<![CDATA[The Forgiven]]>The Forgiven is real talk with Christian rock and metal artists. Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths) and Kate Nardone (Rock of Ages on AscendFM) find emerging bands they love and get them on camera.


We ask what fans actually want to ask: how they met Jesus, what church looks like for them now, how the band started, and the real life stuff behind the songs. Then we have some fun with the Lightning Round, band Superlatives, and fan questions.


Past guests include Pipe Bomb, Drive Thru Society, and Poetry On Fire. New episodes twice a month.


This show is a ministry. We're here to support, invest in, and pray for the artists making heavy music for Jesus.


New here? Pick an episode with a band you love and hit play.

]]>theforgiven.coRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:51:55 GMTSun, 02 Aug 2026 13:51:51 GMT604c438120-a3b0-11f1-aad7-fb2c4364affdBill Branstetter<p>The Forgiven is real talk with Christian rock and metal artists. Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths) and Kate Nardone (Rock of Ages on AscendFM) find emerging bands they love and get them on camera.</p><p><br />We ask what fans actually want to ask: how they met Jesus, what church looks like for them now, how the band started, and the real life stuff behind the songs. Then we have some fun with the Lightning Round, band Superlatives, and fan questions.</p><p><br />Past guests include Pipe Bomb, Drive Thru Society, and Poetry On Fire. New episodes twice a month.</p><p><br />This show is a ministry. We're here to support, invest in, and pray for the artists making heavy music for Jesus.</p><p><br />New here? Pick an episode with a band you love and hit play.</p>episodicBill Branstetterbill.branstetter.7@gmail.comno<![CDATA[TikTok Preacher to Christian Metal | amen]]>One day amen is going to stop making music. No announcement, no farewell record, no goodbye.


He is twenty-two, he is a pastor, and he told us he already knows how this ends. "One day this is gonna end and when it does, it's gonna happen suddenly and I'm just not gonna make another song again. I'm not gonna say bye." When we asked how we could pray for him, that was the answer: that he would be able to let it go when the time comes.

amen is a Christian metal project out of South Carolina, and every lyric is scripture. He dropped out of nursing school on a full scholarship to make it and had to pay one of them back. Before that he was an electrician for two and a half years. He built over a hundred thousand followers on TikTok preaching, three videos past two million views each, before he ever released a song. His first album earned a plaque for a million streams, and by the time we recorded he said it had nearly tripled. He has never played a live show and does not plan to. The hard part of this conversation was hearing someone that young describe the years he stood in a pulpit he knew he did not belong in.


The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.


Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.


Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.


