There’s something in the Texan soil that breeds heaviness — a weight not just in the music, but in the intent behind it. In the heart of Dallas, Hope Deferred stands as both a resurrection and a reinvention. The project, started in 2016 by Andrew Godwin (whose riffs once set the tone for Embodyment and The Famine), is not so much a band as a living, breathing declaration of faith and fury.
For years, Hope Deferred simmered as a cult favorite among Christian metal fans — an underground force, elusive but never dormant. Now, with the October 1, 2025 release of their single “Commanded to Kill,” the band shows they’re not just back — they’re ascendant.
The current lineup reads like a who’s-who of the scene’s most dogged veterans. Godwin’s guitars and guttural vocals anchor the sonic storm, joined by Jon Tooley (lead guitar), Jason Lindquist (bass), and Derrick Wadsworth (drums). The latest twist? David Bunton of The Showdown steps in as frontman, bringing a new edge and rawness to the band’s already formidable presence.
“Commanded to Kill” doesn’t pull punches. The track is a slab of technical, unflinching death metal — every riff is a serrated edge, every lyric a reckoning. While the production details remain shrouded (the band keeps tight-lipped on who mixed or mastered the track, and there’s no sign yet of a music video), the result speaks for itself: Hope Deferred have mastered the art of sounding both classic and current, brutal and thoughtful.
Their Bandcamp presence reveals a group unafraid to experiment with their release strategy, favoring singles and EPs over traditional albums. This keeps their sound fresh — and their audience guessing (Bandcamp). Lyrically, they continue to walk the line between spiritual introspection and sheer aggression, an inheritance from their previous bands that feels perfectly at home in this new era.
Hope Deferred isn’t for everyone. But for listeners who crave the rush of authenticity — and the collision of faith and ferocity — the band’s resurrection is nothing short of thrilling. Dallas, once again, has a death metal beacon burning bright.
Links
Hope Deferred Bandcamp Hope Deferred Facebook Christian Metal Wiki The Charon Collective