The Modern Post - Lowborn King (2014)

I'm back once again with another Christmas album for you all. This week is something a lot more contemporary than Bing Crosby's White Christmas and is a good choice for you indie music lovers: The Modern Post's Lowborn King.

I first heard of The Modern Post after getting familiar with Thrice frontman Dustin Kensrue's solo projects. I discovered this side project of his through some fellow Christian indie music fans, and gave their EP Grace Alone a spin about a year ago. I was completely wowed with both the sound and the lyrics, as it gave the EP a very aggressive reverence. 

So when it came to looking for Christmas music this year, Lowborn King was near the top of my list of what I wanted to explore. It's quite safe to say that The Modern Post doesn't disappoint here either, evolving their sound ever so slightly while still bringing that same aggressive reverence that I loved on Grace Alone. 

Lowborn King is another  EP, which I have somewhat mixed feelings about, as I am still waiting for a full-length release from these guys. However, they packed a punch into Grace Alone, so I was OK with another short release, especially considering that it's a seasonal album. But boy, do they know how to pack a lot into six tracks! The choice of songs is quite interesting, as Kensrue opts for only two "traditional" carols in "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "What Child Is This." These are both excellent renditions of these classics, with a nice weight from the garage rock-style guitars and heavy drums helping us focus on the lyrics a little more intensely, as well as giving them a slightly darker tonality. Kensrue's voice also complements the music quite well, as he has a raspiness and grit that adds to this darker tonality. 

The other four tracks present are one more obscure hymn and three originals by Kensrue. The three original compositions all shine, in particular "Child of Glory" and "This Is War." All three focus lyrically on the connection between the cradle and the cross, an oft-missing component of most Christian Christmas music. They all have this reverence that makes them seem less seasonal, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. I take it as a good thing because it helps make the EP not so constrained. The ancient church chant "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" makes an appearance here as well, and it is the best track on this entire album. With its throbbing distorted synth bass line, powerful drums, and chiming guitars, it comes together incredibly well musically. Lyrically, Kensrue takes this chant originally designed for use with communion and adds a chorus that gives a slight Christmas slant to the entire song. It gives the lyrics a new perspective that I really enjoyed.

Overall, The Modern Post's Lowborn King is one of my favorite Christmas albums because it doesn't feel like a strict Christmas album. Aside from the inclusion of two traditional carols and some subtle references to the infant Christ, it is a fairly universal and year-round album lyrically. Musically, it also proves that Christmas music doesn't need bells or brass to be good, opting instead for a post-punk aesthetic that really suits Kensrue's voice. This is a great Christmas album for those of you looking for something a little different around this time of year.

My rating: 4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Child of Glory," "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," "What Child Is This," "This Is War"