CHAPTERS

0:00 The day he stops making music

0:31 Who amen is

1:37 Two truths and a lie

2:09 He dropped out of nursing school on a full scholarship

4:40 Where his faith actually started

7:23 His worst years came after he got saved

10:26 Why he calls stage cues in church deception

11:19 A pulpit he knew he did not belong in

11:48 He excommunicated himself

15:45 Telling his wife the truth

18:47 How a teenager ended up on church staff

21:27 Forty-two hours preaching on a livestream

25:04 What discipleship looks like on a media team

31:06 The window, the prayer rug, and the open Bible

35:24 What he would tell his eighteen-year-old self

37:44 Where the name amen came from

41:14 A plaque on the wall and three million streams

43:15 Why he will never play a live show

46:00 What his church thinks of the music

47:23 Collabs with Tiffany Twisted and Poetry on Fire

51:50 Lightning round, and the socks

56:22 One song a month, on purpose

58:29 How he turns scripture into lyrics

1:06:52 Kate prays


amen: https://www.instagram.com/music.amen/

Bill Branstetter: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/

Kate Nardone: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/


#amen #ChristianMetal #ScriptureMetal #TheForgiven

]]>064abf20-9579-4e7f-814e-dd76942cf6beThu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>One day amen is going to stop making music. No announcement, no farewell record, no goodbye.</p><p><br />He is twenty-two, he is a pastor, and he told us he already knows how this ends. "One day this is gonna end and when it does, it's gonna happen suddenly and I'm just not gonna make another song again. I'm not gonna say bye." When we asked how we could pray for him, that was the answer: that he would be able to let it go when the time comes.</p><p>amen is a Christian metal project out of South Carolina, and every lyric is scripture. He dropped out of nursing school on a full scholarship to make it and had to pay one of them back. Before that he was an electrician for two and a half years. He built over a hundred thousand followers on TikTok preaching, three videos past two million views each, before he ever released a song. His first album earned a plaque for a million streams, and by the time we recorded he said it had nearly tripled. He has never played a live show and does not plan to. The hard part of this conversation was hearing someone that young describe the years he stood in a pulpit he knew he did not belong in.</p><p><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.</p><p><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.</p><p><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.</p><p><br />CHAPTERS</p><p>0:00 The day he stops making music</p><p>0:31 Who amen is</p><p>1:37 Two truths and a lie</p><p>2:09 He dropped out of nursing school on a full scholarship</p><p>4:40 Where his faith actually started</p><p>7:23 His worst years came after he got saved</p><p>10:26 Why he calls stage cues in church deception</p><p>11:19 A pulpit he knew he did not belong in</p><p>11:48 He excommunicated himself</p><p>15:45 Telling his wife the truth</p><p>18:47 How a teenager ended up on church staff</p><p>21:27 Forty-two hours preaching on a livestream</p><p>25:04 What discipleship looks like on a media team</p><p>31:06 The window, the prayer rug, and the open Bible</p><p>35:24 What he would tell his eighteen-year-old self</p><p>37:44 Where the name amen came from</p><p>41:14 A plaque on the wall and three million streams</p><p>43:15 Why he will never play a live show</p><p>46:00 What his church thinks of the music</p><p>47:23 Collabs with Tiffany Twisted and Poetry on Fire</p><p>51:50 Lightning round, and the socks</p><p>56:22 One song a month, on purpose</p><p>58:29 How he turns scripture into lyrics</p><p>1:06:52 Kate prays</p><p><br />amen: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/music.amen/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/music.amen/</a></p><p>Bill Branstetter: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a></p><p>Kate Nardone: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a></p><p><br />#amen #ChristianMetal #ScriptureMetal #TheForgiven</p>no01:09:588TikTok Preacher to Christian Metal | amenfull<![CDATA[You Don't Want To Get Better | MAGDALENE ROSE]]>Maggie Rojas spent years asking God to fix her. It took her husband to point out that she didn't actually want to get better yet.


She got saved at 11 and spent most of the next decade convinced her problems weren't dramatic enough to bother God with. No rock bottom, no big story. Just insecurity, depression, an eating disorder, and a quiet belief that she had to earn love before she was allowed to ask for help. Then Blaise said the thing nobody else had said: "I think you don't want to get better, and I think you need to ask God to help you want to." What she did with that is the rest of the episode.


Maggie fronts Magdalene Rose, a Christian metalcore band out of Nashville on RockFest Records. Blaise plays drums for her and for Seventh Day Slumber, whose frontman is his dad. Their debut record, The Heart That Bloomed After Death, came out last year after three years of work.


The hard part of this one is the stretch where she came off her medication on tour with no doctor returning her calls, and she doesn't tidy it up for us.


The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.


Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.


Subscribe to discover your next favorite artist and the stories behind their music.


CHAPTERS

0:00 Who is Magdalene Rose?

2:16 Maggie's testimony: do you want to heal?

12:15 The lie underneath it, and love she didn't have to earn

15:57 The master's in crisis counseling, and why she got it

18:37 Kate on vulnerability, shame, and being seen

22:31 Why sharing your testimony matters

22:41 How Maggie and Blaise met: a washer, a dryer, and a favor

27:52 Blaise on getting the drum chair in his dad's band

32:28 Maggie on starting at five and her first show at eleven

36:34 Lightning round

43:35 How to pray for them

45:15 Closing prayer


Magdalene Rose: https://officialmagdalenerose.com

Bill Branstetter: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/

Kate Nardone: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/


#MagdaleneRose #ChristianMetalcore #ChristianRock #Beautycore #OutoftheDepths #TheForgiven

]]>a5cdd7ff-9ee8-4eca-ac00-2e74db247efcWed, 12 Aug 2026 19:01:06 GMT<p>Maggie Rojas spent years asking God to fix her. It took her husband to point out that she didn't actually want to get better yet.</p><p><br />She got saved at 11 and spent most of the next decade convinced her problems weren't dramatic enough to bother God with. No rock bottom, no big story. Just insecurity, depression, an eating disorder, and a quiet belief that she had to earn love before she was allowed to ask for help. Then Blaise said the thing nobody else had said: "I think you don't want to get better, and I think you need to ask God to help you want to." What she did with that is the rest of the episode.</p><p><br />Maggie fronts Magdalene Rose, a Christian metalcore band out of Nashville on RockFest Records. Blaise plays drums for her and for Seventh Day Slumber, whose frontman is his dad. Their debut record, The Heart That Bloomed After Death, came out last year after three years of work.</p><p><br />The hard part of this one is the stretch where she came off her medication on tour with no doctor returning her calls, and she doesn't tidy it up for us. </p><p><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.</p><p><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.</p><p><br />Subscribe to discover your next favorite artist and the stories behind their music.</p><p><br />CHAPTERS</p><p>0:00 Who is Magdalene Rose?</p><p>2:16 Maggie's testimony: do you want to heal?</p><p>12:15 The lie underneath it, and love she didn't have to earn</p><p>15:57 The master's in crisis counseling, and why she got it</p><p>18:37 Kate on vulnerability, shame, and being seen</p><p>22:31 Why sharing your testimony matters</p><p>22:41 How Maggie and Blaise met: a washer, a dryer, and a favor</p><p>27:52 Blaise on getting the drum chair in his dad's band</p><p>32:28 Maggie on starting at five and her first show at eleven</p><p>36:34 Lightning round</p><p>43:35 How to pray for them</p><p>45:15 Closing prayer</p><p><br />Magdalene Rose: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://officialmagdalenerose.com" target="_blank">https://officialmagdalenerose.com</a></p><p>Bill Branstetter: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a></p><p>Kate Nardone: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a></p><p><br />#MagdaleneRose #ChristianMetalcore #ChristianRock #Beautycore #OutoftheDepths #TheForgiven</p>no00:46:207You Don't Want To Get Better | MAGDALENE ROSEfull<![CDATA[Homeless at 15 to Evangelist | POETRY ON FIRE]]>Kaleb Webb and Evan Chapman have been best friends since they were five years old. Then one of them nearly didn't survive being a teenager, and the other one wouldn't stop showing up.

