Music News - Sleeping Giant (USA) New Zealand Tour 2013 with Saving Grace & The Ember Days
12 December 2012 - 0 Comments
Sleeping Giant represents a call to arms. More than a band, more than a group of close friends, Sleeping Giant is a unit of disciples who scream loud from deep in the underground to the highest of the heavens.
"Since Sleeping Giant formed in 2006, they have been rewriting the definition of what it means to be Christians in a metal band," wrote Relevant Magazine. "They pulverize all preconceived notions of worship music."
They proclaim strength through submission to Jesus Christ across their latest album, Kingdom Days in an Evil Age. They've headlined Scream The Prayer; appeared at major Christian music festivals; toured with bands like Demon Hunter and Bleeding Through. Wherever they are called, their message remains the same: salvation.
Many bands call upon their audience to worship at the alter of false idolatry. Sleeping Giant, in opposition to the norms of the music business, invokes the Holy Spirit instead. They beg the Holy Spirit to enter into the clubs, schools, homes, hearts and minds of the lost, the forsaken, the left behind, the downtrodden, the meek.
Across three studio albums, North and South American tours and with social networking connecting legions of fans worldwide, Sleeping Giant calls for nothing short of breakthrough for the broken, by any means necessary. Their stage shows often erupt into full-on praise and worship. They've baptized on the streets of Bogota, born witness in neighborhoods where many fear to tread and offered up their own testimonies to the tattooed brawlers they grew up with.
The close friendship between singer Tommy Green and guitarist Eric Gregson creates a family type atmosphere forged by shared experience, evocative communication, militant ministry based in love and evangelism within the band as a whole. It's a true brotherhood. Green's pastoral duties at Revolution Reality put him in Salt Lake City. Eric shepherds Tithemi Outreach and runs a merchandise business in Redlands, California, where he's alongside guitarist and co-songwriter Geoff Brouilette and bassist JR Bermuda.
All four founding members grew up in the California hardcore scene and at one time or another played together in the multi-member straight edge outfit xDeathstarx. Eclectic tastes running the gamut from old-school hardcore to metal of all stripes (and beyond) formed Sleeping Giant's musical nucleus, as evidenced by the dense power of their pair of inaugural releases: Dread Champions of the Last Days (2007) and Sons of Thunder (2009).
Kingdom Days in an Evil Age is Sleeping Giant's crowning achievement. The atmosphere, energy and almost meditatively succinct approach of their driving and rhythmic music shares many strengths with bands like Gojira, Neurosis, Blood Has Been Shed and Isis. The heart and the spirit of Sleeping Giant is found in the lyrics and furthermore in the vocal delivery of Green (and often, Gregson) throughout the performances. Each of the men in Sleeping Giant, including new drummer Matt Weir, approach each show with focus and purpose.
Sleeping Giant commands the sleepwalking within the church to awaken and spread the love of Jesus Christ across the world. Sleeping Giant, acting in unison as more than the sum of their parts, commands their brethren to break loose from the shackles of short-sightedness, laziness and arrogance and embrace all of God's children. Their message is forthright, outspoken, militant and immediate. Their presentation is passionate, reverent and worshipful. Sleeping Giant is no mere band. Sleeping Giant is the sound of reckoning.
Playing direct support to Sleeping Giant across their inaugural New Zealand trek is none other than Aotearoa's own spirit-filled hardcore powerhouse Saving Grace.
With a whirlwind career that has seen the band headline numerous tours, festival appearances and tour relentlessly worldwide in support of three full length albums, Saving Grace are undoubtedly the crown-bearers of heavy music in New Zealand.
Saving Grace have toured and shared the stage with countless legends of hardcore and metal acts such as Suffocation, August Burns Red, Winds of Plague, Underoath, Bleeding Through, Parkway Drive, Misery Signals, Bring Me The Horizon, Darkest Hour and many more.
Touring in support of their latest opus 'The King is Coming' on Facedown Records, Saving Grace will play perfect counterpart to Sleeping Giant across these featured shows on home soil before embarking on their third tour across North America where they will once again feature at the famed annual Facedown Fest in Los Angeles, California prior to embarking on a co-headline tour with label mates Those Who Fear.
Rounding off the line up for the summer tour is the beautifully epic and worshipful The Ember Days.
Having relocated from their hometown of Auckland, New Zealand to Nashville, TN close to a half-decade ago, The Ember Days have been crafting beautiful soundscapes laden with powerful melodies since 2006 and captivating the hearts of thousands of people across the world with their unique brand of ambient rock worship.
With the band's heart focus intent on creating a zeal for communion between the created and their creator, The Ember Days bring an incomparable worshipful atmosphere to festival, church or club venue alike.
The dual vocal stylings of husband and wife combo Jason and Janell Belcher perfectly matched with the incredible musicianship of band members Logan and Jordan Mackenzie and Jedidiah Lachmann has moulded one of the most incredible contemporary worship acts which has toured heavily since it's inception across New Zealand and the United States alike, making stops at all major Christian music festivals and appearing at numerous showcases and ministry events gaining countless fans along the way.
Touring in support of their upcoming studio album 'More Thank You Think' recorded with acclaimed producers Paul Moak (Third Day, Lovedrug, Seabird) and Ed Cash (David Crowder Band, Leeland, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin)
The Ember Days will be delivering up many new tracks as well as classics from their previous releases 'The Finger Painting EP' and the Vodafone New Zealand Music Award nominated 'Emergency'.
Do not miss the chance to see these three unique, passionate and powerful musical ministries join forces in a once in a lifetime tour across north island markets after wrapping up feature appearances at 2013's mammoth Parachute Festival in Mystery Creek during the weekend of January 25th to 27th.
DISCOUNTED PRE-SALE TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM UNDERTHERADAR.CO.NZ FROM DECEMBER 21
STRICTLY LIMITED DOOR SALES AVAILABLE AT ALL SHOWS
LOCAL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED MID JANUARY
Wednesday 30th January - Zeal, West Auckland - Come & Live! New Zealand Conference 2013 (AA)
Thursday 31st January - Capital Vineyard Church, Wellington (AA)
Friday 1st February - Void, Hamilton (AA)
Saturday 2nd February - Ohope Christian Fellowship, Ohope (AA)
Sunday 3rd February - Lifezone Church, Tauranga (AA)
www.facebook.com/sleepinggiant
http://www.theblackoutagency.com/ | http://www.comeandlive.com/ | http://www.parachutemusic.com/ | http://www.lifefm.co.nz/
SLEEPING GIANT - 'KINGDOM DAYS IN AN EVIL AGE' OUT NOW ON ANGR RECORDS / CENTURY MEDIA
SAVING GRACE -'THE KING IS COMING' OUT NOW ON FACEDOWN RECORDS
THE EMBER DAYS - 'MORE THAN YOU THINK' OUT JANUARY 29 ON COME & LIVE!
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