The Spark
When I first started Waken The Dead, finding new music was slow going. Christian punk, ska, metal, all the good stuff, wasn’t easy to track down. It wasn’t in record shops or magazines.
Then one day, by pure chance, I was visiting a friend when her mum handed me an MxPx CD.
It was the Move to Bremerton EP,and that was it.
The Hunt
Every month we went to Powerpoint in Glasgow. At the end of the night, there was always a wee music stand. Mostly worship CDs. Every single time, I’d ask:
“You got any punk? What about metal?”
Month after month, it was always, “Nah, sorry.”
Then one night, they smiled and said, “Aye, we ordered some in.” They pulled out:
- MxPx, Life in General
- Noggin Toboggan, Snapcase
- Slick Shoes, Burnout
The Deep Dive
That was the gateway. Then came the flood.
I found Blaster the Rocket Man (back when they were Blaster the Rocket Boy), The O.C. Supertones, The Insyderz, and Five Iron Frenzy, who I didn’t love at first, but grew on me. I was more into the raw stuff:
- Officer Negative
- The Huntingtons
- Squad 5-0
- The Dingees
The Zine Days
That’s when we first used the name Wake ’N’ The Dead. Many folks pointed out that meant it really was “Wake and the Dead,” so we’ve changed it to Waken The Dead.
It started as a printed zine. One issue, photocopied at my mum’s work. Summer 2000.
In 2001 I went to Atlanta to study at a church. And discovered a full new load of band I hadn’t heard before. In 2002 back home in Scotland the website was born: wakenthedead.com.
This Is Where We Start
Before we go hunting for new bands, this playlist gives you a proper intro to the kind of music that made Waken The Dead what it is. Stuff we grew up on. Stuff that lit a fire. You can stream it easy. No need to burn a CD. Just share the playlist and let people hear it for themselves.
MxPx – I’m the Bad Guy
This isn’t a worship song. But it’s kept Ephesians 2:8 stuck in my head for over 20 years. That verse says God has saved us, not by works, but by grace. And somehow hearing that truth wrapped in a scrappy punk song made it stick deeper than most sermons. It’s not about being good. It’s about knowing you’re not, and still being loved.
Squad Five‑O – I Don’t Want To Change The World
Classic anthem. Loud, fast, and full of soul. They’re not saying they’re here to fix everything. They’re saying let’s change one person’s mind at a time.
Slick Shoes – Fall
If you’ve ever felt close to losing it, this one’s for you. “Don’t let me fall.” That’s the chorus, but really it’s a cry out to God in the middle of the noise. Slick, tight, and packed with heart.
Further Seems Forever – Light Up Ahead
Bit more emo, more atmospheric, but brilliant. It’s the kind of song that hits when you’re walking home late, hoodie up, wondering what’s next. There’s doubt in it, but there’s still hope. That’s the tension a lot of us live in.
Beloved – Kiss It Goodbye
Hard-hitting melodic hardcore. Not preachy. It’s loud, it’s bold, and it matters.
One 21 – Runaway
This is punk with guts. No fancy studio tricks. Just raw energy and that wrestling match between what you want and what you need. It’s fast and over too quick.
The O.C. Supertones – Adonai
Straight-up praise with horns and attitude. Not everyone’s into ska, fair enough, but I love it. This one wears its heart on its sleeve. They’re singing to God, full volume, no filter.
Five Iron Frenzy – The Greatest Story Ever Told
It’s got heart, humour and honesty.
This playlist is just a sample a wee taster. These bands didn’t just play music. They gave us alternative scene Christian kids something to scream along with. And now in WTD v2 we get to discover what’s new together. New bands and more music. But before we dig into all that, this playlist serves as a nod to where we started out.