WAXPANEL is a Christian alternative/modern grunge band, from San Antonio, Texas that was originally conceived in July of 2008. Current members; Micah Lindner (vocals/guitar), Fletch (bass), and Steve Boldway (drums) make music that blends their faith in Christ, life experience, to create their music. WAXPANEL released their EP, "Beginnings" in July, 2016. In January of 2017, the band traveled to Westfall Recording Company in Austin. WAXPANEL enlisted Producer Anthony Santo to complete their 12 song debut album, "For Those Left Standing".  The band teamed up with Pavement Entertainment in September 2017, and finally released their brand new album on February 22, 2019. So let us delve into a realm rarely visited.

"The Struggle" begins a lot like SOUNDGARDEN. The riffs give that Kim Thayil feel and the drumbeats are simple enough to keep up with. The vocals carry a Layne Staley echo, but once it hits the chorus, you hear more of a Chris Cornell influence. The song is very catchy and reflects upon the choice of being Christian. "Beginnings" holds a NIRVANA style tone but carries over more to a Pop Punk sound. It isn't bad, but it creates a flash of memory reminding you of a time when BLINK 182, LIT, and other bands were popular at that time. Although WAXPANEL speak more of how every day is a new "Beginning" instead of heartbreak. "Absolution" comes in with a heavily influenced ALICE IN CHAINS vibe. The song creates a different aura than its predecessors. It has a distinctive sound that takes you back to when 90's grunge was hot and did not seem to die. Micah Lindner's vocals almost seem to create both tones of Layne and Jerry Cantrell, all at the same time. "Believe" comes in at a slower pace but still heavy riffs. The vocals are soft and bend with the music. It is a beautiful written masterpiece and carries the same message. It is a different in its own way and I just cannot find a way to describe it. "Bleeding Misery" is an acoustic song that creates a divide in the album. It also shows that they have skills that are rarely tapped into. The quality is something you could hear being sung at church. It is a wonderful song and really has me scratching my head. "The Chronicles Of Captain Sea Biscuits" is a magical interlude before "You Don't Say" gets back to that 90's grunge sound. The bass reminds me of Krist Noveselic's crunchy sound that follows the ripping drumbeats in rhythm. The vocals are still a distinct sound, but you can hear a bit of Kurt Cobain within them. It is a fast paced song which reminds me of "Territorial Pissings" with its fast pace but has more of a "Stay Away" sound.

WAXPANEL was definitely a curiosity to me. I do not know if they should be placed in a grunge genre or a pop punk. They have the skills of both and have a lot of potential when combining sounds together. It was quite a surprise to have this fall in my lap. I really don't understand why it is here to be reviewed by a Metal magazine, but to me, music is music and there are no genres. We all like what we like, we listen to what we want. I can see people listening to this band who keep grunge alive every day, but I also see them being listened to by the church goers who feel the message the band deliver. The music is really, really good with tons of influence in each song. I could see these guys with a great future if promoted in the right way or they may just be buried with a lot of other talented bands. I, myself, hope they go far and reach the pinnacle we all dream of.