Archives September 2026

Lacey Sturm gives “Forever & Ever” new life with an official music video that pairs perfectly with the song’s mix of beauty, heaviness, and emotion.

Lacey’s voice is fantastic as always, and the song is incredibly catchy without losing its depth. Lindsey Stirling’s violin adds a unique texture, especially in the quieter section where the guitar and violin build tension before the drums kick in. That shift is one of the strongest moments in the track.

The lyrics deal with scars, fear, love, and choosing to keep moving forward, with the line “The joy is worth the pain” standing at the center of that message.

Visually, the video is just as striking. Lacey carrying a bouquet of white roses on fire through the darkness is a powerful and memorable image.

“Forever & Ever” is emotional, creative, and beautifully put together.

Resurrection Fest brought the Resurrection Records family to Resurrection Church in Greer, SC, on August 29. Label artists Ziggie and the Suffering Gift, Brent Tatum, and Tricord were joined by local opener Igniting the Sky for a night of Christian rock and metal.

I arrived early with three of my kids and had a great time hanging out with everyone during load-in and merch setup before the doors opened.

Igniting the Sky kicked things off with a different lineup than I remembered. Instead of Cody handling the vocals alone, three singers shared the duties. The harmonies and screams worked well together, while Kristen once again killed it on guitar. They were exactly the kind of band needed to wake everyone up and get the night moving.

Ziggie and the Suffering Gift were down a guitarist, but you would not have known it from their performance. Ziggie’s Led Zeppelin-influenced vocals did not disappoint, and his guitar work remained strong. William kept a tight beat behind the kit while Mike stayed firmly in the pocket on bass.

Brent Tatum had to perform without his band due to circumstances outside his control, but he made the most of it. Armed with his guitar and a miked kick drum, Brent played the entire set without backing tracks. Mad props for that. His stories behind the songs gave the audience an opportunity to connect with both the music and its message.

Headliner Tricord closed the night, and the crowd quickly moved toward the front. With two members now living in Tennessee, the band still came together and delivered. Jermaine knows how to command a room, and songs including “Liar,” “Watcha Got,” “Fix Me,” and “Born to Be a King” kept the crowd engaged.

One of my favorite moments remains seeing Jermaine’s son, Keighan, join him on “Born to Be a King.” After seeing Tricord four times, that father-and-son moment never gets old.

Photo Credit: Matthew Easterland / Kudzu Captured Photography
https://www.instagram.com/kudzucaptured/

After 14 years without new music, Sent By Ravens are back with “A Quiet War,” and it does not sound like a band trying to rediscover who they are. This sounds like Sent By Ravens.

These guys haven’t missed a beat.

For longtime fans, that may be the best thing I can say about their return. Sent By Ravens built a loyal following with albums like Our Graceful Words and Mean What You Say, combining hard rock and post-hardcore with memorable melodies, emotional songwriting, and the unmistakable voice of Zach Riner. Fourteen years is a long time, but “A Quiet War” feels like a natural continuation rather than a forced attempt to recreate the past.

The guitar work from Andy O’Neal throughout the song is excellent. There is plenty of melody, but the guitars still carry some real weight, especially as the song continues building. The band knows when to pull back and when to hit harder, giving “A Quiet War” a dynamic feel instead of simply throwing everything at you from the beginning.

And then there is that chorus.

“Burn it down
Throne of gold
Burn it with all that is sacred
When the story ends
Let it be told”

It is the kind of chorus that sticks with you immediately. Powerful, melodic, and meaningful. After all these years, these words are just as graceful.

One of the most memorable moments comes when the music gives way to the voice of a young girl saying:

“Courage is not silencing fear, it’s discovering the loudest voice inside doesn’t get to write your story.”

That line captures much of what the song feels like. “A Quiet War” deals with the battles happening beneath the surface, where fear, doubt, and the voices inside our own heads can sometimes become louder than everything else.

Then the song begins to build again.

Sent By Ravens could have simply ridden out the melody, but instead they take the song somewhere much heavier. Everything erupts into a nasty breakdown behind the declaration:

“Be still
Listen close
Quiet your mind now
There is more
Keep going”

That section is one of my favorite moments in the song. The heaviness does not feel thrown in just for the sake of having a breakdown. The music supports the message, and when that moment hits, it hits hard.

Most importantly, “A Quiet War” feels authentic. There is enough familiarity here for someone who followed Sent By Ravens during the Tooth & Nail years to immediately recognize the band, but it does not sound trapped in 2010 either. They sound older, seasoned, and confident without losing what made people love them in the first place.

After waiting 14 years, I could not have asked for a much better return.

Sent By Ravens are currently only scheduled to play Louder Than Life in Kentucky, but I am looking forward to getting the chance to see them live again. Even more than that, “A Quiet War” has me ready to hear the new album and find out where this next chapter takes them.

If this is our first taste of what is coming from Sent By Ravens, bring it on.

“A Quiet War” written by Jamie Windham, Zach Riner, JJ Leonard, Dane Andersen, and Andy O’Neal.

Watch “A Quiet War” on YouTube