Chapter 159: "Never Make the Same Record" ...as read by Aaron Stone of My Epic

My Epic is set to release their new ep Violence on May 10th via Facedown Records. Aaron chatted with me about how Facedown initially passed on signing the band, the tight bond that keeps the band together, and heart behind the lyrical content on Violence.

Thanks to Shannon Quiggle for connecting me and Aaron.

Violence pre-order: https://facedown.merchnow.com/products/preorders

My Epic: https://www.facebook.com/myepic/

Chapter 159 Music:

My Epic - "Curse"

My Epic - "Lower Still"

My Epic - "Voices"

My Epic - "White Noises"

My Epic - "Lashes"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 158: "An Amazing Period of Time" ...as read by Jason Stinson of Overcome

When Jason Stinson heard the phrase "Spirit Filled Hard Core" he knew that was the scene he belonged in. Jason talks about the mission of Overcome and how it guided them through tough decisions, the vocal condition that led to the band ending, his mixed feelings about the "reunion" and how he got involved in country music.

Overcome's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OVERCOME-105642339479078/

Some Dark Hollow: https://somedarkhollow.bandcamp.com/

Chapter 158 Music:

Overcome - "Sacrificed"

Overcome - "Understanding"

Overcome - "House of Cards"

Indwelling - "Throats As Open Graves"

Overcome - "Campaign of Sabotage"

Some Dark Hollow - "Far Away"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 157: "Just Don't Break Up" ...as ready by Cody Bonnette

As Cities Burn just announced their new record, "Scream Through the Walls", which will be out on June 7th via Equal Vision Records. Cody chatted with me about how excited the band was to be a part of T&N, the backlash when they changed their sound, the struggle to keep the band going, and what drives them to continue forward now.

As Cities Burn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascitiesburn

Chains: https://open.spotify.com/album/31aNPSPOtRbHh8FCypkaBX

Chapter 157 Music:

As Cities Burn - "Empire"

As Cities Burn - "Love Jealous One, Love"

As Cities Burn - "Pirate Blues"

Hawkboy - "Two Bit"

As Cities Burn - "Contact"

As Cities Burn - "Chains"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 156: "Heroin Is the Answer" ...as read by Russell Holbrook

Russell Holbrook just released a new memoir called "Heroin Is the Answer." Russell talks meeting Zach Gresham, the (brief) hesitation with joining Tooth and Nail, drug use in the christian scene and finding freedom as a horror writer.

Heroin Is the Answer: https://www.amazon.com/Heroin-Answer-Memoir-What-Remember-ebook/dp/B07PBR9R2L/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=21A4KSBJWHTZI&keywords=heroin+is+the+answer&qid=1553715613&s=gateway&sprefix=heroin+is%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Russel on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14785254.Russell_Holbrook

Harmony Lull: https://harmonylull.bandcamp.com/

Chapter 156 Music:

Joe Christmas - "Coupleskate"

Joe Christmas - "A Pretty Girl Never Lights Her Own Cigarette"

Joe Christmas - "Bedroom Suite"

Choose Your Own Adventure - "Luca Brasi"

Joe Christmas - "Haunted Mystery"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 155: "Spirit Filled Hardcore" ...as read by Tim Mann

Focused was a pioneering band when it came to introducing hardcore to the Christian world. The band coined the phrase "spirit filled hardcore" and were one of the first bands signed to Tooth and Nail Records. Tim was kind enough to talk about his struggles growing up, finding God in jail, merging "christian" hardcore with the straight edge scene and the trials of being on Tooth and Nail in the early days.

Focused on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusedsxfxhxc/

Chapter 155 Music:

Focused - "Walk Beside Me"

Focused - "Behold"

Focused - "Empty"

Focused - "Grace"

Focused - "Angels and Demons"

Focused - "Absence"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 154: "I Gotta Find Another Drummer" ...as read by Jeff Jacquay

Jeff was there nearly at the beginning. Unashamed is credited with being one of the earliest Spirit Filled Hardcore bands (alongside Focused) and Jeff was around when Tooth and Nail really started to to roll. Jeff talks about signing with Tooth and Nail, the animosity and allies they had in the "mainstream" hardcore scene and the whole christian/secular divide in music.

Huge thanks to Neil Samoy for suggesting I reach out to Jeff!

Jeff has uploaded just about everything he's ever done to Bandcamp!

