The Other Side of Darkness

The Other Side of Darkness is Decyfer Down's fourth album, released on April 1, 2016. This is the band's first independent album, and it's also their first record to feature Benjamin Millhouse (formerly of Wolves at the Gate).

The Other Side of Darkness
Studio album by
Decyfer Down
ReleasedApril 1, 2016 (2016-04-01)
StudioFallen Sparrow Studio
Genre
Length37:01
LabelFuel
ProducerBrandon Mills
Decyfer Down chronology
Anthology
(2014)		 The Other Side of Darkness
(2016)
Singles from The Other Side of Darkness
  1. "Nothing More"
    Released: November 27, 2015

Background

On September 26, 2015, Decyfer Down announced an upcoming EP consisting of six songs, which would be their first independent EP.[1] They started a campaign on IndieGogo to get some support via Crowd Funding.[2] On October 23, 2015, they announced that they added four bonus tracks to the project, and converted the EP to an album, consisting of ten songs.[3]

They released an acoustic version of the song "Anchor Me", exclusively to people who contributed to their campaign.[4] Contributors also received an acoustic EP by the end of April.[5]

On September 4, 2016, "Anchor Me" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Christian National Rock Airplay chart,[6] and four days later, the song went up to No. 3.[7] By November 30, 2016, the song went up to No. 2.[8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[9]
The Christian Beat[10]
HM Magazine[11]
Jesus Freak Hideout[12]
[13]
Jesus Wired71/100[14]
New Release Today[15]
Today's Christian Entertainment[16]

Ben Rickaby, allotting the album four stars at HM Magazine, writes, "After reconnecting with fans on the City Rockfest Tour last year, they rekindled the spark, hit the studio and came out with the spectacular The Other Side of Darkness...With The Other Side of Darkness, Decyfer Down has done one of the hardest things for a band: evolve their sound while still maintaining a firm grasp of what’s so great about their earlier music."[11] Indicating in a four star review from CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis says, "Decyfer Down makes a bold, authentic and endlessly compelling case that God's love can truly trump any degree of darkness."[9] Christopher Smith, signaling in a four star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, writes, "With Crash feeling rushed and uneven and Scarecrow being a departure from their typical sound, The Other Side of Darkness is the proper follow-up to the Caleb-led End of Grey. It's more straightforward modern rock than the post-grunge sound the band has largely been known for, but it's a solid rock album that holds up well over several dozen listens."[12] Rewarding the album with a four star rating by Jesus Freak Hideout, Michael Weaver states, "Decyfer Down is back again with The Other Side of Darkness, an album that casts aside any notion of the post-grunge of End of Grey and Crash, and embraces a hard modern rock sound...For one who is over post-grunge rock, The Other Side of Darkness is Decyfer Down's best work to date."[13]

Ken Wiegman, reviewing the album for Alpha Omega News, says, "The new music they played that night was energetic and promising. And so far, the new album, 'The Other Side of Darkness' does not fail to live up to the level of anticipation that was born that night."[17] Awarding the album four stars at New Release Today, Jonathan J. Francesco states, "This is pure, unapologetic rock, and it succeeds at delivering exactly what it sets out to."[15] Chris Major, giving the album four and a half stars from The Christian Beat, writes, "Expressing our pain, our struggle, His victory, and His faithfulness, The Other Side of Darkness is intense, energetic, and moving...Once again, Decyfer Down has created a masterpiece of a collection."[10] Rating the album a 71 out of 100 for Jesus Wired, Christopher "Topher P." Parks says, "The Other Side of Darkness is a decent effort and among Decyfer Down's better records, and yet it still doesn't feel like a top-notch release. Even at its best moments, there's nothing that sets The Other Side of Darkness apart from any other recent rock album, and that is its biggest weakness."[14] Abby Baracskai, bestowing a four star rating upon the album from Today's Christian Entertainment, writes, "The Other Side of Darkness should bring joy to any fan of Christian Rock music and any music lover who enjoys well-crafted lyrics."[16]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rearrange" 3:51
2."Dead Skin" 4:01
3."Nothing More"Christopher Clonts4:05
4."Believe in Me" 3:42
5."Other Side of Darkness" 3:03
6."Beautiful Lie" 3:52
7."Lifetime"Gavin Brown, TJ Harris3:25
8."Anchor Me" 4:00
9."Don't Walk Away" 3:01
10."Burn Back the Sun" (previously recorded on End of Grey)Caleb Oliver, Brandon Mills, Christopher Clonts, Josh Oliver, Jason Burkham3:58
Total length:37:01[12]

Singles

On November 27, 2015, they released a single from the album, called "Nothing More", which went on to peak the Christian Rock charts. It ranked No. 8 on ChristianRock.Net in top 30 for a week. On March 14, 2016, the band uploaded the official lyric video for this song.[18]

On April 5, 2016, Decyfer Down announced that "Nothing More" had reached No. 5 on the charts.[19]

Personnel

Main artists
  • TJ Harris - lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitars, piano
  • Brandon Mills - backing vocals, rhythm guitars, lead guitars, acoustic guitars, synth
  • Christopher Clonts - backing vocals, rhythm guitars, lead guitars
  • Chris Furr - bass guitar
  • Benjamin Millhouse - drums, percussion

Additional artists
  • Joey West(Disciple) - recorded drums on "Nothing More", "Rearrange", "Anchor Me" and "Other Side of Darkness".

Chart performance
Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[20] 9
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[21] 15
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] 40
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References
  1. "Decyfer Down - We are launching our Indiegogo crowd fund... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  2. "CLICK HERE to support Decyfer Down 's First Independent ALBUM". Indiegogo. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  3. "Decyfer Down". Decyfer Down Announces Bonus Tracks.
  4. "Decyfer Down - Acoustic "Anchor Me" comin at you campaign... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  5. "Nelson Selig - Just got the new Decyfer Down album 'The... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  6. "Decyfer Down - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  7. "Decyfer Down - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  8. "Decyfer Down - Thanks to everyone who has continued to... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  9. Argyrakis, Andy (March 31, 2016). "Decyfer Down – 'The Other Side of Darkness' album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  10. Major, Chris (March 6, 2016). "Decyfer Down's "The Other Side of Darkness:" Intense, Energetic & Moving". The Christian Beat. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  11. Rickaby, Ben (May 21, 2016). "Decyfer Down - The Other Side of Darkness". HM Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  12. Smith, Christopher (March 30, 2016). "Decyfer Down, "The Other Side of Darkness" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  13. Weaver, Michael (March 31, 2016). "Decyfer Down, "The Other Side of Darkness" Second Staff Opinion Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  14. Parks, Christopher "Topher P." (March 22, 2016). "Decyfer Down Find What's on the Other Side of Darkness with New Record". Jesus Wired. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  15. Francesco, Jonathan J. (March 3, 2016). "Reliable Rock". New Release Today. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  16. Baracskai, Abby (March 29, 2016). "Decyfer Down 'The Other Side of Darkness'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  17. Wiegman, Ken (March 26, 2016). "Decyfer Down – The Other Side of Darkness". Jesus Wired. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  18. DecyferDownOfficial (March 14, 2016), Decyfer Down - Nothing More Official Lyric Video, retrieved April 11, 2016
  19. "Decyfer Down - The new CD is on the shelves and "Nothing... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  20. "Decyfer Down Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  21. "Decyfer Down Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  22. "Decyfer Down Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
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