7eventh Time Down "Just Say Jesus" Review

     On September 3, 2013 the Kentucky based Christian rock band, 7eventh Time Down will kick open the barn doors, musically speaking and deliver their powerful sophomore album through BEC Recordings. They are out to feed the flock that want to rock. Some of you may have already pre-ordered their album or picked it up at a show, but those of you who have not yet had the chance you are in for a treat!

     This album is filled with radio friendly rock melodies akin to a Skillet and Kutless fusion. However, if you are geared more toward the softer rock ballads you will be pleasantly surprised by the symphonious nature of the entire album.

Lead singer Mikey Howard delivers spot on and carries a very similar sound to that of ex-American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry, who has since been 4X certified platinum.

     These four longtime friends brought this album together in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. Produced in the basement studio of front man Howard, the same place they recorded their first song together as teenagers. Though the majority of the album was a unified effort by the band they did join with respected songwriters like Ian Eskelin, Jeff Pardo and Tony Wood on two of the tracks.

     Just Say Jesus speaks to the hearts that continually hurt and long for comfort. When people are at a loss, whatever the circumstances may be, they can find peace and comfort in knowing that He is there for them if they call out to Him. “When you don’t know what to say just say Jesus, there is power in the name.”

     As a Christian, sometimes it’s difficult to get others to see the life changing relationship caused by being bought by the Blood of Christ. Wait for You, is a powerful stance on being loyal regardless of what others think, waiting to be called home. After all is said and done, we win according to the scriptures.

     Good Life, addresses the conflict that we face as Christians through the attacks of the enemy. With a riveting guitar and powerful lyrics like “You cannot stop us now, we won’t give up the fight. We’re swinging from the fence, when the lights go out tonight. So give us all you got, we’re never gonna stop. And when we hit bottom we’ll be climbing to the top of the good life.” I would love to see a video of this in a boxing ring for some reason, showing someone boxing visual attacks of the enemy with a KO at the end. Or course the person would have to tap out and let Jesus take the ring.

     Renegade, is a guitar treat. This song looks in the rearview mirror at the previous life before Christ never hitting the brakes and running toward the finish line. One of the things most Christian’s have in common is remembering what it was like to live in bondage before being delivered through the truth in Christ.

     Free illuminates the desire to walk in that peace. Trusting He is in control of your future, and what is behind you has been erased. “I’m begging for the Lord to come, I’m in a war for my soul but I aint got a gun. I need a cure from a disease that I suffer from.” Lyrically and musically a stand out, I can say that this song is a favorite of mine. I absolutely love the unexpected rap in the middle of a throw down rock song.

     Being broken and shaped into the vessel God intended us to be makes it easier for us to follow Him wholly. Many people pick up the salvation mantel but continue to slip into their old ways not really consecrated to Christ. Shadow is a declaration of dependence upon the leading of God stating, “I don’t need you to tell me the next step we take toward the enemy. I’ll follow you blindly where you go, I’ll go. I will be a shadow.”



      Nothing To Give, is one of the most passionate songs on the album. The cry of a heart in need of being filled with God, or it will be left empty with nothing to give. One of the powerful lines in the song expresses how everyone you encounter is in need of something from you.  If we continue trying to pour into others our cup begins to empty out. We are desperate for the refreshing times that we spend with God on a daily basis. “I will stand strong, I will press on. You are my hope, I’m never alone. So when I stand strong and when I press on, I know it’s your strength and not my own”.

 

Lyric Video For Nothing To Give

 

    
     A formative adjective in melodic formation comes forth in Religious and Famous. Band members Mikey,Cliff, Eric and Austin grew up playing music together and view the opportunity to be used by God doing what they love as a privilege.
Encompassing their southern nature this song brings up where they have come from and how they take no glory in what they are doing now, it’s all about God and what His Son Jesus Christ did on the cross for each person’s freedom.

     Not necessarily saving the best for last, because each person has their own personal tastes, but I have two that I instantly clicked with. One I Am Running To, is such a relatable song on so many different levels with just about every single person that is striving to live for Christ. For those who do not know the personal experience with Christ, it would be difficult to understand that peace that surpasses all understanding. “So much I don’t understand in the middle of the circumstance. But I know my life is in your hands. Tonight, I’m gonna fix my eyes on the only hope that satisfies my heart. You are everything that’s good and right and true. Jesus, I’m coming after you.”