Unashamed: https://unashamedhc.bandcamp.com/

Rainy Days: https://rainydaysband.bandcamp.com/

Open Field System: https://openfieldsystem.bandcamp.com/

Tetzel Would Be Proud: https://tetzelwouldbeproud.bandcamp.com/

Chapter 154 Music:

Unashamed - "Stand"

Nothing Special - "Sliding Backwards"

Unashamed - "Gain"

Unashamed - "This Dividing Wall"

Unashamed - "Sustained"

Tetzel Would Be Proud - "Wheelchair Shakedown"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 153: "A Small Group of Really Talented" ...as read by Jeff Cloud

Jeff Cloud has run Velvet Blue Music for 23 years. He was in Starfyer 59 for (roughly) 7 years and Joy Electric for 5 (ish) years. Jeff talks about meeting Jason in high school, the early days with the Martin brothers, getting to work with incredible artists like Richard Swift (RIP) and Frank Lenz, and what keeps the label going all these years later.

Huge thanks to Jeff for the taking the time to chat, even though he was battling the flu!

Velvet Blue Music: https://velvetbluemusic.com/

A few VBM tunes on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/velvetblue

Lars Gotrich's Tribute to Richard Swift: https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/07/03/625667567/richard-swift-was-a-sonic-revelation-right-from-his-first-single

Chapter 153 Music:

Pony Express - "Fraud"

Bethan - "Low Expectations"

Joy Electric - "Sweet Sweet Charity"

Starflyer 59 - I Drive A Lot

Map - "Lay Down The Law"

Soda Shop - "Fence"

Denison Marrs - "A Consequence Plan"

Richard Swift - "Buildings In America"

Frank Lenz - "The Man With The Curse On His Head"

Pony Express - "Queens of Beruit"

Starflyer 59 - "Unbelievers"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 152: "Hide No Truth" ...as read by Nate Allen

Destroy Nate Allen has been set aside and in its place we have gotten Good Saint Nathanael. Nate Allen is releasing Hide No Truth on February 1st. Nate talks about the themes on the new album, including being vulnerable about spiritual abuse and finding his way through Christianity and the cards we've been given in life.

Good Saint Nathanael on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodsaintnathanael

Hide No Truth on Bandcamp: https://goodsaintnathanael.bandcamp.com/album/hide-no-truth

Hide No Truth CD and Merch: http://highendurancerecords.limitedrun.com/

Chapter 152 Music:

Good Saint Nathanael - "Lightning"

Ninety Pound Wuss - "Something Must Break"

Good Saint Nathanael - "Better"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 151: "All In On This" ...as read by Jolie Lindholm

Jolie moved to Florida for college and sang on a project for a guy named Chris Carrabba. You might have heard of him. That connection led her to fronting her first band, The Rocking Horse Winner. Jolie discusses being a woman in a mostly male dominated scene (plus being an "emo" band in a hardcore world), as well as the whirlwind ride that has been her latest project The Darling Fire. The Darling Fire just finished recording their debut record with J Robbins a few day before I talked with Jolie.

The Darling Fire - https://www.facebook.com/thedarlingfire/

Here's a news article about Popvert: https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/popvert-6342145

Chapter 151 Music:

The Rocking Horse Winner - "Missing You"

Vacant Andy's - "Indecisive"

The Rocking Horse Winner - "When Song Birds Sing"

Popvert - " Nothng Once"

Dashboard Confessional - "Age Six Racer"

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 150: "The Best of 2018"

Adam Morgan (Hopesfall), Matt Traxler (Steadfast Records), Ryan Parrish (In Parallel), and Josh Hersom (The Cycle podcast) join me to discuss their favorite albums of 2018.

Bryan's Top 30 Records of the Year: https://themeltdownmusic.com/2018/12/20/top-30-of-2018/

Bryan's Top 30 Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1215930345/playlist/0yh6BO0WMVWx1XZXbOKEfA?si=MN-spnI0Tou4d-1UGi-yYQ

Chapter 150 Music:

Good Game - "Supercollider? I Just Met Her"

Hopesfall - "Bradley Fighting Vehicle"

Brandtson - "Things Look Brighter"

In Parallel - "New Fire"

Deafheaven - "Honeycomb"

Pianos Become the Teeth - "Bitter Red"

As The Story Grows links: