Sanctus Real has been a popular high-energy rock band since they hit the national scene a few years ago with Say It Loud. Their prominent guitars, courtesy of Chris Rohman, combined with Matt Hammitt's strong vocals to carry them to the top of the Christian rock world with last year's Fight The Tide.
With drummer Mark Graalman's wife expecting their first child and guitarist Chris Rohman set to get married, things looked great for the band. Then things got tough. Graalman's father was diagnosed with terminal cancer only hours after the birth of his grandson in the same hospital. That combination of joy and sorrow was eventually commemorated in the touching song Benjamin. Hammitt's grandmother became seriously ill soon after that, and then bassist Steve Goodrum moved on, and the band was in shock.
Sanctus Real regrouped with the addition of Dan Gartley (who had toured with Relient K after they lost bassist Brian Pittman) and turned to producer Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Shawn McDonald), their third producer in three label releases. He helped them capture their emotions and release them musically on a powerful record that begins with the heartfelt cry of I'm Not Alright, an honest confession of insufficiency. As we've come to expect from Sanctus Real, there are rousing rockers like Possibilities and Don't Give Up combined with moving songs of love like Magnetic.
The Face of Love is another winner for Sanctus Real.
Visit Sanctus Real.
Sanctus Real
Fight The Tide
Reviews for
Sanctus Real
* Run* Pieces of a Broken Heart
* We Need Each Other
* The Face of Love
* Fight The Tide
* Say It Loud
Interview: 2003-05-10
Saturday, May 10, I interviewed Sanctus Real prior to the See Spot Rock concert at the Fillmore in Denver...
Sanctus Real
The Face of Love
2006 Sparrow Records
11 songs, 41:28
11 songs, 41:28
Reviewed 2006-02-11
By Randy Brandt