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	<title>igniting the sky &#8211; The Christian Metal Group</title>
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	<title>igniting the sky &#8211; The Christian Metal Group</title>
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		<title>Resurrection Fest Rocks Greer, SC</title>
		<link>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/resurrection-fest-rocks-greer-sc/</link>
					<comments>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/resurrection-fest-rocks-greer-sc/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jimmy Lamar Sorells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:01:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[christian metal]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[resurrection fest]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[ziggie and the suffering gift]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/?p=2053</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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 Photographyhttps://www.instagram.com/kudzucaptured/]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2053</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Breaking Darkness Music Festival 2026 Continues to Shine as One of the Southeast&#8217;s Best Christian Heavy Music Festivals</title>
		<link>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/breaking-darkness-music-festival-2026-continues-to-shine-as-one-of-the-southeasts-best-christian-heavy-music-festivals/</link>
					<comments>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/breaking-darkness-music-festival-2026-continues-to-shine-as-one-of-the-southeasts-best-christian-heavy-music-festivals/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jimmy Lamar Sorells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 02:19:34 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Autumn Eve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Billy James]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breaking Darkness Music Festival]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/?p=1975</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[HICKORY, N.C. — For the second straight year, I had the privilege of attending and helping behind the scenes at Breaking Darkness Music Festival, and once again it proved why this has become one of my favorite events of the year. Hosted at The Hickory Premier, the festival is much more than a concert. It is a place where heavy music fans gather to worship, encourage one another, and build lasting friendships centered on Christ. Founded and organized by Seth Olsen of Counter, Breaking Darkness exists to promote unity, fellowship, hope, and redemption while raising support for Christian outreach and addiction recovery organizations. Every ticket sold helps fund ministries making a real difference in people&#8217;s lives. This year, Glenn Remsen served as the festival&#8217;s emcee, keeping the day moving with enthusiasm while engaging the crowd between performances. My sons, Leo and Max, joined me again this year, making it another memorable family experience. We arrived early Saturday morning to help unload equipment, assist bands with load-in, and prepare the venue before the doors opened. It turned into a long day, but one filled with great music, amazing people, and plenty of unforgettable moments. This year also marked an exciting partnership between SoundLink Magazine and Breaking Darkness. Our team was on site throughout the day, with Josh Lowe and Trenton Worsham filming performances and capturing behind-the-scenes moments. SoundLink also partnered with the festival and Cody Fields of Westminster Effects, who also plays in Igniting the Sky, to create one of the coolest raffles I have ever seen. The grand prize featured a custom skateboard displaying the official Breaking Darkness artwork, signed by every band on the lineup, along with a custom Westminster Effects guitar pedal engraved with the words &#8220;Jesus Is King.&#8221; It was a perfect representation of what this festival is all about. Between sets, fans had plenty to enjoy beyond the music. This year&#8217;s food trucks served fresh pizza, loaded fries, chicken wings, and coffee throughout the day. Combined with vendors, giveaways, and conversations happening all over the venue, there was never a dull moment. Opening the festival was North Carolina pop-punk band Splitcast, who proved to be the perfect choice to kick off the day. Their energetic set immediately got the crowd moving and set the tone for everything that followed. It was great seeing them back after several years of inactivity. Their bassist made the trip from France to reunite with the band for the festival, making the performance even more special. One of my favorite performances came from Autumn Eve. Her energetic stage presence and genuine love for her fans are impossible to miss. Beyond delivering a fantastic rock performance, she continues to advocate for emotional health through songs like &#8220;You Matter,&#8221; a message that undoubtedly resonates with many listeners. Festival moments like this often produce unexpected surprises, and one of the highlights was seeing Jermaine and Matt Sassano join her on stage for a song that had the audience cheering. Returning to Breaking Darkness, Counter once again brought one of the most entertaining sets of the day. Their self-described &#8220;sugarcore&#8221; sound combines catchy pop vocal hooks with crushing metalcore guitars, creating one of the most unique sounds on the bill. Their performance was simply fun from start to finish, and the crowd fed off every minute of it. Billy James was an outstanding addition to this year&#8217;s lineup. The local rapper completely changed the atmosphere in the best way possible. Rather than performing over backing tracks, he brought a full live band featuring keyboards, drums, two guitarists, bass, and a hype man. His incredible talent quickly won over a crowd made up largely of rock and metal fans. Whether delivering rapid-fire bars or leading worship, Billy proved that praising King Jesus transcends musical genres. Matt