Like it or not, social media is a force to reckon with that affords social currency for various projects, which is great for getting the word out. Since I don’t use social media, it is no surprise that I hadn’t heard of Peyton Parrish until news of his Christian album. Sporting an intense crucifix on the cover gave me hope that this social media sensation was serious about bringing truly heavy, truly Christian music to the people.

Peyton Parrish started his musical journey back in his high school days, but it wasn’t until after college that he began recording music. In 2019 he released his debut EP “Vaccine” and follow up EP “Thank God For You.” Since then, he has cranked out songs at a prodigious pace, gaining popularity with his heavy rock covers of Disney film songs with his characteristic throaty vocals. With so much success on the music front, he is now turning to his Christian roots to do something bold for God. In a society that shies from faith, even relegating matters of faith to a gimmick for market share, what Peyton is doing is quite impressive. Many musicians would love to have his level of popularity and to risk it all on a personal conviction would seem ludicrous. Unless it is not just conviction.

“Evangelcore 1” has a heavy rock meet industrial sound that was common in the 90s. There are heavy guitars, up front drums, and a well sculpted booming bottom that saturates the air feeling right at home in a first person shooter game. The spotlight is Peyton’s voice that has a perfectly pitched gravelly texture, something that would fit better than James Hetfield on Metallica’s “Load.” However, there is a lack of guitar riffs and solos or pummeling blast beats that is common in metal, but as a collection of modern psalms with a heavy palette, this works.

Upon my first listen, I immediately drew a comparison of Peyton’s voice to that of John Cooper of Skillet. Although “core” is in the album title, there is nothing ‘core on this release, keeping in the neighborhood of where his gravelly throat would shine the best: heavy hard rock with metallic industrial sprinkles. His sense of rhythm and melody is infectious that makes the songs easy to listen to with melodies easily getting lodged in the ‘ol cranium.

Peyton is bold about his faith in Jesus, which is refreshing to hear such conviction. The lyrics are not confrontational, but refreshingly repentant in hope of salvation. A common theme is Peyton’s lyrics around being good enough for that salvation, showing an honest struggle with the concept of grace while striving for the narrow road. In many ways, these are modern psalms with honest lyrics of faith struggling with what it means to be a Christian in a world that would rather you not be. Given that he has rode on a wave of secular popularity, to be this bold shows great fortitude.

Metal purists may claim it isn’t metal, which is a fair point, but I struggle more with a lack of artistic quality. There is little in terms of instrumental shenanigans, only enough to provide a setting for Peyton’s vocal shenanigans. I hear the sounds of late 90s and early 00s of the likes of Disturbed in its heaviest and Pearl Jam or Stone Temple Pilots in the more mellow. All of the songs are at the optimal radio length of around 3.5 minutes and with 14 songs, there is a lot of material where many of the songs start sounding similar, but not all the same which is the saving grace. There are more hard hitting songs, but a good number of softer ballads in the mix as well. It is not unenjoyable if you are looking for spiritually uplifting worship songs with more heft than CCM, but it sounds like the songs were built rather than inspired.

I feel conflicted about this album. On the one hand, the music fails to have its own identity, like it is engineered to optimize popularity. On the other hand is that this offering, whatever motivations behind it, are solid, catchy heavy-leaning songs with a bold message proclaiming Jesus. I cringe with the first, but applaud heartily the second. Peyton’s voice hits a timbre that would be enjoyable to many metalheads open enough to give this record a shot.

Rating: 8/10

Written by Sean Bailey

Tracklist
1 – Word of God
2 – Promise Land
3 – Gates of Glory
4 – Child of God
5 – Deliverance
6 – Demon Slayer
7 – Row
8 – Void
9 – Catch up to You
10 – Babylon
11 – Hear Me Out
12 – The Great I Am
13 – Carry the Cross
14 – Son of Man

Peyton Parrish is:
Jake Clark – bass
Brennen Moloney – drums
Zachary Ferrell – guitar
Peyton Parrish – vocals

Release Date: December 5, 2025

Record Label: Independent

Discography:
Five Years (2019)
Cowboy Man (2020)
Rise of Vikingr (2022)
The Most Magical Album on Earth (2023)
Skalds of Metal (2023)
Soul (2024)
Kingdoms of Magical Rock (2024)
Evangelcore 1 (2025)

Social Media: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

Video for Word of God