Our friends over at Indie Vision Music have just released a new compilation, which is a bit different than their usual free downloads. It is titled Passionate Hope Vol. 1:  Songs of Worship and features some great worship music from artists such as Cool Hand Luke, Esterlyn, My Epic, and The Ember Days, in addition to new music from upcoming bands such as Oceans & Vessels, Standing Small, and Sinai Vessel to name a few. Passionate Hope is available now as a completely free download right here. Give it a listen, and let us and IVM know what you think.

This Hopecore.com sponsored summer tour kicks off August 4th and features My Epic, as well as To Speak of Wolves and Harp & Lyre. Full tour dates below.

Artist: My Epic
Album: Broken Voice EP
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Label: Facedown Records

It's been nearly a year since the inception of My Epic's awe inspiring album Yet, and I find it amazing that the album is still in my normal rotation, even after a year. There is just something about the music and art that My Epic creates that is full of rich depth, capturing the ears, mind, and heart of the listener, with captivating messages of God's love. The same should be said about Broken Voice, an acoustic-based EP which shows a different side of the band. An even more intimate feeling surrounds the eight songs of Broken Voice, which are without the searching electric riffs of their usual material, but instead are replaced with soft plucking of an acoustic guitar, subtle string sections, and still large sounding percussion to accompany some choruses.

A more vulnerable and delicate side of Aaron Stone's vocals fit the songs perfectly, such as on the completely acoustic "beloved." Aaron's voice even hits a soulful point on "deathbed," which is one of his best vocal performances. Some bluesy guitar solos also make their way into songs, such as "childbodybride," which also adds in trumpet and strings for a full fledged ending to the track. The mournful sense of "alone" comes in the lyrics specifically, which talk of Jesus' death, and also in Aaron's desperate vocals. More of a calm feeling is found on "lazarus" and "garden," which are both more musically simplistic than the rest of the EP. The closer, "doxology," is exactly that, the doxology ("Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, praise Him, all creatures here below, praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen."), which ends up being a good way to end Broken Voice.

Overall: My Epic have returned with a new project a year after the fantastic Yet, the eight song Broken Voice. The big, feedback filled indie rock songs with searching riffs and grooving bass lines have been traded in for lush, acoustic instrumentation this time around. The album is filled with a soft intimacy, provided by delicate vocals from Aaron Stone, and the deep lyrics about faith, death, and God's love that have come to be expected from My Epic. Broken Voice is another great addition to My Epic's discography, and another great statement on why the band is one of the best making music today.

Rating: 8/10

Tracklisting:

1. centuries
2. beloved
3. alone
4. deathbed
5. lazarus
6. garden
7. childbodybride
8. doxology

(Buy Here)

My Epic have posted another new song off their upcoming Broken Voice EP, titled "Alone," which can be streamed on their Facebook page, along with their other new song, "Deathbed." The pre-orders for Broken Voice are available now on the Facedown Records webstore. The EP is available in a number of different packages, and you can also order additional copies for less than two dollars each, to share with friends and family, with any purchase of the EP. Broken Voice will be in stores and online July 5th.

My Epic are back with Broken Voice, an acoustic-based EP filled with beautiful misfit songs written during the creation of 2010's Yet that didn't quite fit with the sound of that album. Now the band has made a home for those songs, simply written then fleshed out in the studio, on Broken Voice. 

Oct 16 - East Ridge, TN @ LIVESTOCK FEST
Oct 17 - Lynchburg, VA @ The Hive
Oct 18 - Fredericksburg, VA @ The Refuge
Oct 19 - Crofton, MD @ Macc
Oct 22 - Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar
Oct 23 - Toledo, OH @ Frankie's Inner City
Oct 26 - La Crosse, WI @ The Warehouse
Oct 27 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Beat
Oct 28 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Senior Weiner
Oct 29 - Jefferson, SD @ Community Center
Oct 30 - Denver, CO @ Quixotes
Oct 31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Nov 2 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Nov 4 - Petaluma, CA @ CW Gallery
Nov 6 - Temecula, CA @ The Vault
Nov 7 - Chino, CA @ The Stronghold
Nov 8 - Yucaipa, CA @ Joshua Springs CC
Nov 12 - El Paso, TX @ Vineyard
Nov 13 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Nov 14 - Dallas, TX @ Fat Daddy's
Nov 15 - Joplin, MO @ The Foundry
Nov 16 - Russellville, AR @ Grindhouse Skatepark
Nov 17 - Oxford, MS @ Red House
Nov 20 - Douglasville, GA @ 7 Venue BBQ Fest

My Epic will be teaming up with To Speak of Wolves for a Southeast tour that kicks off this Friday.  Tour dates are below.  My Epic are touring in support of their newest and most highly praised album Yet.  

Artist: My Epic
Album: Yet
Release Date: 7/6/10
Label: Facedown/Dreamt Music

In these days, indie rock is showing to be one of the quickest growing genres out there. The style can take two directions. A more calming and relaxing form or a heavier side that even reaches into lighter shades of post-hardcore. With My Epic, they seem to take both sides with their sophomore release, titled Yet. As a whole, this album may be a masterpiece in it's own perspective, ranging from some beautiful instrumentation to some harsher gang vocals found in a few songs. The songwriting is also top notch, showing that My Epic wear their faith out on their sleeves.

Yet starts out on a high note, with three of the strongest tracks on the album occupying the first three spots on the album. "Author" starts off with their indie rock sound, along with some intense gang vocals, and has lyrics that easily sound like they could be from mewithoutYou. "Beautiful in me is You, every good thing, every true thing" resound in the song and in fact, accompany a beautiful song. Following up is the guitar heavy "Lower Still" that features an appearance from Micah Boyce of So Long Forgotten. Micah's vocals sound great and very strong on the song, showing his vocal flexibility. The guitars aren't the only heavy thing on the song. More gang vocals greet the song, but this time, are yelled. The lyrics talk of Jesus being beaten and carrying the cross, for the sake of saving us.

Vocalist Aaron Stone's vocals are chilling on "Lashes," which are a plea to God, saying "I'm ashamed that You love me, send grace for the hearts that I stole." The song also has some heavy bass on it, along with a sound that draws comparisons to the likes of As Cities Burn. The calming tones of the album kick into gear starting with "Rich," that has a sound not to far from bands such as Deas Vail. The layered vocals that close out the song are mixed with the eclectic guitar work found on much of Yet.

The two oppositely named songs, "Patience and Silence" and "Sound and Fury," both have lyrics that are cry out to God. "Take all my fury and throw it out into the wind" represents the stronger of the two tracks, "Sound and Fury." It has some of the best guitar riffs heard from My Epic, which transition into the next track, "Pour." Something that I admire about this track and many of the others are the boldness found in the honest lyrics and heavy instrumentation that go along with the softer vocals from Aaron. There are a few times where the music does get a bit distracting and a small bit dreary, but aside from that, My Epic have created a beautiful album with a message that they are not afraid to share.

Rating: 8/10 My Epic have created a solid album with Yet, their sophomore release. The lyrics and music are both chilling, containing a great message of God's love and what He went through for us. This album is guaranteed to be a good listen, a blessing at that.

Tracklisting:

1. Author
2. Lower Still
3. Lashes
4. Rich
5. Patience and Silence
6. Sound and Fury
7. Pour
8. Ashes
9. Further Up/Further In
10. Perfector

(Buy Here)