Temptation Come My Way - The Showdown

Near the end of January I wrote a record review for interlinc's music magazine. (The same one I had the articles in from a few posts back) There may be a Bible study in a future magazine, but this one just has the review of this new (Feb. 20) record from The Showdown. Here's the review.

Artist: The Showdown
Album: Temptation Come My Way
Label: Mono vs. Stereo
@: theshowdownmetal.com
Genre: Metal
TIYL: Korn, Metallica, Petra, POD
Writer: Kirk Moore
Ministry: Union Congregational Church
Location: Somonauk, Illinois
Email: kirk@revkirk.com

The Showdown's second CD release could easily have been called "Heavy Metal Psalms of Lament." The hard-driving metal music, with a slight undercurrent of "twang (in a "We are truly metalheads, but we want you to know that we don't completely hate country music" kind of way) invites the listener to sink deep into the lyrics. These lyrics are not at all "feel-good." This release is dark. The lyrics communicate pain, loneliness, addiction, hopelessness, emptiness and discouragement. On a few occasions, the songs offer a touch of hope in the anguish, but most of the time, the songs simply communicate the pain. It's refreshing to hear a band unafraid to engage heavy metal music the way the psalmists engaged the psalms. No cause for alarm, however. There's no call for unwise decisions or inappropriate behavior -- there is simply a genuine crying out in agony.

A few songs that should resonate well with students are:

• We Die Young: The song expresses a warning to those who would decide to go for the adrenaline rush and risk their lives to do it.


• It Drinks from Me: A song that cries out with the pain those who lives have been so tormented by alcohol abuse.


• Temptation Come My Way: This song, the title (and strongest) track, communicates discouragement, guilt and emptiness. It's a great song to share during a study about God's unconditional love.


• Breath of the Swamp: There's not a whole lot here for ministry, but this song is funny. It celebrates the band's 'Tennessee Swamp' roots and likens their accents to "The Breath of the Swamp."
  

Students who like hard, angry metal music will find this record appealing. So, too, will those who have experienced pain in their lives. Because this release doesn’t sugar coat the pain with "God's going to make it all better," students will appreciate its authenticity.