Sassano brought a real authenticity to the stage with his Linkin Park influenced rock sound. He delivered an excellent cover of Linkin Park’s “In the End,” while songs like “Dear God” and the new fan favorite “Fuel” were among the highlights of his set. Wearing his custom Him Not My Name jacket, Sassano closed with the powerful song of the same name. I was honored to film his entire performance for a future live release. The biggest surprise of the festival for me was Irae. Their brand of worshipful hardcore, often referred to as Christcore, created one of the day&#8217;s most memorable moments. Before taking the stage, a worship song filled the venue while vocalist Kashif knelt in prayer behind the stage. When the band exploded into their opening song, the energy shifted instantly. Kashif wasted no time pulling the crowd closer, encouraging movement, and creating the first mosh pit of the day. Their passion for Christ matched the intensity of their music, making them a band everyone should keep an eye on. One of my favorite memories happened during Irae&#8217;s set as my son Leo and Jermaine&#8217;s son Keighan ran through the pit together. Returning after last year&#8217;s festival, Tricord once again delivered an outstanding performance. Their musicianship is exceptional, but what continues to impress me most is who they are off the stage. Throughout the day they could be found talking with fans, supporting every other band, and simply enjoying the festival alongside everyone else. During their set, vocalist Jermaine proudly wore his homemade jacket with &#8220;Born to Be a King&#8221; across the back, a tribute to one of the band&#8217;s fan-favorite songs. It&#8217;s little details like that, along with the band&#8217;s genuine love for people, that make Tricord a favorite every time they take the stage. XIII Minutes continued the momentum with their signature hard rock sound. Their performance was every bit as tight as expected, showcasing just how talented each member is as a musician. We also enjoyed spending time with the band throughout the day, making the performance feel even more personal. A standout moment came when Matt Sassano joined them on stage to perform one of their biggest songs, &#8220;Cult Leader,&#8221; drawing another]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1975</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Resurrection Fest Makes Its South Carolina Debut This August</title>
		<link>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/resurrection-fest-makes-its-south-carolina-debut-this-august/</link>
					<comments>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/resurrection-fest-makes-its-south-carolina-debut-this-august/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jimmy Lamar Sorells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:44:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brent tatum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christian rock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[greer sc]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[resurrection church]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[resurrection records]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Carolina]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[ziggie and the suffering gift]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/?p=1989</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Resurrection Fest Makes Its South Carolina Debut This August A new chapter for Christian heavy music is about to begin in the Upstate. Resurrection Fest will make its South Carolina debut on Friday, August 29, bringing together four Christian rock and metal artists for an evening of powerful music, worship, and hope at Resurrection Church in Greer. Presented by Resurrection Records, the inaugural event showcases a lineup that reflects the diversity of today&#8217;s Christian rock and metal scene while sharing one common purpose: pointing people to Jesus Christ through music. Headlining the night is Tricord, the South Georgia alternative nu-metal and rapcore band known for combining heavy riffs with transparent lyrics about addiction, anxiety, depression, and finding hope in Christ. Their music is both aggressive and deeply personal, connecting with listeners who have faced life&#8217;s darkest moments while reminding them they are never alone. Joining them is Brent Tatum, a singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Blending contemporary Christian music with rock, Tatum&#8217;s songs focus on faith, hope, and pursuing God&#8217;s calling, offering a worshipful and encouraging contrast to the heavier acts on the bill. Charleston-based Ziggie and the Suffering Gift delivers heartfelt rock born from real-life struggles and redemption. Formed by lifelong friends who have endured life&#8217;s trials together, the band writes music intended to inspire, uplift, and remind people that healing and hope are always within reach. Representing the Upstate is Igniting the Sky, Greenville&#8217;s own post-hardcore powerhouse. Known for explosive live performances, the band balances crushing breakdowns with soaring melodies and brutally honest lyrics that challenge, encourage, and point listeners toward Christ. As the first Resurrection Fest in South Carolina, organizers hope the event becomes more than just another concert. The vision is to create a place where music, ministry, and community come together, giving fans an opportunity to discover new artists, encourage one another, and celebrate their faith through powerful live performances. With tickets priced at just $10 at the door, Resurrection Fest is an affordable opportunity for longtime fans of Christian rock and metal as well as anyone looking to experience a night of music with a message of hope. Event Information Resurrection FestFriday, August 29, 2026 Doors: 6:30 PMShow: 7:00 PM Resurrection Church900 N. Main St.Greer, SC Admission: $10 at the door Learn More Discover more about the artists on the Resurrection Records roster:https://resurrectionrecordsofficial.com/artists Listen to Igniting the Sky&#8217;s latest single, &#8220;There Are Four Lights,&#8221; here:https://ignitingthesky.bandcamp.com/track/there-are-four-lights]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1989</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>REVIEW: Breaking Darkness Festival 2025</title>
