Christian Mistress returns after a decade with Children of the Earth, their first studio album in ten years. This powerhouse release masterfully blends the grandeur of traditional metal with unwavering old-school conviction. Fans can look forward to its North American release on March 7th!
A decade after the release of their acclaimed album To Your Death, cult Northwestern metal band Christian Mistress returns with their powerful new effort, Children of the Earth. Now recording as a four-piece, the lineup features Christine Davis on vocals, Tim Diedrich on guitar, Reuben Storey on drums, and Jonny Wulf handling both second guitar and bass duties. The album was crafted in their hometown of Olympia, Washington, using a 4-track half-inch reel-to-reel setup at High Command Studio, capturing the raw, analog energy the band is known for.
With Children of the Earth, Christian Mistress solidifies their status as a cornerstone of North America’s traditional metal scene. Their signature style—a potent fusion of old-school grit, electrifying twin-guitar harmonies, and Davis’s unmistakable vocal power—has never felt more focused. According to Davis, this album marks a “line in the sand,” distinguishing itself from their earlier work. While staying true to their classic sound, Children of the Earth showcases a newfound cohesion between the guitars and vocals, delivering a sharper, more unified sonic punch than ever before.
The cover of Children of the Earth features ink artwork by Lauren O’Conner, photography by Johnny Delacy, and layout by Annick Giroux, tying back to imagery from Christian Mistress’s 2009 EP. Inspired by ancient orphic inscriptions, the album title and lyrics explore themes of mortality, cosmic connection, and the legacy we leave behind. Davis drew from a gold tablet found in an ancient Italian grave, which guided the dead to Hades by declaring, “I am a child of the Earth and starry Heaven.” This became the basis for “Lake of Memory” and shaped the album’s thematic core: embracing the vastness of existence and living intentionally. Davis emphasizes that the album is a call to recognize our potential as mythmakers and ancestors, urging listeners to connect with the universe and leave meaningful impacts.
Line-Up:
Christine Davis – Vocals
Jonny Wulf – Guitar/bass
Tim Diedrich – Guitar
Reuben Storey – Drums
Review
Time to wake up! City of Gold fires up ripping and roaring, with the warmth of that analog sound making this track feel comforting and wholesome. We get use to listening to music polished with digital processes but it is always refreshing to hear bands return to traditional methods. And that is something I am straight loving about the bands sound. The instruments can breathe, you hear the nuances and the guitars scream through the space!
Voiceless continues with that rough and moody vibe, driving forward with thick and crisp rhythms, brash bass lines and pounding drum patterns. I love the little whirling guitar section just over mid way through that even has a quick and dazzling harmony. But we can not forget the glistening and silky vocal sounds of Christine Davis who just adds the cherry to the cake with her vocal performance. Two tracks in and this album feels very promising!
Demon’s Night keeps things ticking along and as i close my eyes the music takes me away to glorious times of the past. I think sometimes we forget about more simple times when it was just the band, the pure sounds of the music and we were caught in the moment. That is the feeling i get from this music and that certainly make me good inside. A highlight is the solo section takes off towards the sunset. When you think things are over there is a pause and a loving and tingly solo section comes back in taking us towards the end of the song!
Love of the World is song with swagger, the attitude and the moodiness! It bounces along vividly especially having deep resonating bass lines that push things forward. The drumming in this song is that driving kick, snare, kick, snare style that is locked in with the bass work. Of course the guitar work like previous songs feels hungry and raw! The repetition of chorus lyrics Love of the World will be something I am sure that will catch peoples attention and get people singing along!
Mythmaker is next up and all of a sudden the tone drops to a more dark and mysterious nature especially in the intro. It almost feels like a ritual under the light of the moon! Very haunting and I love it! And having listened to this song a number of times, what particularly interests me is that moment feels the same! From the change in tempos to switching between quick picking rhythms and tasty licks there was not a singe moment of boredom. The lead guitar work is exceptional, seamlessly weaving melodic lines that complement the other instruments while delivering fiery, attention-grabbing solos that ignite with energy and precision. There is even moments of great intensity, even throwing in a double kick section for good measures! One of the best tracks on the album so far!
Death Blade sounds menacing doesn’t it? But the music mostly to begin with sounds bright airy like your above the clouds. Then you are thrown a big ahh ahh vocal sections like your having a slight meltdown. Soon enough things switch up once again with a big stomping verses that give a listeners maybe a chance to headbang? But what I love especially in this song is solo that feels like a jolt of electricity! As the track unfolds, you can feel the passion, heart, and unrelenting energy pouring through every note—a standout quality that truly defines this band and sets them apart.
Lake of Memory is another honest and rich sounding song where the harmonised rhythm work really breaks through. Once again I feel myself tuning in to those thick, warm and earthy analog tones that really add that extra something special to the sound of this band! The guitar work really does sing gracefully at moments and he vocal dynamics work brilliantly for this song! It creates that extra bit of excitement and flavour which blends in so nicely.
We reach the end of the album with Shadow! The opening vocal harmonies just feel magical and somewhat beautiful and I wish they had gone on for longer! Christines vocals really sit high in this song and the rest of the instruments work as the perfect accompaniment to her. There is much more of a creative flair I think in song and more experimentation with backing vocal, scaling guitar ideas and a big rhythm sections. I honestly can see why they chose this song to end the album with as I think it is one of the strongest on the album!
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of nostalgic, warm sounds infused with analog magic, Children of the Earth is a must-listen! Christian Mistress’s triumphant return delivers a magnificent album that hits hard on every level. With its powerful impact and undeniable raw energy, it’s sure to satisfy long-time fans and leave them craving more!
TheNwothm Score: 9/10
Links
Bandcamp: https://christianmistress.bandcamp.com/
The Nwothm 
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