Lent or Sacrificed?
By Josh Olds

“What did you give up for Lent?” – I’ve heard this question at least a dozen times since the Lenten season began with Ash Wednesday, and I’ll probably hear it dozens more until Easter, when Lent ends.

In layperson terms, the beginning of Lent is what throws churches into Easter-mode. Pastors began preaching about the Resurrection; the church building is decorated with flowers; the children began to memorize their lines for the annual Easter program; the church might even hand out booklets that have daily devotionals. It’s a period of preparation for Easter, a symbol that reminds us that we will soon celebrate the events that made salvation possible.

It’s become traditional to “give up something” during the 40 day period of Lent, to serve as a further reminder about what God gave up for us. As a symbol, I think it can be very powerful. But as a tradition, I am afraid that it can denigrate into ritual. I’m not saying tradition is bad, rather they’re symbols that pale in comparison to Biblical principle.

What did I give up for Lent? Nothing. I think it’s a poorly worded question that shows a poor understanding of what Christians are called to be. The question should not be “What are you giving up?” but “What are you keeping?” And the appropriate answer is “Nothing.”

Do we really understand what happened on Calvary? God. Died. For. You. God told you He loved you forever and always, but you spurned His love and turned your back on Him. But God wanted to restore His relationship with you so badly that He took upon himself the consequences you accepted when you spurned His love. Picture the hand that measured the heavens being pierced with a rough-hewn nail. Picture Him laying aside His kingly robes to hang naked on a cross. Picture with that sacrifice your redemption as His lover, should you accept His gift.

What response does it demand from us in return? Paul answers this question in Romans 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Everything we do is given over to God; everything is done for His glory. Paul even goes as far as to say that because of the Cross, Christians no longer live unto themselves but unto Christ (Gal 2:19-20).

So when I’m asked what I gave up for Lent, how do I answer? Nothing…or everything? Christians are called to give everything to Christ all the time. Everything we do is to be done in light of the fact that we are children of God. Lent can be a time where that principle can play out symbolically, or where it can play out hypocritically. Are we going to give Jesus our lives or give up one thing because tradition demands? Living sacrifices have a tendency to crawl off the altar, but how can we do any less in response to what Christ has done for us?

This blog entry was written exclusively for TheChristianManifesto.com. Please do not post elsewhere on the internet or quote extensively without prior written consent from TheChristianManifesto.com. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of The Christian Manifesto. All views expressed are solely those of the blogger.

By Melissa Willis

GENRE: ROMANTIC THRILLER
PUBLISHER: ABINGDON PRESS
PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 2010

Shiloh Blake had no intentions of following in her father’s footsteps.  His life as an undercover operative for the CIA had cost her mother her life and caused Shiloh neurological damage resulting in seizures.  After 15 years of strained relations with her father and a deep seated anger and distrust toward him, she trusted only her best friend and colleague, Khalid Khan.  However, during a routine underwater archaeological dive near Mumbai, Shiloh’s team was ambushed, throwing her into the middle of an international terrorist plot and into the life of CIA operative Reece Jaxon.  With Khalid seriously wounded by the attack, she had no one to rely on and was forced to decide whether to trust Reece and dive into the world of international espionage or try to survive by evading those pursuing her.  With an intriguing plot and pulse pounding action, Dead Reckoning is a great debut thriller for Ronie Kendig.

When I saw that Eric Wilson endorsed this novel, I figured the odds were pretty good that it was going to be fun and exciting to read.  Those suspicions were definitively confirmed.  Dead Reckoning was not only action packed, it had an engaging, entertaining storyline.  I immediately found myself not only caring about the outcome of the events, but also about the characters.  I enjoyed seeing their personalities developed and their actions propel the story forward.  This was a fun book to read and more than once, I found myself eager to finish my ‘work’ in order to return to the story.

The book started out very strong with some great opening scenes loaded with lots of action and tense suspense.  The middle of the book lost some momentum as it developed the romantic story line, but rebounded for a strong finish.  Thrillers are hard to keep going from start to finish, so the downtime was not completely expected.  However, a little less circular, self-doubting romance and it wouldn’t have felt quite so slow.