Kaleb was homeless at 15, stealing food to feed his sisters, watching his own pastor grandfather survive a suicide attempt after his grandmother's death. Evan just kept inviting him — to church, to camp, to youth group — until Kaleb finally broke at the altar of a small church in Sikeston, Missouri, and heard the Holy Spirit say, "If you give me your life, I will give you a new one."

Now the two of them front Poetry on Fire, a Christian metalcore band out of southeast Missouri pulling 60,000 monthly Spotify listeners with one mission: to see the captive set free. We get into the full ride: garage recordings through a sock-wrapped USB mic, opening for For Today and Sent By Ravens, walking away from music completely before coming back to build this project on surrender instead of performance.

We also get into something we haven't touched on the show before: AI. Kaleb doesn't dodge it. He tells us exactly where it fits in his process and where it doesn't, and why he's taken heat from other Christians for being honest about it.

The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths - a project making word-for-word metal versions of every Psalm) and Kate Nardone, host of the Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Who is Poetry on Fire?
2:07 Kaleb's testimony: homeless at 15 to the altar
9:54 Evan's story and a friendship since age 5
15:45 Sharing the stage with For Today and Sent By Ravens
21:14 From garage bands to Poetry on Fire
30:08 Who's discipling the artists?
36:54 Their home church and community
37:55 Advice to their 18-year-old selves
39:54 Their honest take on AI in Christian music
47:03 Lightning round
53:07 What's next for Poetry on Fire
55:05 Where to find and support them
55:44 How to pray for Poetry on Fire

Follow Poetry on Fire: https://www.instagram.com/poetryonfiremusic/
Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/
Follow Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/

#PoetryOnFire #ChristianMetalcore #ChristianRock #Testimony #ChristianMusic #TheForgiven

]]>2735288f-1d9c-4460-b93b-28e5e3ecf146Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:12:33 GMT<p>Kaleb Webb and Evan Chapman have been best friends since they were five years old. Then one of them nearly didn't survive being a teenager, and the other one wouldn't stop showing up.<br /><br />Kaleb was homeless at 15, stealing food to feed his sisters, watching his own pastor grandfather survive a suicide attempt after his grandmother's death. Evan just kept inviting him — to church, to camp, to youth group — until Kaleb finally broke at the altar of a small church in Sikeston, Missouri, and heard the Holy Spirit say, "If you give me your life, I will give you a new one."<br /><br />Now the two of them front Poetry on Fire, a Christian metalcore band out of southeast Missouri pulling 60,000 monthly Spotify listeners with one mission: to see the captive set free. We get into the full ride: garage recordings through a sock-wrapped USB mic, opening for For Today and Sent By Ravens, walking away from music completely before coming back to build this project on surrender instead of performance.<br /><br />We also get into something we haven't touched on the show before: AI. Kaleb doesn't dodge it. He tells us exactly where it fits in his process and where it doesn't, and why he's taken heat from other Christians for being honest about it.<br /><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths - a project making word-for-word metal versions of every Psalm) and Kate Nardone, host of the Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 Who is Poetry on Fire?<br />2:07 Kaleb's testimony: homeless at 15 to the altar<br />9:54 Evan's story and a friendship since age 5<br />15:45 Sharing the stage with For Today and Sent By Ravens<br />21:14 From garage bands to Poetry on Fire<br />30:08 Who's discipling the artists?<br />36:54 Their home church and community<br />37:55 Advice to their 18-year-old selves<br />39:54 Their honest take on AI in Christian music<br />47:03 Lightning round<br />53:07 What's next for Poetry on Fire<br />55:05 Where to find and support them<br />55:44 How to pray for Poetry on Fire<br /><br />Follow Poetry on Fire: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/poetryonfiremusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/poetryonfiremusic/</a><br />Follow Kate: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br />Follow Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br /><br />#PoetryOnFire #ChristianMetalcore #ChristianRock #Testimony #ChristianMusic #TheForgiven</p>no01:00:146Homeless at 15 to Evangelist | POETRY ON FIREfull<![CDATA[From Occult to Christian Grungecore | TIFFANY TWISTED]]>Hetti Harper of Tiffany Twisted trained as a medium at a spiritualist association in London. Then Jesus got hold of her.

