Archives September 2025

Where Are They Now: Lester and Brandon Estelle

by Jimmy Lamar Sorells Reviews

Brothers who shaped Christian rock, pop, and worship music

Early Roots

Raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Lester and Brandon Estelle grew up surrounded by church music. Both were drumming before they were teenagers, and both would go on to anchor two of the biggest Christian acts of the 2000s.

Lester Estelle II

From Pillar to Kelly Clarkson

Lester joined Pillar in 2002, bringing power and precision to Where Do We Go From Here, The Reckoning, and For the Love of the Game. He later co-founded Stars Go Dim, and in 2013 landed the role of touring drummer for Kelly Clarkson, now serving as part of her house band “My Band Y’all” on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Sessions and Collaborations

Lester has worked with a wide variety of artists including Big and Rich, Disciple, Starset, Kutless, Love and Death, Seventh Day Slumber, Neal McCoy, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, Agnieszka Chylińska, Julian Vaughn, Group 1 Crew, Kensington Moore, and Casey Donahew.

Notable recordings include
• “Dear X, You Don’t Own Me” by Disciple
• “Did It for the Party” by Big and Rich
• “Nostalgic” with Kelly Clarkson
• “Twelve” with Neal McCoy
• Featured songs with Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell
• A collaboration with Agnieszka Chylińska
• Studio work with Casey Donahew

Today Lester continues balancing Nashville sessions, Clarkson’s TV tapings, and international touring.

Brandon Estelle

From Superchick to Solo

Brandon made his mark with Superchick, joining during the Beauty from Pain era and continuing through the Grammy-nominated Rock What You Got. After the band wrapped, he launched into solo artistry, worship leadership, and collaborative songwriting. His solo album Star (2015) and ongoing singles showcase his multi-instrumental talent.

Recent Singles and Collaborations

Brandon’s catalog features “Children of the Living God,” “Truth Works,” “Testify,” “All The Time,” and “My Soul Delights In You” featuring Tricia Brock. He has also collaborated with TobyMac on RIAA Gold-certified work. Through platforms such as AirGigs, Brandon records for film, television, and indie artists, while remaining active in Kansas City worship networks including The Sending Project.

Shared Threads

Both brothers began in church and rose to national prominence through Christian rock before taking unique directions. Lester thrives in high-profile session and television work, while Brandon focuses on songwriting, worship, and remote collaborations. Together they continue to build legacies that inspire across multiple genres.

Connect with the Estelles

Lester Estelle II

Website: https://www.lesterdrums.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesterestelle/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrTugadrums

Brandon Estelle

AirGigs Profile: https://www.airgigs.com/user/brandonestelle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandoestelle/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mpH60Cx85fuINNepxxeVq

CMG – Volume II Compilation (“ΘΣ ΚΣ ΙΣ ΧΣ”)

by Michael Eshom Uncategorized

The Christian Metal Group is back with their second massive compilation, Volume II, delivering 18 blistering tracks from across the spectrum of Christ-centered heavy music. The title “ΘΣ ΚΣ ΙΣ ΧΣ” translates to “The King is Christ” — a fitting banner for a project that is unapologetically loud about its message.

From the first crushing riff to the final triumphant chord, Volume II is a journey through every corner of the Christian metal landscape — death, black, thrash, doom, metalcore, progressive, punk, and straight-up heavy metal all have their place here.

  1. Latter-Day Exploits (Experimental Metal) – Within Consumed – Epic, multi-layered, and intense. A prog-metal opener that demands attention.
  2. Glae (Deathcore / Experimental Deathcore) – Horde – A feral, death-tinged assault with melodic undercurrents.
  3. Shamash (Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore) – Take Me As I Am – Groove-driven with heartfelt lyrical surrender.
  4. King’s Hammer (Brutal Death Metal / Old-School Death Metal) – Vehement Zeal – Pure steel-forged energy with classic influences.
  5. Exoneration (Deathcore / Djent / Metalcore) feat. Candlebearer – Basilisk – Relentless riffage with guest vocals adding venom.
  6. Afflicted Truth (Death Metal / Grindcore) – Eternal Life – Fierce proclamation of gospel truth over pounding metal.
  7. Mission of One (Christian Rock / Heavy Metal) – Watch Your Mouth – Punky, punchy, and packed with conviction.
  8. Metal For Emmanuel (Heavy Metal / Worship Metal) – Great I Am – Worship lyrics on a backdrop of galloping riffs.
  9. Cloud of Witnesses (Metalcore) – Digital Dominion – Industrial grit meets spiritual warfare.
  10. The Light Superior (Metalcore) – Dark Moon – Darkly atmospheric, yet melodic and memorable.
  11. Receiving Immortality (Djent / Metalcore / Death Metal) – Into The Center – Crushing metalcore breakdowns with hope-filled hooks.
  12. From This Fire (Hard Rock) – Days Go By – Melodic, anthemic, and emotionally resonant.
  13. Pulpit Vomit (Grindcore / Deathgrind) – The Filth – Grindcore grit that doesn’t hold back.
  14. Satan Destroyer (Black Metal / Unblack) – Witches Drowned in a River of Stone – Doom-drenched heaviness with vivid imagery.
  15. Connor Payne (Christian Rock / Metal) – All Hail The LORD – Straightforward and bold in both message and delivery.
  16. Sanctified Ethos (Raw / Atmospheric Black Metal) – The True Art of Isolation – Blackened intensity with an undercurrent of redemption.
  17. Diadem of Gnashing Teeth (Brutal / Technical Death Metal) – It Turns Into Flesh In My Mouth – Atmospheric darkness meets crushing weight.
  18. Epic Bard (Power Metal / Metalcore) – Stand – Uplifting power metal anthem to close the set with hope.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hoE4XCyfN0
Bandcamp: https://christianmetalgroupcompilation.bandcamp.com/album/volume-ii