There’s a strain of rock and metal that isn’t interested in polish, irony, or posturing. It’s raw, confessional, and borderline uncomfortable—the kind of music that feels less like performance and more like a public reckoning. Ashes Awaken’s “For You,” released November 28, lives squarely in that territory. This isn’t metal as spectacle. It’s metal as self-exposure.
Written by Michael Stover, the song opens without disguise or metaphor: “Oh Father, dear Father / Forgive me for what I’ve done.” It’s a blunt confession hurled into distortion, the sound of someone who has run out of excuses. The guitars grind like machinery under strain, the drums pulse with a nervous urgency, and the vocal delivery feels closer to a plea than a performance. There’s no sense of detachment here—every word sounds earned.
The verses dig deeper into the wreckage: “I’m broken, I’m bleeding / The wounds from what I’ve become.” This isn’t poetic abstraction; it’s a man staring straight at his reflection and not flinching. Ashes Awaken don’t cushion the impact with melodic sweetness. Instead, the music surges forward, heavy and relentless, mirroring the weight of guilt and consequence. It’s uncomfortable in the way truth often is.
Then comes the chorus, and rather than offering irony or ambiguity, the band doubles down on belief. “God of mercy, God of glory / Faithful through and through.” In lesser hands, lines like these might feel stiff or rehearsed. Here, they land with desperation. This faith doesn’t sound inherited or theoretical—it sounds fought for, clawed out of the mud. The declaration “Sacrifice your son for me so I’ll live my life for you” carries the weight of someone who understands the cost on both sides.
The song’s emotional pivot arrives near the end: “God of power, God Almighty / I know what to do.” It’s not triumph so much as responsibility. Redemption doesn’t erase the past; it demands a response. That moment transforms “For You” from a confession into a commitment, and the band leans into it with renewed intensity, pushing the song toward its final, resolute stand.
“For You” doesn’t ask the listener to agree with its theology, but it does demand respect for its honesty. There’s no winking at the audience, no attempt to soften the message for broader appeal. Ashes Awaken mean every second of this track, and that sincerity cuts through the noise.
This is heavy music that bleeds, kneels, and rises again—unfiltered, unapologetic, and painfully human.
–Leslie Banks