I mostly enjoyed the international terrorist storyline, but did at times have difficulty figuring out exactly what the plan was.  There seemed to be a few too many bits of information and allusions to things that might or did happen, without enough specifics.  Additionally, it felt at times as though the terrorist plot took a backseat to the developing romance, which was a bit frustrating.  Regardless, this book had a solid plot and even with the difficulty with cohesion and staying on track, was quite satisfying.

For a debut thriller, Dead Reckoning was well above average.  With this book Kendig demonstrated a talent for good characters, great action, and an engaging storyline.  It’ll be exciting to see how she continues to develop her skills in future novels.  This book is a great start to what looks to be a promising career.

Review copy provided courtesy of Abingdon Press

By Kyle Kiekintveld

GENRE: HIP-HOP/RAP
LABEL: INDEPENDENT
RELEASE DATE: UNKNOWN
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5

Sin Is Wack is the first offering from artist C-LiTe, and as a first offering it excels in every category. If this is C-LiTe’s introduction the follow up has a lot to live up to namely, great lyrics and great production. This album deserves a listener from any Christian hip hop head.

C-LiTe’s lyrics are tight and concise without struggling over subject matter he delivers line ontop of line quickly. His easy rapid flow matches well with the faster beats on the mixtape and unlike many quicker rappers his style and delievery is understandable.

Sin Is Wack offers some of the best production memorable in Christian hip hop. Originally it seems like simple cookie cutter Southern style but quickly it expands to include some amazing sampling choices. Most songs offer snippets of sermons that are extremely well chosen and one track, Who’s Watching, samples  Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” absolutely perfectly. While Rockwell’s track is seemingly endlessly sampled this is absolute perfection.

Sin Is Wack is a strong introduction to another new Christian hip hop artist, C-LiTe. The album follows most of the music industry, very bass heavy Southern style beats with a small hint of Autotune like effects but it quickly diverges from the industry by offering a pletheroa of great samples. This overdone backdrop can cause artists to suffer but C-LiTe excels in this backdrop. His lyrics are tight and well delivered in a very smooth high quality album. For a mixtape and a first album few artists could ask for a better introduction.

Author’s Note: C-LiTe’s mixtape is an absolute must listen for anyone interested in Christian Hip Hop. It is innovative and extremely high quality. The production is on a new level, it does not merely copy what is popular but builds upon it and offers some amazing samples.

SWITCHFOOT

The video for “Mess of Me” has just been added into rotation at MTV2 and fans can vote for it on Fuse’s “No. 1 Countdown” at: http://www.fuse.tv/ontv/shows/no-1-countdown/.

The band has been playing sold-out shows since the release of Hello Hurricane last fall. They’ve just added several more North American dates between now and April 21^st, when SWITCHFOOT kicks off an international tour that will take them to Australia, Japan and the U.K. (See below for North American shows.) After the group returns, they’ll play Journey’s Backyard BBQ in Sacramento, CA on May 8^th. SWITCHFOOT is partnering with Macbeth and Journey’s to offer a very special contest where one lucky winner will win a trip for two to see the band play the BBQ; complete details on the “Switchfoot Roadie for a Day” contest can be found at: http://z7f1.modlife.com/macbeth/contest.

The sixth annual Switchfoot Bro-Am will be held on Saturday, June 26^th, at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA. The event will feature surfing contests, a live art mural created by local artists and a live concert.  Line-up to be announced shortly. It will benefit San Diego area chapters of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk and homeless youth (www.standupforkids.org). Last year’s Bro-Am was the most successful to date, drawing over 7,000 attendees and raising close to $100,000 for StandUp for Kids.

“The Bro-Am really sums up our connection with San Diego, the surfing and music communities coming together to make a difference,” says Chad Butler,SWITCHFOOT’s drummer, who is featured on the cover of this month’s DRUM! magazine.

“The Switchfoot Bro-Am began six years ago as an implausible dream: a dream that three of our favorite things (surfing, music, and the local community) could collide for a day in a way that gives back to the town that has given us so much,” adds lead singer Jon Foreman, who performed Feb. 27 for Help Haiti Live, a benefit for Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Recorded with producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink), Hello Hurricane is SWITCHFOOT’s first album on Atlantic Records. Numerous songs from the record have been tapped for use in major marketing campaigns (Verizon Wireless’ BlackBerry® Storm,overstock.com, the Samuel Goldwyn Film “To Save A Life”) and television programming (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “One Tree Hill,” Fox Sports’ “NHL Music Nights,” ESPN’s college football coverage and WWE’s “TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs” pay-per-view). Hello Hurricane was a critic’s pick in USA Today’s Fall Music feature and Alternative Press hailed the title track as “an uplifting, hope-giving affirmation of resurgence.” In recent months, SWITCHFOOT has performed on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

SWITCHFOOT is Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar).