She spent all of lockdown meditating for hours a day and went a long way down the occult road before she realized she was stuck and couldn't get out. She tells us about the night she ended up on her bathroom floor at 3AM telling God he was either going to have to take her life or do something about it. He did something about it.

We get into deliverance ministry and why so many churches won't go near it. She talks about the demonic block that kept her from receiving God's love, and what happened the day it finally came out. Her dad got saved and has just been baptized. And God asked her to delete her entire pre-Jesus catalog, which she did.

Now she makes what she calls Grungecore for Christ. Sonic ramblings to God, about God, for God. Five singles out, an EP coming in the next couple of months, and Texas sitting at the top of her list for when she gets over here.

Stay to the end — Kate prays for Hetti.

THE FORGIVEN is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. Kate and I are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths - a project making word-for-word metal versions of every Psalm) and Kate Nardone, host of the Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Who is Tiffany Twisted?
2:29 From spiritualist medium to Christ
6:35 Can Christians have demons?
9:31 Why deliverance ministry matters
13:03 Discernment, struggle, and seeking freedom
18:41 Learning to receive God's love
22:32 Her father's journey to faith
25:16 Daily walk with God, worship, and church community
28:06 What she would tell her younger self
31:30 How Tiffany Twisted began
35:18 Deleting her former catalog
38:42 Creating and producing music as a solo artist
39:54 Fan questions
44:54 Lightning round
48:10 What's next
49:57 How to pray for Hetti

Follow Tiffany Twisted: https://www.instagram.com/tif_twisted/
Tiffany Twisted on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ixCNwzSi222BZzUucqAFq
Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/
Follow Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/

#TiffanyTwisted #ChristianRock #Grungecore #Deliverance #Testimony #ChristianMusic #TheForgiven

]]>a45ec96a-aad0-4d21-9c24-13d38606264aMon, 03 Aug 2026 13:41:08 GMT<p>Hetti Harper of Tiffany Twisted trained as a medium at a spiritualist association in London. Then Jesus got hold of her.<br /><br />She spent all of lockdown meditating for hours a day and went a long way down the occult road before she realized she was stuck and couldn't get out. She tells us about the night she ended up on her bathroom floor at 3AM telling God he was either going to have to take her life or do something about it. He did something about it.<br /><br />We get into deliverance ministry and why so many churches won't go near it. She talks about the demonic block that kept her from receiving God's love, and what happened the day it finally came out. Her dad got saved and has just been baptized. And God asked her to delete her entire pre-Jesus catalog, which she did.<br /><br />Now she makes what she calls Grungecore for Christ. Sonic ramblings to God, about God, for God. Five singles out, an EP coming in the next couple of months, and Texas sitting at the top of her list for when she gets over here.<br /><br />Stay to the end — Kate prays for Hetti.<br /><br />THE FORGIVEN is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. Kate and I are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths - a project making word-for-word metal versions of every Psalm) and Kate Nardone, host of the Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 Who is Tiffany Twisted?<br />2:29 From spiritualist medium to Christ<br />6:35 Can Christians have demons?<br />9:31 Why deliverance ministry matters<br />13:03 Discernment, struggle, and seeking freedom<br />18:41 Learning to receive God's love<br />22:32 Her father's journey to faith<br />25:16 Daily walk with God, worship, and church community<br />28:06 What she would tell her younger self<br />31:30 How Tiffany Twisted began<br />35:18 Deleting her former catalog<br />38:42 Creating and producing music as a solo artist<br />39:54 Fan questions<br />44:54 Lightning round<br />48:10 What's next<br />49:57 How to pray for Hetti<br /><br />Follow Tiffany Twisted: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/tif_twisted/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/tif_twisted/</a><br />Tiffany Twisted on Spotify: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ixCNwzSi222BZzUucqAFq" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ixCNwzSi222BZzUucqAFq</a><br />Follow Kate: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br />Follow Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br /><br />#TiffanyTwisted #ChristianRock #Grungecore #Deliverance #Testimony #ChristianMusic #TheForgiven</p>no00:52:215From Occult to Christian Grungecore | TIFFANY TWISTEDfull<![CDATA[Violin Metalcore Shouldn't Work | DRIVE THRU SOCIETY]]>Drive Thru Society got their name from a question: is church becoming a place you pull up to, grab a feel-good sermon, and drive away from?

Meg was driving home past a drive-thru pharmacy, a drive-thru car wash, a drive-thru beer barn, and started wondering what happens to a faith built for convenience. "The Bible literally says don't give up meeting together." The band name has been the argument ever since.

