It must be hard to forge a unique sound when your name means "follower," but Disciple's new album on Rugged Records proves that they are up to the task.
A lot of people ask what style we are, and that's the impossible question," says bassist/vocalist Kevin Young. "Sometimes I think it can be a prideful thing to tie yourself to a particular genre, like you are telling God that that's the only thing He can do through you. I guess the best thing to say is that we're hard rock. We're not completely and totally hardcore, or melodic, or southern rock, or rap-core, or metal, though those are all kind of true. We kind of have our own sound, and it's hard."
Very hard and expertly produced by Travis Wyrick, This Might Sting a Little Bit is Disciple's second full-length album. This Rugged Records release follows their highly-acclaimed independent disc, What Was I Thinking, and an EP, My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy, and retains all the outspoken harshness, guitar shrieks and Nine Inch Nails-like vocals that Disciple fans love.
By combining the best elements of their earlier albums on This Might Sting a Little Bit and extending the work they've done on songs like "My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy" and "Easter Bunny," Disciple found themselves in newer, harder musical territory that stung them as being just about right. Young explains, "What we tried to do on this album was to try to find a happy medium between our last two albums, and I think by doing that, we may have gone in a completely different direction!"
But when it comes to writing lyrics, Young and his bandmates, lead guitarist Brad Noah and drummer Tim Barrett, have only one direction. "Is there anything that takes precedence over Jesus?" Young asks. "Is there anything more worth singing about? I don't really know how to sing about anything else." Drawing on praise and worship music and Christian rock classics like Whitecross, Petra and Carman for lyrical inspiration, Young employs some of his most straightforward, yet powerful lyrics on This Might Sting a Little Bit. Topics range from anger to idolatry to devotion, but always remain focused on the theme expressed in their hard rock creed, "I Just Know: I just know Jesus is the way."
Being human, it stings and it hurts to take our eyes off of self," Young says. "The whole point of the album's ‘stinging' is to focus people on God and what He's all about - grace and love. Every song on this album really encompasses that theme."
Disciple's devoted ministry focus is the unifying theme not only through their new album, but also in their live shows. Listeners get a taste of the intensely worshipful atmosphere of a Disciple show at the end of their CD, when they share a bold Gospel message in an altar call.
In concert, Disciple makes it clear that they are a band with a mission -- more of a mission than a band, even -- and that they are in no way ashamed of who they are. Young says, "Our heart is in ministry. We like to make albums, and that's a lot of fun, but our true love is playing live, and even then the music takes second place. We go up and play and try to get their attention that way, then break out the Bible and give an altar call. And we'll play anywhere. We have a real heart for the lost, and we just want to bring God with us." Young continues, "I would love to play as many secular venues as I possibly can. I would love to be on as many secular radio stations as I can. But I'm not really concerned about singing about secular things."
Even so, playing live has its temptations, and Disciple faces the old rock and roll struggle of pride in "1, 2 Conductor," one of the most energetic tracks on This Might Sting a Little Bit. In the song, the band faces their audience of One -- their most important audience. Young says, "Sometimes I have to ask God, ‘If the whole world is applauding me, but You're not, then what am I doing wrong?' God is our only audience, really." In practical terms, this sentiment forces the band to pause before a show and take time for a reality check. "Before we go up on stage," Young explains, "we have to ask ourselves, what's our motivation? Are we going up here to hear applause? We want our motivation to be ‘to please Him.' We're doing it for him; not for Rugged Records, not for the Christian rock world. . . for Him."
Disciple plays and ministers several times each week, often traveling far from their homes in Knoxville, Tennessee, to "bring God with them." Cornerstone-goers can see Disciple on the HM stage, playing with big-name hard music acts like Galactic Cowboys. No matter where or how you hear Disciple, however, the band makes one thing clear: "We're a ministry," Young states simply. "We want to reach the lost people." And that may sting a little bit.
Discography
Go to Disciple's website
Back to Main