THE HELLO HURRICANE TOUR CONTINUES:

Date    City/State                               Venue

3/24     Adrian, MI                               Merrilat Sports Center

3/25     Detroit, MI                               Royal Oak Music Theatre

3/27     Cincinnati, OH                          The Underground

3/29     Birmingham, AL                       WorkPlay Theatre

3/30     Fayetteville, AR                        George’s Majestic Lounge

4/11     Tucson, AZ                              KFMADAY Festival w/ Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars,

Silversun Pickups

One of America’s hardest working live acts, Skillet – who spent the first part of 2010 touring alongside Atlantic labelmates Shinedown – is currently co-headlining the “Awake Tonight” tour with TobyMac, which kicked off to several sold out shows last week, and will also be headlining a number of upcoming summer festivals.

The “Awake & Alive Tour” celebrates the continuing success of Skillet’s acclaimed new album, “AWAKE,” which reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Store’s “Top Albums” chart within 24 hours of its release last summer.  The album also made a blockbuster debut on the SoundScan/Billboard 200, entering the chart at #2.  The album continues to reign as a favorite, ascending the upper half of the Billboard 200.

Produced by Howard Benson (Three Days Grace, Daughtry, Flyleaf), “AWAKE” is highlighted by the electrifying single, “Monster.”  The track is currently a top 5 smash at Active Rock outlets nationwide, while also scoring top 20 airplay at Mainstream Rock.

What’s more, “Hero” – the second mainstream single from “AWAKE” – has been featured in an array of high-profile promotional campaigns, including WWE’s annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view and is set to arrive at Active Rock outlets this week.  Likewise, “Hero” has already hit the top spot on the Christian CHR and Rock charts, and now, after being the most-added it’s first week out, the second Christian radio single “Awake & Alive,” is already Top 10 at Christian rock and Top 15 at CHR.

Founded in 1996, Skillet has earned rapturous praise for their inspirational and intense approach to hard-edged alternative rock. Continually gaining praise in the Christian market, the mainstream is following suit, with Hit Parader celebrating Skillet for “(bringing) to mind the kind of slick, studio-savvy work that made vintage Aerosmith and Bon Jovi so much fun to listen to.” “Skillet…continually push their musical muscle with soaring guitar work interspersed with their take on 80’s hair-metal ballads,” declared Mix.

In addition to cumulative album sales in excess of 1.6 million, Skillet has racked up a wide range of honors throughout their extraordinary career. Frontman John Cooper and producer Brian Howes recently collected two BMI Music Awards for “The Last Night” and “The Older I Get,” both featured on 2006’s Grammy Award-nominated “COMATOSE.”  That album proved Skillet’s most popular work to date, achieving RIAA gold certification.  “COMATOSE” followed the band’s 2003 label debut, “COLLIDE,” which launched Skillet into the mainstream while also garnering their first Grammy Award nomination.

For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.skillet.com or www.myspace.com/skilletmusic.

• Nathan Kriebel (Brookston, IN)
• Danielle Rivoire (Hicksville, NY)
• Scott Whang (Plymouth Meeting, PA)

Congratulations to our winners! In the next few weeks, each of you will receive a copy of Passion’s newest album, featuring new anthews of praise from David Crowder*Band, Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, FEE, Christy Nockels, Hillsong United, and more! Thanks so much to all who entered!

Be sure to check back in the coming weeks when we feature more giveaways:

• 3/9-3/15: Demon Hunter’s The World Is A Thorn (Solid State Records)
• 3/16-3/22: Adie Camp’s Just You & Me (BEC Recordings)
• 3/23-3/29: Manafest’s The Chase (BEC Recordings)
• 3/30-4/5 Sho Baraka’s Lions and Liars (Reach Records) –tentative
• 4/27-5/3: The Letter Black’s Hanging on By a Thread (Tooth & Nail Records)

To enter send an email to tcmcontest@gmail.com and provide us with the following info:

“DEMON HUNTER GIVEAWAY” as the title of the email

Your name

Your mailing address

BONUS: A question you’d like us to ask in our upcoming Q&A with one of the artists involved. (You don’t have to ask a question to be entered. We’d just love you more.)

