Hi Pal,
Welcome to another newsletter. Bonus Stuff is an umbrella column for ideas that do not fit into the other content brackets I write here.
Christmas time seems to get all the love when it comes to music releases and you can always trust that every year, artists — Christian and non-Christian alike — will have new singles, EPs and albums on the offering. It’s always bothered me that Easter does not get anything close to that level of attention but that does not mean that there aren’t Easter albums — even within the alternative music scene — that are worth listening to.
As we get into the spirit of the season, here’s a short breakdown of some Easter-themed albums that you can listen to.
Note: Album links on all platforms are embedded in the titles.
Of Man — Cool Hand Luke (2011)
Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Experimental Rock
I’ve been wanting to talk about this album for about two years now. Of Man is a concept album that tells the story of the final days of the Christ Jesus on earth. It takes some creative leaps to tell the story from various perspectives like on the piano-driven indie rock tune “Are You Coming?” which tells the story of someone who is expecting healing for a family member when Jesus had already been arrested or on “The Confusion of Simon Peter”, a progressive rock ballad that details Peter’s emotional and mental state after the death of Christ.
These creative liberties may not appeal to everyone but there is no question about the intent of the band on this project. It is a reverent album that captures the spirit of the season with songs like “Not the End, Not the End” while managing to exude the despair and tragedy of the occasion with songs like “Goodbye for Now” and “The Last Supper”.
Ghosts Upon The Earth — Gungor (2011)
Experimental Folk
I can’t speak for where Gungor’s career is at the moment but this album represents the best version of the band, in my opinion. Although this album is not directly Easter themed, it has always captured its spirit in my eyes.
From the depiction of perfect creation in songs like “Let There Be” and “Crags and Clay” to the fall of the human race reflected in songs like “The Fall” and “Ezekiel”, all culminating in a sacrifice being paid on “When Death Dies” and the hopeful bliss contained in songs like “This is Not The End” and “You Are The Beauty”.
This album is a concept album that tells the story of the entirety of the human experience in direct relationship with redeeming grace and love of a saving God.
The Crucifixion of Jesus — Fernando Ortega (2017)
Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary, Narration
Fernando Ortega is an established name in the CCM scene. As the title suggests, this album tells the story of pivotal events in Christ’s life that eventually led to his death. Using a mix of music and narrative interludes called “Readings”, Ortega sets the stage with classic Biblical events like the flogging at the temple [in “House of Prayer”], Jesus’ prayer at the garden [in “Stay With Me Here”] and the trial of Jesus ["in “My Song Is Love Unknown”].
From start to finish, this album is an experience I’ll encourage anyone to have at least once.
Frontline Presents: The Passion — Compilation (2014)
Heavy Metal
Widely regarded in the Christian metal scene as the best Easter album to date, this list will not have been complete if I did not speak about this album. This compilation has contributions from Christian glam metal icons Bloodgood on tracks like “..Eat The Flesh” and “Crucify”; the thrash metal sensibilities of Vengeance Rising and Deliverance on songs like “Fill This Place With Blood”, “From The Dead”, “Flesh And Blood” and “Victory”.
This album has something for almost everyone who loves metal, with a balanced range of melodic and gritty tunes. I must admit that the best thing about this compilation is how explicitly Christian the lyrics are, focusing on the weight of the sacrifice and the joy of Christ’s resurrection in equal measure.
That’s it for today.
Happy Easter!
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