They're a Christian violin metalcore band out of Denton, Texas, and their first full-length album, Thresholds, is exactly the kind of heavy we love. Kathy has been playing violin for 27 years and runs it clean through a metalcore mix, no distortion, all in the hands. Meg went into the studio choir-trained and came out screaming. Michael was agnostic until 2017, went forward at an altar call, and Kathy proposed to him the next day. Miles lost his dad, walked away, and went looking for God on his own terms rather than taking anyone's word for it.

We also get into the honest stuff — ministry, marriage, money, and a conversation about miscarriage that neither Kate nor Meg flinched from.

THE FORGIVEN is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths — a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

So, is your church a drive-thru? Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open
1:07 Meet Drive Thru Society
2:15 Who grew up in church?
3:04 Michael: agnostic, and the signs he kept ignoring
4:15 She proposed the day after he got saved
5:54 Leaving the worship team to start a band
7:50 Is it violin metalcore worship?
9:49 Does your church know you play metal?
10:45 27 years on the violin
12:59 Miles: losing his dad, then finding God for himself
14:46 What God is doing in their lives right now
18:08 Advice to your 18-year-old self
19:51 Where the name Drive Thru Society came from
21:49 Who else is doing violin metalcore?
26:39 From praise voice to metal voice
29:31 Michael's favorite riff on Thresholds
30:27 Who fights more on tour?
31:31 Working with Travis and Corey
36:53 How Kate found the band
44:04 Miscarriage, and the song that gave it words
52:46 Fan questions
59:49 Superlatives
1:05:58 What's next
1:08:33 How to pray for the band

Follow Drive Thru Society: https://www.drivethrusocietyband.com
Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/
Follow Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/

#DriveThruSociety #ChristianMetal #Metalcore #ViolinMetal #ChristianMetalcore #TheForgiven

]]>f16e900d-3729-44ad-b340-b285138e0057Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:36:59 GMT<p>Drive Thru Society got their name from a question: is church becoming a place you pull up to, grab a feel-good sermon, and drive away from?<br /><br />Meg was driving home past a drive-thru pharmacy, a drive-thru car wash, a drive-thru beer barn, and started wondering what happens to a faith built for convenience. "The Bible literally says don't give up meeting together." The band name has been the argument ever since.<br /><br />They're a Christian violin metalcore band out of Denton, Texas, and their first full-length album, Thresholds, is exactly the kind of heavy we love. Kathy has been playing violin for 27 years and runs it clean through a metalcore mix, no distortion, all in the hands. Meg went into the studio choir-trained and came out screaming. Michael was agnostic until 2017, went forward at an altar call, and Kathy proposed to him the next day. Miles lost his dad, walked away, and went looking for God on his own terms rather than taking anyone's word for it.<br /><br />We also get into the honest stuff — ministry, marriage, money, and a conversation about miscarriage that neither Kate nor Meg flinched from.<br /><br />THE FORGIVEN is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths — a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />So, is your church a drive-thru? Tell us in the comments.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 Cold open<br />1:07 Meet Drive Thru Society<br />2:15 Who grew up in church?<br />3:04 Michael: agnostic, and the signs he kept ignoring<br />4:15 She proposed the day after he got saved<br />5:54 Leaving the worship team to start a band<br />7:50 Is it violin metalcore worship?<br />9:49 Does your church know you play metal?<br />10:45 27 years on the violin<br />12:59 Miles: losing his dad, then finding God for himself<br />14:46 What God is doing in their lives right now<br />18:08 Advice to your 18-year-old self<br />19:51 Where the name Drive Thru Society came from<br />21:49 Who else is doing violin metalcore?<br />26:39 From praise voice to metal voice<br />29:31 Michael's favorite riff on Thresholds<br />30:27 Who fights more on tour?<br />31:31 Working with Travis and Corey<br />36:53 How Kate found the band<br />44:04 Miscarriage, and the song that gave it words<br />52:46 Fan questions<br />59:49 Superlatives<br />1:05:58 What's next<br />1:08:33 How to pray for the band<br /><br />Follow Drive Thru Society: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.drivethrusocietyband.com" target="_blank">https://www.drivethrusocietyband.com</a><br />Follow Kate: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br />Follow Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br /><br />#DriveThruSociety #ChristianMetal #Metalcore #ViolinMetal #ChristianMetalcore #TheForgiven</p>no01:12:504Violin Metalcore Shouldn't Work | DRIVE THRU SOCIETYfull<![CDATA[Trying to Disprove Christianity | OF MALICE]]>Mark Randazzo set out to disprove Christianity. He was raised in it — Christian school, youth group, good parents — and in his early twenties he started asking whether any of it was actually his, or just what he'd been handed.

He never stopped believing. He just refused to take anyone's word for it. His professors called him the Inquisitor. Ask him to describe his band's sound in one word and he says "pissed."