That’s all it takes! We won’t sell your name! We just want you stopping by the site and we figure winning stuff from us creates loyal fans? Right?

Winners will be notified by email and announced on our site Tuesday, March 16^th.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE ON TWITTER, FOLLOW US (@CManifesto)! IF YOU’RE ON TWITTER, RETWEET THIS CONTEST!

CONTEST OFFICIALLY ENDS ON March 15^TH, 2010 AT 11:59PM EST. ANY ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER THIS POINT WILL BE DISCARDED.

THIS CONTEST IS LIMITED TO RESIDENTS OF US & CANADA ONLY.

By Kyle Kiekintveld & Andrew Jarnagin

GENRE: METAL
LABEL:  SOLID STATE RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 9, 2010
KYLE KIEKINTVELD’S RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5
ANDREW JARNAGIN’S RATING: 3 OUT OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 3.75 OUT OF 5

The World Is A Thorn is the fifth studio album for the band Demon Hunter and it is simply furious fun. It is a loud, explosive album that simply offers listeners the best parts of Christian Metal. Great guitar riffs, furious drumming and powerful moving lyrics without selling out to the newest trends.

The World Is A Thorn is sure to be one of the best Metal albums of the year, as it doesn’t fall short in any category. It has an amazing expansive sound that draws the listener in. The lyrics are tightly crafted and never seem to stumble into the familiar clichéd traps of Metal.

“Driving Nails” is the best track offered from the album. It is not the hardest track but it is the most expansive. The lyrics are simple but smooth enough that repetitious nature of the song leaves it feeling like a prayer or a mantra.

This album is produced by one of the greats of metal, that is Aaron Sprinkle. He has worked with almost every metal band worth knowing and produced some of the greatest metal albums of recent memory. This is yet another great addition to his resume.

Andrew Jarnagin’s Review:

Whenever a band changes their sound, there will be some fans that dismiss the new direction and return to listening to past albums and wishing for the old days.  Some fans will embrace the change, and hopefully new fans will be made.  Demon Hunter’s fifth studio album sees the band take a more melodic and synth/electronic influence than in their previous offerings.  The band seems to be torn between their traditional metal/hardcore sound and a catchier, accessible mainstream rock sound. “Driving Nails” would fit better on a Breaking Benjamin record than on a Demon Hunter production.  The intro to “Collapsing” could be at home on a Top 40 song.

There is nothing wrong with combining melody with heaviness; Underoath did so with Lost In the Sound of Separation and created one of the best metalcore albums in recent memory.  There’s no problem with incorporating electronics into heavier music.  Many bands are doing so; notably Underoath again and Attack Attack!.  However, one cannot simply toss some synths and beats into a metalcore song and expect it to sound good. On The World Is A Thorn, the electronic additions are pretty hit or miss.  The bit at the end of “Tie This Around Your Neck” is actually pretty cool.  Yet in “Collapsing,” they really take away from the heaviness and feel of the song.

Ryan Clark, the vocalist, uses clean singing much more than any of his Solid State labelmates.  His voice is reminiscent of numerous popular nu-metal acts, such as Three Days Grace.  He has a good voice, but many of the clean choruses and hooks just aren’t that good (particularly the chorus of “Tie This Around Your Neck”).  Clark’s harsh vocals are solid; in fact, the album could use more of them and less singing.  I found myself drawn more to the catchy harsh parts than the singing.  The lyrics deal with themes of abandonment, disillusionment with the world, and the depletion of morals and values.  According to the Clark, The World Is A Thorn is “the antithesis of the modern way of life.”

The rest of the band is solid.  One can’t be a slouch and play drums in this genre.  Yogi Watts provides some interesting fills and holds down the rhythm well.  The two guitarists and bassist are also good but generally not very creative or technical.  Demon Hunter has put out many great riffs and leads throughout the years; I would have liked to see more of them here.