 

  Hurricanes is pretty much what you would expect. Echoing the previous message, placing all your trust in His provision, in His time when He sees fit. “When it rains; when it pours; when the sky falls down; when the waves crash ashore; God I know somehow, you’re gonna get me through. Every storm that I face; every rising tide; you’re love never fails, I know your by my side.” That is undeniable faith. In that statement you trust God with everything that is within’ you, so that no matter what might be surrounding you presently, you know He is the Master of the sea.

Eric Van Zant (lead guitar), sums it up when he says, “There’s a lot of hope in this record, because nothing can trump the name of Jesus ever.”

      One thing is for certain, Just Say Jesus is bound to touch the hearts and lives of those who open their spirit up to the message these southern boys are cultivating in the soul of hearers. Hosea 10:12 “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

     In an effort to offer hope to others outside of music the band partners with Cure International, operating in 27 different countries providing surgeries and sharing the Gospel with those in need. Recently the band was featured on Air 1's Club Awesome Tour. These four talented gospel rockers who are road warriors will be on tour officially, September through October of 2013.

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Jason Shares His Story

 

     Five years ago the world was introduced to this bashful boy with blue eyes and dreadlocks and the votes began to show that he was a favorite on season seven of American Idol. His simple yet profound performance of Hallelujah (below) in 2008 has had almost four million views on you tube.

 

     Since then Jason Castro has been on a several music tours, and a personal journey that has been just as exciting. Currently touring with the largest Christian concert America has come to love. So much that fans stand outside for hours in rain, sleet and snow to see the great artists that Winter Jam Tour has to offer. That is however, if you are able to be one of the lucky thousands to get a ten dollar seat at the venue.

     I had the opportunity to speak with Jason about his musical journey, his family and his new release Only A Mountain. For Jason music has given him opportunities that many people do not get the chance to experience.

    
     However, when you are born with a gift like Jason, blessings come to those who use that gift to glorify the one who places it within our hearts to begin with. That gift began to shine through as Americans tuned into American Idol in 2008, where Jason left the show in fourth place.

     Jason - “You know it’s always encouraging when I run into people and they tell me how they were voting for me that season. Everyone who continues to support me has no idea how much I appreciate that.”

     Before the tour with AI began, Jason was able to go home for a few weeks and spend time with his family. At that time there were several people contacting him trying to get him to make appearances or do interviews. However, there was one invitation that Jason felt compelled to get involved with after a man approached his father at church.

     Jason - “I had been home a few weeks, and maybe some people assumed I was a Christian while I was on the show; but I never really had a chance to say, ‘Hey this is why I am the way I am’. After my Father was approached by the team of the I Am Second movement my interest was stirred. I began to look into it further. I was blown away by the concept of the movement. It was an outlet for me to finally share with others what I believed.”

     This movement has now become a massive tool used as an outreach to share amazing testimonies that others have experienced through a relationship with Christ. Jason will be joining them this summer on a mission trip and he plans to take along his guitar. I asked Jason if he had ever been to a Winter Jam concert before actually participating in the tour.

     Jason - “No, I never really had a chance to go when I was younger. They never came out to the Dallas area before. The tour is going great though, every show has been sold out and it’s an amazing thing to be a part of. The crowds are amazing and all the people that wait in the lines to get in; they really don’t know how much that means to us. It’s also great to hear people express how our songs have helped them with something they have been struggling with.”

     Jason hopes that by sharing music from personal experiences and situations that touch his heart it might help others through struggles of their own and encourage them in their faith.

     Jason- “I really feel this CD has progressed both musically and in the message that I share. One of my favorite songs is Same Kind Of Broken, which is a duet I do with Moriah Peters who is a great new artist.”

     Released January 15, 2013, Only A Mountain is the third studio production from Jason and from what I have heard will be one of many more to follow. Produced by Matt Bronleewe, Ben Glover and David Garcia the eleven tracks all of which were written or co-written by Jason will have you singing along to the chorus the first time you listen to it.

 

    Each track is as radio worthy as the next and lyrically established in faith and encouragement to stay true to the grace of God. Only A Mountain, notably the title of the album was the first single and has done very well reintroducing some early AI fans to this talented young man while continuing to hold onto fans that never left his side. This song has brought tears to Jason’s eyes through peoples testimonies while on tour how it has encouraged their faith that God can tackle any problem that we have.