		<link>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/review-breaking-darkness-festival-2025/</link>
					<comments>https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/review-breaking-darkness-festival-2025/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jimmy Lamar Sorells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:46:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.christianmetalgroup.com/?p=1678</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Second Annual Breaking Darkness Music Festival By Jimmy Sorrells – Stage ManagerSecond Annual Breaking Darkness Music Festival On August 2nd, The Premier in Hickory, NC hosted something far greater than a concert—it hosted a movement. The second annual Breaking Darkness Music Festival brought together faith, hard rock, heavy metal, and a mission to break chains and lift up the name of Jesus. As the stage manager, I had the privilege of experiencing it all—up close, behind the scenes, and sometimes right in the thick of the mosh pit. This all-day event featured nine powerful performances, hundreds of attendees, food trucks, passionate volunteers, and most importantly—purpose. With every ticket sold and every piece of merch moved, we raised over $4,000 to support three addiction recovery nonprofits: All three are doing vital, gospel-centered work to help men and women break free from the bondage of addiction. Special Thanks A heartfelt thank you goes to Seth Olsen, guitarist for the band Counter, and the driving force behind this entire festival. His dedication, organizational effort, and commitment to Christ made Breaking Darkness a reality. From coordinating the lineup to working out the logistics, Seth worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Without him, this event simply would not have happened. And looking ahead, he’s already praying for the right people to come alongside him to take Breaking Darkness 2026 even further. Band Performances (Official Set Order) Jennifer AlvaradoKicking off the day with authenticity and worship, Jennifer Alvarado delivered a heartfelt set that brought peace and reflection. Her vulnerability and vocal strength were the perfect start, offering a powerful contrast to the heavier acts that followed. TricordThis was my first time seeing Tricord, and they exceeded all expectations. Lead vocalist Jermaine was a standout—not only fronting the band with energy and conviction, but also joining other artists on stage throughout the day. Whether in the crowd or sharing vocals with Cleansing of the Temple and Ignescent, his presence was magnetic. Their set was tight, worshipful, and left a lasting impression. Igniting the SkyWith a high-energy post-hardcore set, Igniting the Sky brought the volume and chaos in the best way. Their performance was engaging, relentless, and full of fun. This was a set that got faces melted and fists in the air. Saving DarknessThese guys came in swinging with their own brand of heavy hard rock. The chemistry on stage was clear, and their connection with the crowd was undeniable. Their set was one of the most interactive and entertaining of the day. CounterFemale-fronted and full of grit, Counter offered something unique and refreshing. The vocals were strong and captivating, and their sound hit with a perfect blend of melody and edge. Seeing Seth Olsen rip it on guitar, knowing he organized the whole event, added an extra layer of respect to their set. Cleansing of the TempleUndoubtedly the heaviest band of the day, Cleansing of the Temple brought crushing death metal riffs and deep growls that rumbled through the floor. Frontman Gavin hit the stage in his trademark look: overalls, no shirt, no shoes. Their intensity was unmatched and brought raw, unfiltered energy that pushed the boundaries of Christian heavy music—in all the right ways. Set For The FallA crowd favorite from start to finish, Set For The Fall delivered a set full of powerful hooks, emotional lyrics, and undeniable presence. Their performance was heartfelt and hard-hitting, creating one of the most memorable moments of the day. IgnescentThis was not just a show—it was an experience. Theatrics and power collided as frontwoman Jennifer emerged from a coffin during their opening song, immediately captivating the crowd. Their fusion of metal, hard rock, and melody was polished and immersive. Ignescent knows how to build an atmosphere and deliver impact. DiscipleThe headliner and veterans of the genre, Disciple closed the night with exactly what we all expected—pure, passionate, purpose-driven rock and roll. Their set was relentless, their message bold, and their performance nothing short of professional. They shouted the name of Jesus from the stage while delivering hit after hit. Disciple continues to be one of the most consistent and inspiring bands in Christian music today. Spoken Word Moment At one point during a longer changeover, Billy James performed a spoken word piece that completely shifted the atmosphere. What could have been an awkward pause became a sacred moment. Billy reminded everyone that this wasn’t just a festival. It was an altar. Behind the Curtain As stage manager, I saw the day unfold from a different angle. The team effort was incredible—techs, volunteers, artists, vendors, and the venue all worked together with clarity, purpose, and unity. From the first soundcheck to the final load-out, it felt like more than just good planning—it felt like divine coordination. Final Thoughts Breaking Darkness Festival 2025 was more than music. It was mission. It was ministry. It was a gathering of the remnant—a bold, loud, passionate expression of faith through hard rock and heavy metal. Chains were broken. Lives were touched. Jesus was glorified. And this is only year two. I’d do it all again tomorrow. Let’s go even bigger in 2026.]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1678</post-id>	</item>
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