The World Is A Thorn will certainly be a divisive album to Demon Hunter fans. Metal elitists will surely scoff at the radio-geared sound that is more evident.  The more accessible sound will probably lead to more fans and notoriety for the band.  This album is for you if you enjoy your mainstream radio hooks mixed with chugging and harsh vocals.  I, however, prefer them well separated.

Review copy provided courtesy of Solid State Records

NOTE: These reviews are based on a four song sampler, NOT the full album.

By Brian Hall & Lydia Akinola

GENRE: POP/PUNK/WORSHIP
LABEL: INO RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 9, 2010
BRIAN HALL’S RATING: 4 OUT OF 5
LYDIA AKINOLA’S RATING: 3.75 OUT OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 3.8 OUT OF 5

Brian Hall’s Review:

Stellar Kart won me over back in 2006 with “We Can’t Stand Sitting Down”. The sound was fun and infectious, the lyrics were heartfelt and meaningful, and the guys knew how to rock. Now, the boys are back in town with Everything Is Different Now, a guitar driven pop/punk worship album that is sure to please long time fans and maybe even make some new ones along the way.

The opening track “All My Heart” sets the tone for the rest of the album beautifully with its high energy level and vertical lyrics. “We Shine” is one of three cover songs on the album. The song originally put Fee on the map three years ago, and while SK is already very much “on the map”, it is still sure to attract fans of the worship genre to their music. The awesome, “Sprit In The Sky” is another cover song originally made popular by Norman Greenbaum and later covered by Elton John. Again, the guys manage to make this song theirs by kicking up the tempo and adding great harmonies that would make other harmony based bands proud. The last cover on the album is Matt Redman’s worship standard, “You Never Let Go” which is probably the weakest cover as it is such a well known song and they fail to really put their mark on it.

Other great songs like “Until My Heart Caves In”, “Like The Sun”, “Something Holy” and “Rescue” really showcase SK’s talent and abilities. Their live shows are full of energy and excitement, and I feel like this album captured similar elements. This is easily the bands best album to date, and I would really love to hear the band offer up more worship tunes in the future. Make this an addition to your Stellar Kart collection, or maybe you should start one here.

Stellar Kart has grown up. And, oh! what a difference it has made. Apprehensive about what to expect their latest LP, to say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement. These guys have come a mighty long way since their debut “All Gas. No Brake”; the improvement is considerable.

Lydia Akinola’s Review:

One of the reasons why I was hesitant about Everything Is Different Now, was the number of covers I saw in the track listing, 4 in total. Casting back to their first album with its awkward cover of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”, I wasn’t sure what to prepare myself for. But, happily, things have changed- in fact, their cover of Matt Redman’s “You Never Let Go” is one of the strongest tracks I have heard from the group- ever. The other covers include a magnificent take on Fee’s “We Shine”, as well as “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum and Audio Adrenaline’s “Until My Heart Caves In”. All are noteworthy performance, although nothing can quite beat the original Audio A sound.

Everything Is Different Now marks a return for Stellar Kart to worship music. Rather than focusing on relational issues, the band have shifted their efforts into creating fun, upbeat, pumping praises songs that can be sung and enjoyed by anyone who is young at heart. From the opening track “All My Heart”, the change is apparent, and their hidden of skill of packing a rock tune with powerful, worshipful lyrics becomes clear. This shake up began to get me excited.

Enter “We Shine”. It is given a little Stellar Kart treatment and transformed with electronica programming: the result is an epic power-pop praise tune. From then on, I was converted. This is party-praise, fun, loud music that is easy on the ears and good for soul. The lyrics are God-centered, the music is energetic and alive- the end result is generally fantastic. “Something Holy” is another highlight, reminding listeners that we are called to a part something of something bigger than each of us. What sets Stellar Kart apart from many other pop-punk/pop-rock artists is the way they can condense nuggets of faith in a song less than 3 minutes long.

The title track “Everything Is Different Now” is classic Stellar Kart: in pace, in structure and in sound. But for this album, everything is just a little tighter, the production is just that bit sharper, the sound has something extra- in short, Adam Agee and his band has raised the bar. The memories of just ‘alright’ music seem have been put behind us as Stellar Kart grow older and become wiser and master the trade. Change is the operative verb.

