Review: Undead Revival (2025)

By Stephanie Jordan

Are they zombies?

Are they mummies?

NOPE! It’s the UNDEAD that are ALIVE in Christ.

When I first heard about the Undead Revival hosted at Ottawa Fairgrounds in Oak Harbor, Ohio, I was excited for this cool spin on scripture. Phil King, the founder of Undead Ministries, was inspired to name his ministry and festival by scripture–

²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22 (KJV)

Phil, and his wife Julie, have a mission behind Undead Revival. “It’s all about reaching those going through life as literally ‘the walking dead’ finding Jesus and becoming ‘Undead’,” states Phil when asked about his passion for this project. He goes on to tell me that, “Mental health has always been an issue for me, and I don’t know a lot, but I know the closer I get to God the better I get. Meds help. Therapy helps. Having a support system helps. That’s why we have the local resources at the festival, but nothing helps, in my experience, more than having a personal relationship with God.” 

His desire is to see people who may not be comfortable around conservative or the typical “Sunday Christians” have a place they can come and experience God in an unexpected way. According to Phil the secular metal scene has a lot of brokenness that they express in their music: broken dreams, broken relationships, and broken promises. He wants to reach “the Phil King before he gave his life to God.” He isn’t musically savvy, but Julie and he can organize a fest, and that is exactly what God is using them to do.

The line up for Undead Revival was one that certainly felt alive! If you could quit screaming the powerful lyrics or refrain from moving your body, you might actually be dead. Kicking off the day, after I had the honor to open up with prayer, was End of I. What a great opener to bring the energy! Monarchs to Oblivion and my fun girls, Undefeated, kept the fest from having any sort of lull. 

Saved by Skarlet, coming all the way from Boston, have a heart to share their message with some amplified voices and breakdowns. Dreaded Dale, started their set with prayer and it was inspiring. Irae gets the crowd moving. It is hard not to feel uplifted when you hear Kashif, Irae’s lead vocalist, bellowing the truth. One of my all time favorites, No Treaty, brought the heat with their anthem of this scene “Sound the trumpet”! R-L-N-T and Amongst the Giants were giving us a dose of high energy and some pit worthy breakdowns. 

Heal the Hurt, with Trevor’s unfailing energy and call to engage, shares their story in music form that matches Phil’s heart for repairing mental health issues. The headliners, The Protest, did not show that it had been a long day of awesome music when it was their time to shine. They brought their whole selves to the stage and kept the crowd moving as they completed the message of the day: Jesus is Lord and We are the Undead!

All photos of the band’s c/o Day 41 Photos Caylie Businger

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