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May 21, 2016 Reviews
The Other Side of Darkness
Decyfer DownReview by Ben Rickaby
Decyfer Down has been quiet as of late, a self-admitted burnout from constant touring and an overwhelming desire to be home with their families. After reconnecting with fans on...
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Mar 6, 2016 Reviews
War at Heart
The Order of ElijahReview by Ben Rickaby
The Order of Elijah had quite a busy 2015 between switching record labels, touring and recording their third full-length album, War at Heart. With all that going on, the album...
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Feb 11, 2016 Reviews
Chili-Nation
MetanoiaReview by Ben Rickaby
Right off the bat, the intro track will have you believing in Metanoia’s Chili-Nation, their second release from Thumper Punk Records. Chilean quartet Metanoia have the musical chops that...
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Dec 10, 2015 Reviews
Future Golden Age
FallstarReview by Ben Rickaby
Mixing electronic samples and elements of hip-hop, layering them over a base of metalcore and hard rock, proves to work amazingly well on Portland-based Fallstar’s latest release, Future Golden...
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Oct 16, 2015 Reviews
Wake
For TodayReview by Ben Rickaby
I was surprised to hear For Today’s sound shift with their latest album, Wake, and in the wake (no pun intended) of their previous effort, Fight the Silence. Wake‘s...
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Sep 14, 2015 Reviews
Dark Before Dawn
Breaking BenjaminReview by Ben Rickaby
Breaking Benjamin frontman Benjamin Burnley called it a day and packed up his band back in 2010 to take care of his health issues. Dark Before Dawn announces his...
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Aug 26, 2015 Reviews
Turn it Off / Turn it On
The Old-TimersReview by Ben Rickaby
Music, like most art, leaves room for interpretation. The Old-Timers, in true punk fashion and against that grain, walk up and punch you in the face with their convictions....
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Jul 19, 2015 Feature
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Jul 2, 2015 Reviews
Edge Walker
Ana SapphiraReview by Ben Rickaby
The best word to describe Edge Walker is intense. The album is Ana Sapphira’s first full-length album, following two EPs, one self-titled and one release in 2012 called Damien....
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May 11, 2015 Reviews
Alligator
Abandon KansasReview by Ben Rickaby
One of the best parts about writing for HM is that I never really know what’s going to show up for me to review. Abandon Kansas’ latest, Alligator, is...
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May 11, 2015 Feature
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Apr 21, 2015 Reviews
Come In
Children 18:3Review by Ben Rickaby
On Come In, Children 18:3 — a trio made up of siblings Dave, Lee Marie and Seth Hostetter — have picked out the best elements from their previous work...
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Apr 17, 2015 Feature
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Mar 9, 2015 Feature
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Mar 2, 2015 Reviews
Great Lenghts
The ProtestReview by Ben Rickaby
The Protest’s sophomore release, Great Lengths, stands head and shoulders above the band’s previous efforts. Game Changer, the band’s first album, was a solid hard rock album but suffered...
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Mar 2, 2015 Reviews
Transitions
ConceptsReview by Ben Rickaby
Back in the ’60s, music producer Phil Spector came up witha recording technique dubbed the “wall of sound.” He got the Beatles to use it, and the overly-layered-but-incredibly-deep influence...
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Mar 2, 2015 Reviews
Diamonds
Hawk NelsonReview by Ben Rickaby
I saw Hawk Nelson back in 2009 when they were touring with Skillet. The band joked from the stage that they loved touring with Skillet specifically because it meant...
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Jan 14, 2015 Reviews
The Humble Beginnings of a Rovin' Soul
6'10"Review by Ben Rickaby
If Flatfoot 56 is a rambunctious mosh pit, then 6’10” — the folky side project for frontman Tobin Bawinkel — is like going for a stroll on a summer...
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Nov 3, 2014 Reviews
Dead Leaves
Dead LeavesReview by Ben Rickaby
Dead Leaves, both the name of the new self-titled EP and the band, have left the pop-punk attitude of their first release behind for a more melancholy and introspective...
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Nov 3, 2014 Reviews
Ghost-Ship
Jake Down and the Midwest MessReview by Ben Rickaby
Ghost-Ship, by Jake Down and the Midwest Mess, was a surprisingly pleasant change of pace from the brooding acoustic folk scene. The influence isn’t too over the top or...
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Jun 3, 2014 Reviews
The Beauty of Absolution Above All Things is Bittersweet
Chainsaw the MusicalReview by Ben Rickaby
Chainsaw the Musical’s debut EP, The Beauty of Absolution Above All Things is Bittersweet, shined from the start, rough and unapologetically raw. What could be criticism, here embodies the...
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Mar 11, 2014 Reviews
Times of War
Beware the NeverendingReview by Ben Rickaby
With their second album, Beware the Neverending have written a good metalcore album with a great sense of groove. Having taken their sound and stripped it down to focus...
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Mar 11, 2014 Reviews
Resist
HundredthReview by Ben Rickaby
Hundredth has a great sense of timing on their latest EP, Resist. Tracks will go at a feverish pace through sections of each song, before suddenly dropping off to...
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Feb 28, 2014 The Jump
Stryper launches fan-filmed contest for ‘Te Amo’ music video
Stryper had an overwhelmingly successful 2013, returning with No More Hell to Pay and commercial success worldwide. Now, Stryper has put out a call to its fans to create...
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Feb 27, 2014 HMTV
Watch: Perma’s ‘Little Light,’ announces deluxe edition release
Perma, the married duo of Max Bemis (Say Anything) and Sherri DuPree-Bemis (Eisley), have premiered their latest Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired music video for “Little Light” over on AltPress.com. “I’m really proud...
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About Ben Rickaby
- Ben has been lucky enough to travel to Japan to study abroad and spent a short time in Haiti working with orphans. Outside of HM Ben spends his free time playing guitar, reading, playing video games and keeping himself busy at his church.