Jeremy Camp

“Restored” (BEC)

Compare to: John Mayer, Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman

Jeremy Camp’s new album “Restored” is comforting, convicting and genuine in every way imaginable.

Camp’s songwriting on “Restored” is admirable, and his lyrics are uplifting and positive, backed with music that is upbeat yet relaxing.

The praise starts right away on the title track with Camp singing about God’s mercies and forgiveness.

With lyrics like “My heart is being mended by your touch/and I hear it/ Your voice that’s shown my purpose in this world/ laying all these questions down/ you’ve answered what I need,” it is evident that Camp has found his meaning in life through his faith.

Camp continues to share his passion for God in “Take You Back,” a song about the meaning of the crucifixion of Christ.

Lyrically, Camp doesn’t leave listeners guessing. Every song goes directly to the heart of what he wants to get across about his convictions and his faith.

The music gets only mildly complicated at times, but Camp’s guitar work is solid, and the man has a knack for weaving his music and lyrics together more gracefully with every strum of his guitar.

Every song on this album is peaceful and cozy, which could potentially cause it to lose its appeal for fans of harder genres. But those who love acoustic rock and contemporary praise and worship music will love Camp’s new musical efforts, as well as his passion and genuine desire to seek God.

— Dan Hopper

Anaal Nathrakh

“Domine Non Es Dignus”

(Season of Mist)

Compare to: Mayhem, Satyricon, Gorgoroth

If the end of the world is televised …

… then British extreme metal terrorists Anaal Nathrakh will provide its soundtrack.

With “Domine Non Es Dignus,” which translates to “Lord, you are not worthy,” the two-man band has already created an audio accompaniment to the apocalypse, falling somewhere between the Book of Revelations and a bad acid trip.

Although Anaal Nathrakh managed to strike terror into the hearts of even the most hardened metal heads with previous releases such as “The Codex Necro,” prior albums were marred by a production that sounded like they were recorded inside a trash can.

On “Domine Non Es Dignus,” the band has scraped away a few layers of grime, making it possible for listeners to hear exactly what’s going on as the duo of Irrumator and VITRIOL create an ear-bleeding metallic cacophony. The cold chaotic fury of Scandinavian-style black metal is repeatedly pulverized and twisted into abhorrent new forms.

With songs such as “Procreation of the Wretched” and “Do Not Speak,” Anaal Nathrakh bridges the gap between punishing heavy metal and dark psychedelica in ways that are utterly inconceivable.

—Joshua Haun

With Honor / The Distance

Split CD (Martyr)

Compare to: Comeback Kid, Carry On, Embrace Today

When the rumor is that two of hardcore’s most promising bands are planning to record a split album, it pays off to pay attention.

After endless rumors and speculation, Connecticut natives With Honor and The Distance finally released the split, which will certainly keep hardcore kids two-stepping long into the new year.

At this point, it would be nothing short of naive to call this one of the best splits of the year, but it’s safe to say it sets the bar high.

The first three songs by With Honor carry on the same early ’90s hardcore feel similar to both their EP and full length.

Each of the three songs is laced with enough dance parts and sing-alongs to keep a crowd moving. The most notable departure from the band’s traditional youth crew style is the addition of melody into the vocals which seems out of place in its otherwise traditional hardcore mix.

Not many bands could follow a band like With Honor, but The Distance seem up for the challenge. In its three contributions, it sticks to the old hardcore mantra of ‘short, fast and loud,’ having only one song clock in at over two minutes long. But each second is filled with enough rage and passion to make the entire crop of Headbanger’s Ball hardcore bands seem like imitators.

This split is a great showcase of what real hardcore can and should be. This album is cause to break out the camo shorts and windmill like it’s 1995.

— Dante Sacomani