Mark spent years in War of Ages and Letter to the Exiles, stepped away from full-time touring, and came back with Of Malice. We get into the book that brought him full circle, why he thinks the Bible's heroes were broken men rather than great ones, the two meanings behind the name Of Malice, the story behind "Spineless" and the friend it was written about, learning to scream as a frontman in his late 30s, and why he's grown wary of the term "Christian metal" after watching bands use it as a stepping stone and then walk away. Then Mark takes on the Lightning Round.

Of Malice is Mark Randazzo, James Appleton, and Andy Amato, with roots in Letter to the Exiles and War of Ages. Their debut record is on the way.

The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths — a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

So, should Christians be angry? Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS
0:00 "I've started to dislike the term Christian metal"
1:02 Meet Mark Randazzo of Of Malice
2:01 Where and when God met him
3:32 Trying to disprove Christianity, and The Case for Christ
7:01 The Inquisitor: questioning authority, challenging narratives
11:02 Learning to distrust the narrative
16:11 Home church, community, and heavy music
21:06 Staying close to God when church is hard
22:43 Why "Of Malice" — the name's two meanings
28:17 Inside the songwriting: building "Spineless"
32:29 Learning to scream: technique, lost voices, and coaching
38:37 The "Christian metal" label and why Mark is wary of it
46:21 Is the music Spirit-led? Faith and the creative process
47:34 The album's premise
49:20 The real story behind "Spineless"
51:16 The Lightning Round
53:44 What's next for Of Malice
57:44 How can people pray for Mark

Follow Of Malice: https://www.instagram.com/ofmalice/
Follow Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/
Follow Kate Nardone: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/

#OfMalice #ChristianMetalcore #Metalcore #ChristianMetal #FaithAndMusic #TheForgiven

]]>1dff262c-eebe-486c-98ae-d3c7ea2a2430Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:26:48 GMT<p>Mark Randazzo set out to disprove Christianity. He was raised in it — Christian school, youth group, good parents — and in his early twenties he started asking whether any of it was actually his, or just what he'd been handed.<br /><br />He never stopped believing. He just refused to take anyone's word for it. His professors called him the Inquisitor. Ask him to describe his band's sound in one word and he says "pissed."<br /><br />Mark spent years in War of Ages and Letter to the Exiles, stepped away from full-time touring, and came back with Of Malice. We get into the book that brought him full circle, why he thinks the Bible's heroes were broken men rather than great ones, the two meanings behind the name Of Malice, the story behind "Spineless" and the friend it was written about, learning to scream as a frontman in his late 30s, and why he's grown wary of the term "Christian metal" after watching bands use it as a stepping stone and then walk away. Then Mark takes on the Lightning Round.<br /><br />Of Malice is Mark Randazzo, James Appleton, and Andy Amato, with roots in Letter to the Exiles and War of Ages. Their debut record is on the way.<br /><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths — a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />So, should Christians be angry? Tell us in the comments.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 "I've started to dislike the term Christian metal"<br />1:02 Meet Mark Randazzo of Of Malice<br />2:01 Where and when God met him<br />3:32 Trying to disprove Christianity, and The Case for Christ<br />7:01 The Inquisitor: questioning authority, challenging narratives<br />11:02 Learning to distrust the narrative<br />16:11 Home church, community, and heavy music<br />21:06 Staying close to God when church is hard<br />22:43 Why "Of Malice" — the name's two meanings<br />28:17 Inside the songwriting: building "Spineless"<br />32:29 Learning to scream: technique, lost voices, and coaching<br />38:37 The "Christian metal" label and why Mark is wary of it<br />46:21 Is the music Spirit-led? Faith and the creative process<br />47:34 The album's premise<br />49:20 The real story behind "Spineless"<br />51:16 The Lightning Round<br />53:44 What's next for Of Malice<br />57:44 How can people pray for Mark<br /><br />Follow Of Malice: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/ofmalice/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/ofmalice/</a><br />Follow Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br />Follow Kate Nardone: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br /><br />#OfMalice #ChristianMetalcore #Metalcore #ChristianMetal #FaithAndMusic #TheForgiven</p>no01:00:073Trying to Disprove Christianity | OF MALICEfull<![CDATA[The Song Written in the NICU | METAL FOR EMMANUEL]]>Dana quit music. She left her band, stopped listening to anything that wasn't of God, and walked away from the thing that had been the center of her life since she was a little girl. Then a church taught her that worship was healthy and good, and she came back and made metal.

She and her husband Jason are Metal for Emmanuel, a husband-and-wife project out of Georgia. They met when he messaged her on Facebook to buy a ticket to her show, which we agree was probably about more than the ticket. Jason taught himself electric guitar, music theory, home recording, mixing, and mastering, and plays lead, rhythm, and bass on everything they release. Dana sings and does the graphic design. They have three kids under six, she is a stay-at-home mom, they homeschool, and she says the lesson planning is her favorite part.

