Sanctus Real Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
The personal heartaches that fueled The Face of Love appear to have come full circle, leading to the healing and closure that are explored on Sanctus Real's follow-up record, We Need Each Other. With the hurt of losing loved ones behind them, the band issued a call for unity and understanding that seems to transcend political and spiritual boundaries. While it isn't the action-oriented message of David Crowder Band's Remedy, We Need Each Other offers consolation on a personal level. The album is lush and reverberating without being lazy. If opening track "Turn on the Lights" makes it sound like the record will be a hard-rocking affair, it is mere misdirection. The rock elements are more sparse and refined, which keeps Sanctus Real from taking themselves too seriously. The vibrant worship ballad "Eternal" is the band at its best, expressing trust in God's promise to always be with us. Other gems include "Sing" and the title track, both of which were destined to become fan favorites on tour. We Need Each Other mixes the best qualities of Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity and the Afters' Never Going Back to OK to make the album mature yet accessible to fans of modern Christian rock. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Having evolved from power pop to heavier rock back to melodic modern fare, Sanctus Real blend the styles of their previous two efforts on The Face of Love. The quartet takes listeners on a journey to a sonic realm of introspection, restlessness, and unresolved pondering as only they can do. If you swirled together Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown, Jars of Clay's Good Monsters and U2's How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, the concoction would sound much like this. The influences don't stop there, as traces of Dashboard Confessional, Nine Days, Jeremy Camp, Mae, and others blend seamlessly together. The impetus for a more mid-tempo, insightful record came as band members dealt with difficult circumstances in their personal lives. Drummer Mark Graalman's father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away merely two months later. Original bass player Steve Goodrum was replaced by Dan Gartley. And vocalist Matt Hammitt's grandmother passed away after an ordeal in hospice care. This explains the unsettledness of Face of Love and the absence of more peppy material to rival the hooks on their debut Say It Loud. Still, Hammitt's vocals are so rich and mature that he could practically sing a computer owner's manual to rave reviews. Producer Chris Stevens (Shawn McDonald, Tobymac) was a catalyst in evoking the boys' raw emotions both lyrically and musically. The challenge in presenting this personal material came in meeting expectations of another rock-hard outing. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
There is something tremendously appetizing about guitar-fused rock & roll. Sanctus Real's sophomore offering, titled Fight the Tide, is a disc that finds the band maturing lyrically and musically while vocalist Matt Hammitt delivers a sterling performance.The disc's opener' "Everything About You'" is a bass-driven tune that features effect-laden guitars swirling around the melody. Well-placed hallelujahs produce a spiritual pleaser. "Things Like You" and "Change Me" both find the band playing radio-friendly cuts that move along like the Gin Blossoms with acoustic guitars giving way to a moving chorus. Throughout the opus there are more great rock moments than a geologist convention. Check out the chorus on"The Show" or the emotional energy on "Say Goodbye." Fight the Tide is a disc that is testimony to a band with overflowing talents. Cut after cut proves it. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Say It Loud is the debut opus from Toledo Ohio's' Sanctus Real. Produced by rock veteran Pete Stewart, this debut is a proclamation of edgy modern rock meeting energy-bursts from front to end. Cuts like "Captains Chair" and the title track are straightforward rock ventures that boast meaty guitar hooks and driving rhythms reflecting the flavor of the disc's heavier moments. On the flip side, tunes like "Hey Wait" and "After Today" present the band's lighter side in a flattering light. Each tune is a radio-ready power ballad that exhibits the same potency as bands like the Elms and Audio Adrenaline. Throughout the disc vocalist Matt Hammitt is sterling, while guitarist Chris Rohman delivers potent riffs throughout, offering memorable hooks and rock bravado. Say It Loud is a solid debut from a Midwest powerhouse that seems to have found the groove. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide
