Releases include Michael Card’s Gospel-focused music and rockers We As Human

MATTHEW
Michael Card
InterVarsity Press
9780830838035
June 12

A companion CD to Matthew: The Gospel of Identity (IVP Books) from the “Biblical Imagination Series,” Matthew: The Penultimate Question aims to help the listener engage with the Gospel of Matthew. The CD includes 10 new songs from best-selling artist Michael Card.

Orders: 800-843-7225.

WE AS HUMAN
We As Human
Atlantic/Word Records (Word Distribution)
075678732089
June 25

Recorded in Los Angeles under the direction of producer Howard Benson (Skillet, Three Days Grace, My Chemical Romance), the 10-track, self-titled rock release is the first full-length album from Nashville band We As Human. 

Comprised of lead singer Justin Cordle and members Jake Jones, Justin Forshaw, Adam Osborne and Dave Draggoo, We As Human was discovered by Skillet lead singer John Cooper and signed to Atlantic/Word Records via Hear It Loud, a partnership helmed by Cooper, manager Zach Kelm and attorney Todd Rubenstein. 

The project features special appearances from Cooper and Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf. Highlights include songs “Strike Back” and “We Fall Apart.” 

WE WON’T BE SHAKEN
Building 429
Essential Records (Provident Distribution)
083061097929
June 4

Working again with producers Jason Ingram and Rob Hawkins, pop/rock band Building 429 recorded 10 new songs for We Won’t Be Shaken with messages that aim to encourage listeners to erase fear, stand firm and believe in a God who cannot be shaken.

The album includes a new, live acoustic version of the band’s No. 1 Billboard Christian Song of the Year, “Where I Belong.”

All Things New makes its debut while the regrouped Hawk Nelson offers its new release

ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN

Matt Maher

Essential Records (Provident)

0-83061-09682-3

April 23

Maher’s All the People Said Amen features new songs mixed with live versions of worship anthems and radio hits. First single is “Lord I Need You.” 

ALL THINGS NEW

All Things New

BEC Recordings (EMI CMG Distribution) 5-09997-309022-9

April 9

Produced by Jonathan Smith and Casey Brown, with executive production by Jason Ingram, the self-titled debut by All Things New shares a life lesson: Things break apart in this world, but God restores them. 

CARRY ME

Josh Wilson

Sparrow Records (EMI CMG) 

5-09999-092842-0

April 9

With more than 200,000 in album sales, Wilson is once again teaming up with producer Matt Bronlewee for Carry Me. The title track is a prayer asking God to hold onto our hearts. 

FIGHT

Carlos Whittaker

Paradigm Collective (Provident)

0-83061-09642-7

April 30

Formerly worship pastor at Sandals Church, Whittaker now serves at a North Point campus in Atlanta. Fight is his debut with Paradigm Collective.

LIGHTS OUT

Silverline

Dream Records (EMI CMG) 

6-17401-12518-8-9

April 9

Silverline has shared the stage with P.O.D. and Newsboys, selling thousands of CDs independently.

MADE

Hawk Nelson

Fair Trade Services (Provident) 

7-36211-60519-1

April 2

Now a threesome after Jason Dunn opted for a solo career, Hawk Nelson transitioned Jonathan Steingard to frontman. “Words,” which features vocals by Bart Millard (MercyMe), is a response to the title track, “Made.”

EMI CMG Distribution, Call: 800-877-4443, Fax: 615-371-6980, www.emicmgdistribution.com

Pure Flix Entertainment, Call: 888-528-7444, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.pureflix.com

Provident Distribution, Call: 800-333-9000, www.thep.com

Down-home gospel: Produced by Jay DeMarcus (member of Rascal Flatts), Wayne Haun and Ed Cash, Love Is Stronger showcases the rich voice of GRAMMY- and Dove Award-winning artist Jason Crabb. This sophomore studio solo recording delivers messages of comfort through the love of Christ that conquers all. Gaither Music Group (EMI CMG Distribution) releases March 12.

New label: New Artist of the Year nominee at the 2012 GMA Dove Awards, Beyond the Ashes offers its new album Stow Town Records (Provident Distribution). Releasing March 5, Living in the Moment features new lead singer Dustin Doyle and is produced by Wayne Haun. The release will be supported by coast-to-coast touring.

A high-energy rock band and a gospel great are among this month’s releases

ANTHEMS
Todd Ballard
(New Day Christian Distributors)
6-26570-62263-5
Feb. 5

A founding pastor at one of the country’s fastest-growing congregations—Red Rocks Church in Golden, Colo.—Ballard recently left his position to pursue music full-time. Produced by Otto Price (TobyMac, BarlowGirl), Ballard’s national debut recording, Anthems, comprises 13 songs intended to connect with the worshipper’s heart. Showcasing an all-star lineup of industry professionals who have worked with the likes of One Republic, Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, the album “is simply anthems from the heart” with each song “an anthem of the way I love God,” Ballard said. Stand-out tracks include “Why We’re Singing,” written with multi-Dove-Award-winning Producer of the Year Ian Eskelin, inspired by a sermon from Charles Spurgeon; and “Immanuel,” a ballad about resting in God’s presence. The project also features a cover of Delirious’ “Find Me in the River.”

I GOT THIS—LIVE!
Dottie Peoples
Thirty Tigers Distribution (Provident Distribution)
7-94504-7899-3-5
Feb. 5

Recorded live in Peoples’ hometown of Atlanta, I Got This—Live! is a 13-song journey through a collection of praise & worship, contemporary and traditional gospel music woven together. The release features her signature vocals on the radio singles “I Got This” and an arrangement of the classic hit “Everything Must Change.” Known for her hits “On Time God,” “Do It!” and “Testify,” Peoples is a three-time GRAMMY Award nominee and winner of numerous awards, including the Stellar, Dove and Soul Train awards.

