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| SONICFLOOd�the name has become synonymous with the onset of the youth-oriented praise and worship movement in the United States, #1 songs and Dove Awards. In the past two years they have amassed magazine articles, reader�s choice awards and an RIAA certified gold record (over 500,000 units sold.) They have played all over the world in the past year and embarked on a successful 40-city US tour in the fall of 2001, where many tours had to be cancelled. With accolades such as this, how does one even begin to follow up a debut project with such acclaim? With resonate. resonate�an album given only to resonating praise for the one God who is above all worthy of praise. Staying true to its mission to �create music that will usher people into the presence of God,� SONICFLOOd�s sophomore release does just that. Once again combining traditional worship choruses boasting a hard-edged flair with new songs, most penned by members of SONICFLOOd, resonate paves the way for a worship experience. The title cut of the album, an original, also serves as the first single and is a bouncing call to worship and call to Christians to resonate the praise of God. �Jesus, Lord Of All� is a slower tempo and familiar chorus written by Gary Saddler. The driving rock melody of �Write Your Name On My Heart� was written by lead singer Rick Heil and bass player Tom Michael and leads the listener to a place of surrender, of asking God to �write His name on our hearts.� The youth worship classic �You Are The Holy One,� which originated with the �Acquire The Fire� conferences, is given a fresh edgy beat that you would expect to hear on any pop radio station. Clearly the song that bears the most vulnerability is the raw �Dear Lord� penned by Heil in the midst of his struggle with a chronic digestive illness, Crohn�s disease, that he was diagnosed with as a child. Even while surrounded with pain and confusion, the song continues to glorify God for being there in the middle of it. It is this attitude of praise and of trust that is a prevalent theme throughout the album and within the band members lives. Perhaps this unity of spirit is what can be attributed to the unity between the members of SONICFLOOd. A unity that permeates their performance, their interaction with fans and even daily life on and off the road. Tom Michael (bass), Todd Shay (guitar), and Brett Vargason (drums) have been playing together since their college days in Michigan. Dave Alan (keyboard) and Rick first met as members of alternative rock band Big Tent Revival in 1998. This history, along with an agreement in what SONICFLOOd is called to, lay the groundwork for leading others in worship at concert appearances. Concert appearances are an important part of the ministry of SONICFLOOd. While the heart of the band remains to create an atmosphere of worship for anyone who comes within listening distance of their music, it is most important that at concerts the audience members are not just spectators, but are actual participants with the band in an evening of worship. This atmosphere and the surrender of humanity that comes from such a place opens the door to many of the other aspects of what is becoming an overflow of SONICFLOOd�s ministry. Each night during the concert, the band allots a time for prayer and ministry. During this time band members themselves pray with concert attendees for whatever needs they may have. From tumors dissipating beneath the hand of a band member while praying for a young girl, to kidney transplants coming available as Rick speaks the words �God is a healer,� God�s spirit continues to manifest itself in different ways throughout the concert. Rick, who experienced God�s healing from Crohn�s disease, a little over three years ago, is quick to point out that while the physical healings are magnificent events, it is the less glorified healings of the heart that he hopes take place in those who attend SONICFLOOd concerts. Whether on stage, on the bus or at home with their families, the members of SONICFLOOd are the real deal. All are active members of local church congregations and walk out the lives that they sing about, lives of worship. It is this, more so than the stellar music and song selection�though both are present�that will make the new album and the praise of their lives�resonate. |
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