Embodyment

Embodyment play fierce and ominous Metalcore in the Converge/Coalesce/Cave-In vein while still maintaining their Christian ideals. Some may question how music so obviously fueled by loathing and disgust could serve as a vehicle for Christ's message.

Eisley

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God Bless

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Fusebox (1)

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Fred Hammond

Formerly in seminal Contemporary Gospel group Commissioned, Fred Hammond now writes, arranges and produces his own solo material; add singer to the list of credits and you have an extremely versatile artist. As with Commissioned, you can expect state of the art Contemporary Gospel, with smooth arrangements, Hammond's thrilling vocals, and the occasional nod to hip-hop.

Garry Christian

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Grand Prize

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Israel

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Original Christian/Country Music

When Swedish sextet the Soundtrack of Our Lives arrived on these shores in 2002, the chops-intensive band came across like Oasis minus the douche-bag personality. That year's international debut, Behind the Music, mixed the adventurous psychedelia of TSOOL's earlier Sweden-only discs with stomping Brit pop, and scored a near-hit with the Seventies-rock flashback "Sister Surround." The band's belabored fourth album strains to replicate that success. Engaging frontman Ebbot Lundberg growls himself hoarse on big dumb anthems such as "Mother One Track Mind," as the guitar-heavy six-play paisley swirls around the competition. But most of the tracks here flounder with minimal hooks, hokey lyrics and rote riffs. Electric Light Orchestra-esque ballads like "Song for the Others" prove these classic-rock revivalists haven't entirely lost their tuneful charms, but too much of Origin Vol. 1 suggests the work of Jet's older -- but no wiser -- brothers.

Shaun Groves

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Sonicflood

This booming radio rock is as at home on a Godless alternative station as it would be opening up the Youth for Christ Conference '99 in Nashville, which it did. Talented post-Nirvana evangelists incorporate buzzing Smashing Pumpkins guitars and soaring anthems in the chorus for studio-perfect Christian Rock.

Starfield

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