There's a moment in every prodigal's journey where the lies we've believed start to shatter – not with a whisper, but with the force of a sledgehammer. My new EP Redemption opens with that impact in "The Lie," channeling the raw aggression of early 2000s nu-metal to mirror the violent collapse of our self-deception. Like a wall of distortion crushing everything in its path, the song exposes the brutal truth about that voice whispering 'the grass is always greener.' You know that voice. We all do. It's the same serpentine whisper that echoed through Eden, promising something better than God's best.
Over 21 minutes and 21 seconds, these five songs tell my story of running, falling, and finally coming home. The musical styling has traces of the last embers of the grunge movement mixed seemlessly with the sound of late '90s post-grunge, with sonic textures that might remind listeners of the Seattle scene. Think Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Creed. After "The Lie" strips away our comfortable illusions with its crushing riffs and sardonic verses, "Undone" dives deep into the aftermath – that hollow emptiness that comes when we realize we've wandered far from home.
Then comes "Too Late" – stripped down to acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, a trap kit, and raw vocals. Like those iconic unplugged sessions of the '90s, there's nowhere to hide in this arrangement. Just as we can't mask our brokenness before God, every crack in the voice, every finger sliding across the strings tells its own story of desperate honesty. The driving rhythms and haunting melodies echo the restlessness of a soul that knows it's lost its way. But in the final chorus, a ray of hope begins to shine through.
This isn't just a story of darkness. "Your Word Is Life" marks the turning point – that sacred moment when God's truth breaks through our carefully constructed walls. The song builds from quiet reflection to powerful declaration, building tension through each pre-chorus until it explodes into a driving, emotionally charged chorus that celebrates the living word that leads us home. Like David writing his psalms from the depths of both despair and devotion, these lyrics chronicle the journey from darkness to light.
The EP closes with "Beautiful Scars," a testimony to the healing power of Christ and a call to others still walking through their own valleys. Because that's the beautiful truth of redemption – our deepest wounds become stories of hope for others who are where we once were. As the apostle Paul wrote, we comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:4).
This project is deeply personal, but it's not really about me. It's about the God who pursues us even when we're running the other way. The God who takes our biggest mistakes and transforms them into messages of hope. The God who specializes in redemption stories – even when those stories start with a scream of rebellion.
Redemption is out now. It's raw. It's real. And I pray it speaks to anyone who's ever felt too far gone to come home.
Because I've been there. And I can tell you – it's never too late for redemption.
Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.