Interview: Disciple's Kevin and Andrew on new deluxe album, career highlights, industry changes, next plans
As leaders in Christian metal and hard rock, Knoxville, Tennessee’s Disciple have achieved much since forming back in 1992–they have recorded 13 studio albums, earned 18 No. 1 singles; their music has been featured on ESPN’s NFL Live, WWE, Fox Sports, as well as in commercials for CBS’ CSI: Miami and Criminal Minds; they have won multiple Dove Awards, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary/Christian Performance Song of the Year for the track “Firm Foundation (He Won’t).”
With the now available, just released 22-song deluxe version of their latest 2023 album Skeleton Psalms—which includes unreleased singles, acoustic renditions, and studio mixes—the band adamantly continues on their path and mission of releasing music and performing music, dispersing a high-adrenaline rock sound with a worshipful, gospel-first heart.
Lead vocalist, band founder Kevin Young and lead guitarist Andrew Stanton took time for this in-depth OOTB interview while on the road for the Resurrecting Reasons Tour to break down the new songs on the deluxe album and reflect on industry changes, longevity, career highlights and plans going into 2026.
The new deluxe version of Skeleton Psalms is absolutely packed! How did you decide and narrow down which unreleased tracks and live tracks to add to the record?
Andrew
It's actually our largest, longest release ever, which is saying something! We had four unreleased songs that we 100 percent wanted to put out, but we really wanted to keep the original release to ten tracks, so we held them back.
“Sound The Alarm" was actually written four years ago now, so we've known for a while that we would have a great batch ready to go for a deluxe edition.
For the live tracks, we picked our favorites from the Skelevision release live stream—we went with songs from each era of Disciple's history so fans could have a fresh take on some classics and also hear a couple that we were literally playing live for the first time like “Skeleton Psalm.”
The collaboration with TJ Harris on "Resurrecting Reasons" was also planned out for a while, we knew he would be a perfect fit on that song and we can't wait to have him join us live when we play it at our upcoming shows together.
Thinking back to Skeleton Psalms, how would you say the band has changed musically and lyrically compared to earlier releases?
Andrew
I think it represents a huge step forward for us. We self-produced (with Josiah at the helm) for the first time, and we also didn't have any songs written with co-writers outside of the band (with the exception of "Sound The Alarm").
So, it ended up being our most honest and real record lyrically, and musically we really just came into our own for this version of the band.
Since we've been Disciple 3.0, we have played hundreds if not thousands of shows, so we know what to bring from our live performances into the studio without a second thought. We couldn't say that 10-12 years ago.
All the small things we do on guitar and drums while we're on stage landed very naturally on the recording of these songs, so I think there is a lot more fun and "rock n' roll" to be heard in the details.
Being in the industry for three decades, what’s been the biggest change you’ve encountered in the industry that you’ve adapted to?
Kevin
The way people consume music has been the biggest change. It's shocking the changes I've seen playing in the same band.
Our first two independent projects in 1993 and 1994 were put out on cassette only. Our first CD we put out independently in 1995. And then, by 2008, people had stopped buying music altogether with the advent of streaming and smartphones.
And now, people are buying vinyl records again, which is actually one of our best selling items!
So, it's completely mind blowing to have lived through all of those iterations of music. There's no point in trying to make sense of it; I just roll with it.
What stands out to you as one of the biggest highlights or moments for you or for the band through the years?
Kevin
There's been many.
We've had quite a few No. 1 radio singles, a couple of Dove Awards, and a Grammy nomination.
But, honestly for me... the highlights are the stories we hear from people; stories of people giving their life to Christ because of a song they heard or discovering our music after becoming a Christian.
Stories of people struggling with suicide, and then hearing a song at just the right moment before they did something that can't be undone... and deciding to live.
The stories are miraculous.
To be part of a music that has such a special and powerful meaning to people's lives is the biggest highlight for me.
After this release, what plans are in store for Disciple into the rest of the year?
Andrew
We've got a slate of summer festivals and a full fledged fall tour with Seventh Day Slumber still coming up this year.
We'll also be taking advantage of some down time this spring to get brand new songs ready and start the recording process again.
Nothing is in motion yet, but we have some amazing material in the works already and our goal is to have something ready to release in 2026.
For us this is the most exciting part, the next challenge awaits and we're ready!
Skeleton Psalms Deluxe Tracklist
1. The Executioner
2. Promise To Live
3. Skelton Psalm
4. Bad Words
5. Resurrecting Reasons
6. Dawn Of Deliverance
7. 20/20 Blind
8. Scapegoat
9. Bow Down
10. For The Life Of Me
11. Make War
12. If You Say So
13. Neversleep
14. Sound The Alarm
15. Resurrecting Reasons (feat. Decyfer Down)
16. Promise To Live (acoustic)
17. The Executioner (live)
18. Skeleton Psalm (live)
19. Promise To Live (live)
20. I Just Know (live)
21. Long Live The Rebels (live)
22. O God Save Us All (live)
Get Album
https://disciple.ffm.to/psalmsdeluxe
Tour Dates
https://disciplerocks.com/tour/
Follow Disciple
Photo: Tyler Byars
Wonderful band! They are very obviously keeping Christ in the center of their music. God bless Disciple 🙏🏼
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