Ashes Remain

Featured Judge & Jury collaborator: Ashes Remain vocalist Josh Smith

Ashes Remain brings its emotionally direct Christian rock sound to Caleb Hyles and Judge & Jury on “The Memory.” Lead vocalist Josh Smith shares lead vocals with Hyles, giving the track a powerful dual-vocal performance rooted in modern alternative metal, post-grunge and faith-driven rock.

Released on February 28, 2025 as part of Caleb Hyles’ album The Darkness Before the Dawn, “The Memory” explores depression, anxiety, self-care and the possibility of healing by refusing to let past pain define the future.

Stream “The Memory” and The Darkness Before the Dawn

Ashes Remain band promotional portrait

About Ashes Remain

Ashes Remain is a Baltimore, Maryland modern Christian rock band founded in the early 2000s by vocalist Josh Smith and guitarist Ryan Nalepa after they met while leading worship at a youth camp. The group developed around a shared desire to write honest music about struggle, faith, brokenness and hope, later adding guitarist Rob Tahan, drummer Ben Kirk and a succession of bassists.

The band’s breakthrough album, What I’ve Become, arrived in 2011 and introduced a wider audience to songs including “On My Own,” “End of Me,” “Without You,” “Keep Me Breathing” and “Unbroken.” Ashes Remain followed it with Let the Light In in 2017 and continued releasing new music with singles including “Don’t Let Go” and “Lost Light.”

Ashes Remain’s musical style blends Christian rock, post-grunge, alternative rock, post-hardcore and melodic modern rock. Heavy guitar riffs and driving drums support large, memorable choruses, while Smith’s gritty but melodic voice carries lyrics that move from isolation and internal conflict toward resilience, redemption and faith.

The history behind the Caleb Hyles and Ashes Remain collaboration

“The Memory” connects Caleb Hyles’ cinematic metal approach with the emotionally grounded modern-rock sound that has defined Ashes Remain. Rather than using the band as a background feature, the recording places Josh Smith alongside Hyles as a lead vocalist. Their contrasting tones strengthen the song’s movement between vulnerability and anthemic release.

Smith also co-wrote the song with Caleb Hyles, Trevor McNevan and Tom Hane. The collaboration fits naturally within Ashes Remain’s catalog because the song addresses familiar themes of pain, destructive self-belief and the hard work of moving forward. Its central idea is that love, honesty and purposeful change can reshape the meaning of a painful memory.

Produced by Howard Benson, Neil Sanderson and Joe Rickard, the track combines melodic alt-metal riffs, programmed textures and a large chorus designed around both singers. It also extends Ashes Remain’s long history of pairing faith-centered subject matter with accessible active-rock production.

“The Memory” release and credits

  • Artists: Caleb Hyles, Ashes Remain and Judge & Jury
  • Release date: February 28, 2025
  • Album: The Darkness Before the Dawn
  • Vocals: Caleb Hyles and Josh Smith
  • Written by: Caleb Hyles, Trevor McNevan, Tom Hane and Josh Smith
  • Produced by: Howard Benson, Neil Sanderson and Joe Rickard
  • Mixed and surround mixed by: Joe Rickard
  • Mastered by: Niels Nielsen
  • Vocal engineering: Tony Correlli
  • Edited by: Paul DeCarli
  • Guitar and bass: J.R. Bareis
  • Drums and programming: Joe Rickard
  • Label: Judge & Jury Records

Shop Caleb Hyles’ The Darkness Before the Dawn

Explore the Judge & Jury vinyl and CD editions of The Darkness Before the Dawn, featuring “The Memory” with Ashes Remain, below.

Official and press links

Artist image: Ashes Remain official streaming profile.

Ashes Remain band promotional portrait