stated that many of the themes inside the album are results of prayer the band has as a group, so it is no surprise that their content has many spiritual highlights. The standout track lyrically must be "Return," with the chorus, "And to my tribe of mercy / The Kingdom is at hand / I found my reason to die again." The band is proud of their faith, and they do an excellent job of contrasting the difficulties of life with the faithfulness of God.

mothaltar's debut EP packs a ton of promise and is hopefully a prologue to much more in the future. Their ability to meld the aggressive nature of metalcore with the introspective lyrics pulled from, and based on, Scripture is an exciting thing in a genre that has seen some of the bigger acts turn their backs on faith. Although it can come across as chaotic and muddied at times, as well as the few musical misses, I strongly recommend this EP to fans of Silent Planet, Azusa, The Contortionist, or if you are just a metalhead who appreciates a good breakdown.

- Review date: 8/1/22, written by Matt Baldwin for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!





JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 5 tracks: 19 minutes, 42 seconds
. Street Date: April 2, 2021
. Buy It: iTunes
. Download It: AmazonMP3

  1. Worth Dying (1:54)
  2. Return (5:30)
  3. Sojourner (3:52)
  4. Common (4:40)
  5. Burning Scoria (3:48)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images