With the aforementioned “You Never Let Go”, Stellar Kart has captured the essence of the song, but has also successfully added their trademark guitar riffs, drum work, and unmistakable drive to it. It will appeal to those who look for edgier, peppier versions of popular worship songs to listen. The closer, “Like The Son” will also appeal, showing off some of the best talent musically that Stellar Kart has to offer with a resounding interlude that ties of the album magnificently.

Stellar Kart has done a lot of work, but as always, there is still more to do. It would be great for them to tackle slower, unhurried songs and I would love to see them continue to write more of their own work. Nevertheless there is plenty for the fans to love and for newcomers to enjoy. All in all, I believe that Everything Is Different Now sets the standard and is the foundation from which Stellar Kart will continue to work on. As a massive improvement on their past efforts, it goes to show how bands can develop and get better with time. This LP reminds us how far a little bit of change can go in the journey of development … I’m hoping that their next release will revolutionize everything again, and let us join them on their adventure.

Review copy provided courtesy of INO Records

By Brian Hall, Lydia Akinola, & Thomas Jenkins

GENRE: ROCK
LABEL: SPARROW RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 9, 2010
BRIAN HALL’S RATING: 3.75 OUT OF 5
LYDIA AKINOLA’S RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5
THOMAS JENKINS: 3.5 OUT OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 3.9 OUT OF 5

Brian Hall’s Review:

Sanctus Real is one of the few bands that only gets better with time. From their first album “Say It Loud” to their second album “Fight The Tide” there was a noticeable lyrical difference, but not much musical difference. But with “The Face Of Love” back in 2006, the bands direction as a whole was uprooted. The lyrics were a significant jump above the already high level they had set for themselves, the music was more mature; more Sanctus Real than Relient K. With that album, Matt Hammitt and Co. delivered singles that resounded with CHR & AC audiences alike. Continuing their trend of one-upping themselves they released “We Need Each Other” in 2007, and it was another smash that provides more lyrical depth and musical maturity. Now “Pieces Of A Real Heart” is up to bat, but does it live up to its predecessors very high standards? It does, and it even outdoes all other Sanctus Real albums to date.

From the banjo infused opening track and first radio single, “Forgiven” (which has sat prettily in the top 10 CCM tracks for many weeks now) to the moving and contemplative closer, “Keep My Heart Alive” the guys of Sanctus Real deliver the goods. The album explores themes that are at once personal and universal. “The Way The World Turns” deals with despair and doubt and the comfort and joy that comes from Christ, “I Feel the current pulling me down/Can’t keep the world from turning around/So I keep turning to You… ‘Cause you’re the hope of a new sunrise…”. Even family life is explored with lyrical poise and musical excellence (I was actually reminded of Sara Groves’s most recent album as far as basic lyrical punch goes) on “Lead Me”, “In picture frames, I see my beautiful wife… on the inside, I can hear her saying// Lead me with strong hands/Stand up when I can’t…”. Even an inquisitive and scornful letter to their hearts on “Dear Heart”, “Oh, Heart, you’ve let me down/Chasing love where it can’t be found…”.

All in all this is a five star album that deserves every praise and accolade available. Each track gripped me in different ways. Be it powerful lyrics (which are in no short supply here) or addictive melodies. Hammitt’s vocals are uniformly impeccable and the musicianship is expert. I honestly couldn’t find a single thing to complain about. It isn’t a copy of a previous formula or structure, it’s just Sanctus Real doing what they do best; delivering quality music that is accessible but unique.

Lydia Akinola’s Review:

There is no doubt about it: Sanctus Real deserve their spot as one of Christian music’s favourite bands. Pieces of a Real Heart is splendid, inspiring music, chock-full with that Sanctus Real sound so many of us love.

There is another thing that is clear: Pieces of a Real Heart is no We Need Each Other or Face of Love. Instead of spewing out a rehash of their old hits, the guys in Sanctus Real have done something that should make us sit up and notice. Pieces of a Real Heart signifies a completely new direction for the band, with softer, more melodic tracks than have ever been seen from them before. This new side displays the same captivating music and engaging lyrics as all its predecessors, but also goes to show that Sanctus Real have gone above and beyond what we expected in their fifth LP.

