Hey guys, I'm not going to be posting a weekly secular artist review today.  I know, I know, and I'm sorry.  It's the end of the school year and I've been cramming, cramming, cramming for too many things... but I'm not going to leave today empty.  I wrote a song this last week called Show Me Beauty.  I will soon record it and put it on my YouTube channel for everyone to hear, but I'm going to give you a sneak peek, so here are the lyrics. 


Do you like it?  Leave your comments below... and be sure to check out my channel over the next week because I will be posting the song soon.   

Today's featured Christian artist is Family Force 5.  This band's music ranges in the rock, rap rock, hardcore, and Christian crunkcore genres.  Family Force 5 has had success both in mainstream and Christian industries, but they appear to stay true to their original values and belief in Jesus Christ.  Family Force 5 currently consists of five members: Solomon Olds, Jacob Olds, Joshua Olds, Nathen Currin, and Derek Mount.  Each of these men are better known for their nicknames, which in the same order as above are: Soul Glow Activatur, Crouton, Fatty, Nadaddy, and Chap Stique. 

Quick Bio-
The band began with three brothers: Solomon, Jacob, and Joshua.  They first titled their band The Brothers, attempting a "boy band" appearance.  They soon formed into Ground Noise, which they self-described as, "a really bad version of Third Day."  After adding two more members, Ground Noise became The Phamily- which had to be changed because of copyright issues with Prince's band "The Family"- and then to Family Force 5.  This band has been signed both with Maverick Records (mainstream/secular) and Gotee Records (Christian).  Family Force 5 released their first full length album in 2006, and since then have received widespread success in both Christian and mainstream markets.  They were most recently featured on the Alice in Wonderland movie soundtrack. 

Something that the members of Family Force 5 attempt to make very clear is that they don't want to be labeled simply a Christian band and be thus confined to those musical barriers.  Their goal appears to be to make music that everyone can enjoy... but music that can also lead people to the Lord.

"To me, and pretty much anybody that's under my age, most Christian music is a turnoff.  I don't want to be affiliated with that.  I want to be affiliated with something that is great music.  I feel that Maverick and Gotee together can pull that off... We want to make music that is for God, but at the same time, we want to make music that people enjoy and that they're not turned off by." -Solomon Olds

In other words, Family Force 5 is interested in making music beyond the stereotypical "four chord" arrangement of many popular Christian worship songs.  They're intent on creating a unique sound with great musical diversity... and God's message of hope.

Family Force 5 is affiliated with the ministry Heart Support, which, according to the website is "community based online help for those struggling with different types of addiction."  Heart Support is a great website that brings struggling people together and helps them find hope, encouragement, and empowerment.

There have been a few controversies on whether or not it is right or wrong for Family Force 5 to perform both in the Christian and secular music industries.  However, the members of the band all openly express themselves to be Christians, and they tour with Christian music artists, such as TobyMac, Remedy Drive, and Reliant K.  Check out Chap Stique discussing his life verse in this video.  And please realize that Family Force 5 are not a worship band... but they're a Christian band.  Many of their songs deal with issues that young people deal with today.  They have a great outreach to nonbelievers who like their music for the beat and I think they do realize that. 

"We're not only for Christian kids to listen to, to be ministered to. We're also giving this to kids in the secular market so that they have a positive message..." -Solomon Olds

I would like to feature Family Force 5 as a great Christian alternative to hardcore secular bands.  These men abstain from cussing and talking about sex and drugs and violence.  However, I would also recommend that you add worship artists to your playlist so that you can have a mixture of Christian songs and worship songs. 

What do you think about this review?  Do you like or dislike Family Force 5?  Do you have a request for me to review an artist: secular or Christian?  Leave your comments below.
 
Credit for the pictures used in this article go here and here.