Their song "In This Storm" came out of the two weeks their youngest daughter spent in the NICU after an emergency C-section, with breathing problems they watched her fight off a little more each day. The first line Dana wrote was "crushing winds awaken, foundations are shaken." She also talks about dabbling in the occult as a teenager after she found metal, the nightmares that came with it, and calling her dad a few years ago to tell him she forgave him for not being there.

The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

So, does music hurt your faith? Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS
0:00 "You've got to let that go"
0:25 Meet Dana of Metal for Emmanuel
0:48 He bought a ticket to get her number
1:28 How music took over her life
2:46 How they write a song together
3:39 Their sound: Iron Maiden, Dio, and a little black metal
4:42 What their kids think of it
5:24 The story behind "In This Storm"
7:27 The first line she wrote
8:26 Growing up in church without knowing God
10:15 The occult, the nightmares, and wanting out
11:08 Quitting the band and giving up music
11:52 What church looks like now
12:37 Who discipled them
13:20 What "born again" actually means
14:03 What she'd tell her 18-year-old self
14:25 Forgiving the father who wasn't there
15:40 Her daily time with God
16:52 Making videos with three kids underfoot
17:55 Lightning round
20:00 What's next for Metal for Emmanuel
21:17 How to pray for Dana and Jason

Metal for Emmanuel: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570660627471
Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/
Kate Nardone: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/

#MetalForEmmanuel #ChristianMetal #ChristianRock #FaithAndMusic #TheForgiven

]]>a5671218-5507-4699-b7a1-dcf3701d13afMon, 03 Aug 2026 13:20:32 GMT<p>Dana quit music. She left her band, stopped listening to anything that wasn't of God, and walked away from the thing that had been the center of her life since she was a little girl. Then a church taught her that worship was healthy and good, and she came back and made metal.<br /><br />She and her husband Jason are Metal for Emmanuel, a husband-and-wife project out of Georgia. They met when he messaged her on Facebook to buy a ticket to her show, which we agree was probably about more than the ticket. Jason taught himself electric guitar, music theory, home recording, mixing, and mastering, and plays lead, rhythm, and bass on everything they release. Dana sings and does the graphic design. They have three kids under six, she is a stay-at-home mom, they homeschool, and she says the lesson planning is her favorite part.<br /><br />Their song "In This Storm" came out of the two weeks their youngest daughter spent in the NICU after an emergency C-section, with breathing problems they watched her fight off a little more each day. The first line Dana wrote was "crushing winds awaken, foundations are shaken." She also talks about dabbling in the occult as a teenager after she found metal, the nightmares that came with it, and calling her dad a few years ago to tell him she forgave him for not being there.<br /><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />So, does music hurt your faith? Tell us in the comments.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 "You've got to let that go"<br />0:25 Meet Dana of Metal for Emmanuel<br />0:48 He bought a ticket to get her number<br />1:28 How music took over her life<br />2:46 How they write a song together<br />3:39 Their sound: Iron Maiden, Dio, and a little black metal<br />4:42 What their kids think of it<br />5:24 The story behind "In This Storm"<br />7:27 The first line she wrote<br />8:26 Growing up in church without knowing God<br />10:15 The occult, the nightmares, and wanting out<br />11:08 Quitting the band and giving up music<br />11:52 What church looks like now<br />12:37 Who discipled them<br />13:20 What "born again" actually means<br />14:03 What she'd tell her 18-year-old self<br />14:25 Forgiving the father who wasn't there<br />15:40 Her daily time with God<br />16:52 Making videos with three kids underfoot<br />17:55 Lightning round<br />20:00 What's next for Metal for Emmanuel<br />21:17 How to pray for Dana and Jason<br /><br />Metal for Emmanuel: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570660627471" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570660627471</a><br />Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br />Kate Nardone: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br /><br />#MetalForEmmanuel #ChristianMetal #ChristianRock #FaithAndMusic #TheForgiven</p>no00:21:572The Song Written in the NICU | METAL FOR EMMANUELfull<![CDATA[Chaotic Metalcore in Mom's Basement | PIPE BOMB]]>Mitch records Pipe Bomb in his apartment, then drives to his mom's house and reamps the whole thing in her basement. That's where Hellhole came from.

He also leads worship at his church on Sunday morning. The band is named after a line in a Unabomber documentary, and he is refreshingly unbothered about that: "I think a lot of people want the name to mean something. I would much rather it just sound cool."

Mitch grew up in the church and never left it, which he knows is not most people's story. What got him was realizing in high school that he believed everything a Christian is supposed to believe and was treating it like a pastime. We get into that, losing his dad at eleven, why becoming a member of a church felt like a bigger deal than he expected, and the conviction that came with marriage: his wife knows the Bible better than he does and he decided he needed to catch up.