The first single “Forgiven” is the opening track and has already wowed listeners of CCM radio with its engaging message of forgiveness. As an opener is sets the bar for the rest of the album.  A real ‘stand-out’ track, exceptional in the depths of what it communicates- is “Lead Me”, a prayer for every father in the land, inspiring be all that they can be. Born out of a personal experience, Matt Hammitt’s voice comes into its own, carrying the entire song beautifully. Almost before we recover, “The Redeemer” picks up emotionally where “Lead Me” left off. Lyrically powerful, the sincerity of the message of trust stays with you long after the song finishes –“I’ve given up on too many things/ But I’m not giving up on You/ Cause You can make anything new”.

Fans of the edgy rock Sanctus Real produce so well will find solace in “Take Over Me”- one of the few rock ballads on Pieces of a Real Heart. The calls for surrender and release are beautiful accompanied by top notch work from Pete Pervost and Dan Gartley. The other louder track – “I Want To Get Lost” offers a fantastic selection of all the best elements of alternative rock. Furthermore, the honest, confessional lyrics avoid trite phrases whilst acknowledging our shortcomings – “It was easy to find my way/Not as easy to get out/Oh the roads to my own rule/Are too easily found”.

What puts Sanctus Real ahead of others in their field are their consistence, their maturity and remarkable musical ability. In terms of consistence, every new record is always an improvement on previous efforts, maintaining what is good, but still pushing at limits that they haven’t tried before. In regards to maturity, Sanctus Real are never afraid to tackle the weighty issues in which we all fall; yet they avoid clichés and stereotyped expressions choosing instead originality, ingenuity, and impact. Pieces of a Real Heart contains some of the best lyrics I have heard from the band. “These Things Take Time” is a perfect example.

How could success make us feel like failures?
And the harder we fall the harder we try

The more I have the more I need
Just to feel like I’m getting by

But these alone do not make bestselling albums. One still needs a solid foundation of truly know how to create a memorable tune, how to mould the perfect song. It is here that Sanctus Real really shine, the music that they create speaks for itself. Pieces of a Real Heart has been created with care and the finished article is truly exceptional. Perfect in almost everyway, this album has been a fantastic addition to my collection of Sanctus Real treasures.

Thomas Jenkins’ Review:

Sanctus Real is one of the biggest forces in the Christian music industry. Their singles, “I’m Not Alright”, and “Whatever You’re Doing (Something Heavenly)” were both very popular, and are a major factor for the band’s popularity. They’ve always been known for delivering catchy pop/rock tunes, and honest, thought provoking lyrics. While that may sound like a lot of Christian bands, Sanctus Real genuinely does it, and manages to put out songs that are both memorable and well crafted.

The first thing that jumped out at me about Sanctus Real’s new album was how polished and smooth it was. It’s evident from the first few minutes (although I’m not a huge fan of the banjo on “Forgiven”) that this is a band that knows exactly what sound they’re going for, and are achieving it very well. There isn’t a single song on Pieces of a Real Heart that isn’t completely sure of where it wants to go, and does a solid job of getting there. Singer Matt Hammit’s voice blends perfectly with the instrumentals, and the various elements of the vocals, guitar, drum and bass parts, and the honest heartfelt lyrics all make Pieces of a Real Heart a great listening experience.

That being said, of course, it’s not perfect. The first issue with the album is the songwriting. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s solid. But if you take the songs here and compare them to other Sanctus Real favorites such as “Eloquent” and “I’m Not Alright”, one can’t help but see that a step down has been taken, however miniscule that step may have been. Other than that, the only main problem is that however polished and smooth it may be, Pieces of a Real Heart seems a bit too safe at times. As I said above, Sanctus Real’s found their sound, and they’re not going to  change their formula.

Pieces of a Real Heart is a great album from a band that deserves a great album. It’s hard not to like Sanctus Real when they put out songs as honest as “I’m Not Alright”, as catchy as “Forgiven” and still manage to keep a good bit of creativity in their songwriting. This is a band that can actually create pop/rock songs that are fun, catchy, honest, and not cliché. Despite a couple of minor flaws through the course of the listen, Sanctus Real has crafted another solid album, and it’s well worth your money if you like the band, or their style.

Review copy provided courtesy of Sparrow Records