I don’t know if it’s just me, or maybe I get a false impression because I work for Rock the Joint Magazine, but I think there has been a real upsurge of great contemporary Christian rock (and country) based music recently. It has been good music as well with some great bands and artists weaving the message of Christ into their music, sometimes very subtle and keeping the edge to their delivery.
I was personally excited to come across “A Better Way,” the new single by Ashes Awaken. It dropped in my tray for consideration and I grabbed it. Let me share the press release with you:
“Pittsburgh-based melodic metal band Ashes Awaken stormed onto the scene with their debut single, “A Better Way”, the first taste of their forthcoming full-length album Rise, set to release in late 2025. Blending the intensity of modern melodic rock and metal with faith-driven storytelling, “A Better Way” is an electrifying anthem of resilience, recovery, and redemption. Fueled by down-tuned riffs, thunderous drums, and commanding vocals that shift from searing aggression to soaring melody, the track delivers the visceral punch of heavy music while offering a message of hope and grace. Its chant-ready chorus captures the spirit of defiance and deliverance: a powerful reminder that for those fighting through addiction and brokenness, there is always a path forward.
“This song was born out of real struggle,” songwriter and spokesperson Michael Stover said. “We’ve watched people we love wrestle with chains—addiction, shame, isolation—and we’ve battled our own. “A Better Way” is us throwing a lifeline: you are not your past, and you’re not alone. In Jesus, there’s freedom.”
Ashes Awaken‘s music occupies the space where melodic metal meets cinematic atmosphere, infused with spiritually charged lyricism. With “Rise,” the band expands that creative palette, weaving together themes of rebirth, resilience, and rising from the ashes. Across the album’s narrative arc—one that moves from prison walls to phoenix wings—the group pairs massive breakdowns and towering choruses with lyrics that confront darkness honestly while leading listeners toward light.
Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ashes Awaken forge heavy, hope-filled metal that speaks to both body and soul. With a mission to bring light into the darkest places, the band crafts cathartic songs about breaking chains, rebuilding faith, and rising again.”
Which takes us to…my review!
As far as I can tell this is their debut single. I was looking for any other tracks released by the band and this is the only one I could find, so this is all I have to go on! Musically we have a modern take on the eighties metal sound, big melodies and chorus. We have a big drum sound and a commercial rock radio friendly beat. It is exactly the song you would want to drive to, hitting the open highway and allowing the music to cheer you along. Touches of Whitesnake, Europe – that type of sound with a 2025 spin to the mix.
Heavy, hopeful, and highway-ready — “A Better Way” is the kind of track that makes you roll the windows down and believe again.
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Stream music from Ashes Awaken here.
By Stevie Ritson