We also get into the music. Pipe Bomb is a solo project with The Chariot, Norma Jean, and Nails in its DNA. He talks about humming riffs into his phone at midnight, why "Under God's Heel" is outperforming everything else and what that taught him about hope, how his wife is his barometer for when a lyric is too edgy, and the song he wrote about being caught between wanting to live and wanting to die.

The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.

Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.

Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.

So, is believing enough? Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS
0:00 "I want it to have some conviction"
0:29 Meet Mitch of Pipe Bomb
2:14 Growing up in the church
4:29 The moment it stopped being his parents' faith
7:51 Losing his dad at eleven, and the men who stepped in
9:45 Why church membership mattered more than he expected
10:26 "I need to catch up to my wife"
12:33 Leading worship on Sunday
13:02 Rereading the Bible from the start
17:27 Balancing heavy lyrics with hope
21:51 The Unabomber documentary and the name
22:51 When it stopped being just a creative outlet
24:06 A normal day
25:09 Humming riffs into his phone at midnight
28:05 Why some songs are almost impossible to play live
30:50 His wife is his edginess barometer
32:40 Fan questions: amps and dream rigs
35:42 Guitars
36:53 Four strings or five
38:51 What changed between the EP and the album
42:46 Writing "I Will Kill the Worst Parts of Myself"
43:01 Depression, and being caught between two paths
47:14 Working with a producer for the first time
49:39 Lightning round
51:37 What's next for Pipe Bomb
52:46 How to pray for Mitch

Pipe Bomb: https://www.instagram.com/pipebombband/
Out of the Depths: https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/
Kate Nardone: https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/

#PipeBomb #Metalcore #ChristianMetal #Hardcore #TheForgiven

]]>dcb5e44d-7b03-480f-81cf-6e5eeff6bbd6Sun, 02 Aug 2026 18:36:17 GMT<p>Mitch records Pipe Bomb in his apartment, then drives to his mom's house and reamps the whole thing in her basement. That's where Hellhole came from.<br /><br />He also leads worship at his church on Sunday morning. The band is named after a line in a Unabomber documentary, and he is refreshingly unbothered about that: "I think a lot of people want the name to mean something. I would much rather it just sound cool."<br /><br />Mitch grew up in the church and never left it, which he knows is not most people's story. What got him was realizing in high school that he believed everything a Christian is supposed to believe and was treating it like a pastime. We get into that, losing his dad at eleven, why becoming a member of a church felt like a bigger deal than he expected, and the conviction that came with marriage: his wife knows the Bible better than he does and he decided he needed to catch up.<br /><br />We also get into the music. Pipe Bomb is a solo project with The Chariot, Norma Jean, and Nails in its DNA. He talks about humming riffs into his phone at midnight, why "Under God's Heel" is outperforming everything else and what that taught him about hope, how his wife is his barometer for when a lyric is too edgy, and the song he wrote about being caught between wanting to live and wanting to die.<br /><br />The Forgiven is a community of Christian rock and metal artists. We are looking for emerging artists and bringing our favorites on the show to hear about their walk with God, how they came to know Jesus, and what church looks like for them today.<br /><br />Hosted by Bill Branstetter (Out of the Depths, a project setting every Psalm to metal, word for word) and Kate Nardone, host of Rock of Ages show on AscendFM.<br /><br />Subscribe to hear where these artists go next.<br /><br />So, is believing enough? Tell us in the comments.<br /><br />CHAPTERS<br />0:00 "I want it to have some conviction"<br />0:29 Meet Mitch of Pipe Bomb<br />2:14 Growing up in the church<br />4:29 The moment it stopped being his parents' faith<br />7:51 Losing his dad at eleven, and the men who stepped in<br />9:45 Why church membership mattered more than he expected<br />10:26 "I need to catch up to my wife"<br />12:33 Leading worship on Sunday<br />13:02 Rereading the Bible from the start<br />17:27 Balancing heavy lyrics with hope<br />21:51 The Unabomber documentary and the name<br />22:51 When it stopped being just a creative outlet<br />24:06 A normal day<br />25:09 Humming riffs into his phone at midnight<br />28:05 Why some songs are almost impossible to play live<br />30:50 His wife is his edginess barometer<br />32:40 Fan questions: amps and dream rigs<br />35:42 Guitars<br />36:53 Four strings or five<br />38:51 What changed between the EP and the album<br />42:46 Writing "I Will Kill the Worst Parts of Myself"<br />43:01 Depression, and being caught between two paths<br />47:14 Working with a producer for the first time<br />49:39 Lightning round<br />51:37 What's next for Pipe Bomb<br />52:46 How to pray for Mitch<br /><br />Pipe Bomb: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/pipebombband/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/pipebombband/</a><br />Out of the Depths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/outofthedepthsmusic/</a><br />Kate Nardone: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/radiohostkatehartnardone/</a><br /><br />#PipeBomb #Metalcore #ChristianMetal #Hardcore #TheForgiven</p>no00:55:001Chaotic Metalcore in Mom's Basement | PIPE BOMBfull