     Not many people can say they have had the opportunity to experience all that Jason has since being on AI. I asked him in all his adventures, besides finding true freedom in Christ what was his most profound moment? After a deep breath he replied, “You know just waking up each morning and seeing my daughters face.”

     If I had listened to the song that was written for his daughter I would have already known that answer. However, even though Jason wrote the song Enough for Madeline I believe God was using him in a mighty way to deliver a bigger message. Lyrically this is a love song to one’s child. Since we are all children of God, I believe God wants us to know that this is exactly how He feels about us as well. “I want to tell you something I want to tell you that you’re beautiful. Not lost in a sea of souls. I want to tell you something you’re more important than you’ll ever know. Just look around you. Do you know that you’re loved? Do you know that you are enough?” There are so many people out there who do not realize how special and unique they are to God and I really think this song will bless them.

     For those struggling through a time of darkness or in the midnight hour, I Believe is sure to reach a place in their heart that will encourage them they are not alone. This song made me question Jason’s musical inspirations because I heard a very pleasant resemblance to a massive Christian artist by the name of Michael W Smith. I hope both of them take that is a compliment, because that is how it is meant.

     If it’s Love, was written from Jason’s heart, expressing the difficult times of touring and being away from your family and the late nights. Musicians sacrifice many things to follow their dreams and do what they feel God is calling them to do. I believe this song will minister to couples who are fighting for their marriages whether they are musicians or not.

     On every album I review by the second listen I have pinpointed my favorite song. Starting Line for me personally is over the top. I love every aspect of it and I would be surprised if it’s not the second radio release. With a powerful message of the realization what you truly experience when you see Christ for who He is face to face. I guess for me I relate to this song more than the others on a different level.

     Being complacent or broken in life is a position no one should be in. Stay This Way, calls us to step out in faith and realize that grace has set us free to move forward. “Just because you’re broken doesn’t mean you’re hopeless. Go ahead and turn the page, don’t be afraid of better days. Put the past behind you, grace has redefined you.”

     Same Kind of Broken is a beautiful duet that compares the likeness of all of us. We all have things we are not proud of in our past. Each and every one of us can recall someone who has hurt us or a time in life where we felt broken. “We all come alive, we all fall apart. We all need someone to love us where we are.” It’s a call to reach out to someone who might be in a place where you once was before God sent someone to help pull you out. It’s truly a remarkable message and beautifully orchestrated.

     Inspired by an event to raise money for a safe house built in Texas to help victims of sex trafficking, Safe House was penned by Jason to bring awareness to a larger group. I didn’t know the history of the song at first but after learning the inspiration it changed the meaning for me. It made it more profound and emotional because this is such a huge problem in our world and I respect Jason for sharing this on his album and his story. “What if you’re her only shot, what if I’m the last she’s got? What if tomorrow it’s too late? We can’t wait, we can’t wait. You might be her only shot. I might be the last she’s got. Don’t let tomorrow be too late. We can’t wait, we can’t wait.”

     Runaway is one of the best vocally performed tracks on the album. You can definitely hear the maturity as an artist birthing in this number. Jason claims this song is his anthem and an invitation to his brothers and sisters in Christ to join him. “I could never stay once I had a taste of Heaven, so you want to be free, be a runaway!”

     Sometimes in life the only thing we have the strength to do is just to wake up and open our eyes. Rise To You is a profession of faith that in our weakness He is made strong. “Some days I feel so broken down, just hoping I can make it out, knowing that you see me through I will rise to you. Give me the strength I need to get me off these busted knees.”

     Uncertain if he would include it on the album, Jason constructed, Good Love. Bridging the gap between the old and new  with a similar sound to his previous album he included this as a definition of his life. Where he once was, to where he is now and all the blessings that God has given him along the way. With his beautiful wife, Mandy and their precious daughter Madeline, Jason has come a long way since that Idol stage.

     Maturing into a humble Christian artist living out his dream, not only has God blessed his life, He is using his life to bless others along the way. Be sure to keep your eye on this blue eyed star. God is using Him on His stage. No longer does his stature come based on the number of votes received. God has already cast the ballot and this contender has certainly received the only golden ticket that truly matters.

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