RELEASE THE PANIC
Red
Essential Records (Provident Distribution)
0-83061-09472-0
Feb. 5

Following Until We Have Faces, which saw Red achieve several No. 1 radio singles (“Not Alone,” “Faceless,” “Who We Are,” “Buried Beneath”), a year on tour with Winter Jam, P.O.D. and Thousand Foot Krutch, Red offers its high-energy rock on its fourth recording, Release the Panic. Themes include facing mistakes, confronting mortality and the fear of showing one’s true self. 

RUN
Sanctus Real
Sparrow Records (EMI CMG)
5-09993-067312-0
Feb. 5

On Sanctus Real’s sixth studio album, Run, the band has written songs that promise to become encouraging anthems of hope and healing that listeners can cling to in trying times. Through their struggles and victories, the members of Sanctus Real have come to realize there’s only one place to run—into God’s arms—and to the promises in His Word. At press time, new radio single “Promises” was getting more than 1.5 million in audience each week.

THE INVISIBLE
Daniel Bashta
Integrity Music (Provident)
0-00768-51442-9
Feb. 5

Bashta, church worship leader and songwriter of “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion)” (Newsboys), aims to guides listeners to a place closer to God while offering creative, bold and fresh worship music on The Invisible.  

ZION
Hillsong United
Hillsong/Sparrow Records (EMI CMG)
5-09999-09303-2-4
Feb. 26

After a two-year wait, Hillsong United releases Zion, a recording that reflects the realization that God is establishing His church through His people. Featuring 13 tracks, Zion sets the theme with the opening track “Relentless,” about God’s love.

Third Day and MercyMe among bands headlining concert tours along with the new Audio Adrenaline

Some of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music are hitting the road on tour in the new year, with many supporting the release of new albums.

GRAMMY-winning multi-platinum recording artist TobyMac will headline the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular—Christian music’s biggest tour and the No. 1 tour in the world for the first quarter of the year for the past two years.

Kicking off its 18th year Jan. 4 in Charleston, W.Va., and concluding March 30 in San Antonio, the 44-city tour will also feature Red, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets and Royal Tailor, as well as speaker Nick Hall. In addition, the Youth Music Vault Pre-Jam Party will include performances from Jason Castro, OBB and Capital Kings. Admission is $10 at the door, with no ticket required. 

Playing to a total of nearly 535,000 people last year, Winter Jam outpaced attendance for all other tours, according to Pollstar’s 2012 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales Charts—Top 100 Tours, bypassing such key tours as Cirque du Soleil; “Michael Jackson: The Immortal”; Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters; The Black Keys; Jason Aldean; and Brad Paisley. 

“We are more passionate than ever about the ministry that drives the tour,” said Eddie Carswell, creator of Winter Jam and founding member of NewSong. “Led by TobyMac, this year’s line-up represents the diversity—and future—of Christian music.” 

Meanwhile, the fifth annual Rock & Worship Roadshow, which kicks off Feb. 7 in Madison, Wisc., and concludes March 10 in Fresno, Calif., features MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Tedashii, Kutless, Family Force 5, Luminate, Adam Cappa, Rhett Walker Band and Tim Timmons. Like Winter Jam, tour admission is $10 at the door, with no ticket required. Last year’s Roadshow was named one of Pollstar’s Top 50 Tours for mid-year 2012. 

Elsewhere, GRAMMY-winning worship leader Chris Tomlin’s first album in three years, Burning Lights (sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution), releases Jan. 8. Beginning Feb. 19 in Charleston, W.V., and wrapping up May 4 in Denver, the 34-city Burning Lights Tour will feature Passion City Church founder Louie Giglio and Kari Jobe. Burning Lights features the hit single “Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies].” 

“I feel that it’s a very important responsibility that God’s given me to write songs for His Church and to give people a voice to worship God, so I take that very seriously,” Tomlin said. “So I’m not just throwing a bunch of songs together to make a new record and hope that it just rides on the wind of what I’ve done in the past. I want it to be the very best thing I’ve ever done every time.” 

Third Day will headline The Miracle Tour next month in support of the GRAMMY-winning band’s latest studio project, Miracle (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity). Launching Feb. 21 in Fairfax, Va., and ending May 5 in Louisville, Ky., the 45-city tour will also feature American Idol finalist Colton Dixon and singer-songwriter Josh Wilson.  

“We have toured for so many years and feel like we owe any success we have to the fans that built Third Day,” said drummer David Carr. “We poured so much into this record because we wanted to bring our fans our very best. We are proud of Miracle and can’t wait for people to hear it.”

The album was produced by veteran producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Train, The Killers). 

Meanwhile, Audio Adrenaline, a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s but retired in 2007, has re-formed with an altered lineup in a move that is a renewed effort by the group to help orphans in Haiti and around the world. Founding members Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss has been joined by new vocalist Kevin Max, formerly of dcTalk.

The band’s first single, “Kings and Queens,” was released in November with the new album of the same title slated to release March from Fair Trade Services, a new label for the band. Beginning in late February and running through spring, the Kings and Queens Tour will include Group 1 Crew, Seventh Day Slumber and Manic Drive. 

Net proceeds from the album’s sales will go to Hands & Feet Project, a nonprofit organization started in 2004 by Audio Adrenaline members that is dedicated to helping orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti.

In its nearly 30-year career, the 285-voice Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has distinguished itself with six GRAMMY awards, nine Dove Awards, an RIAA Gold video certification, two No. 1 hits and more than 4 million in album sales. Known for songs such as "Praise You" and "Midnight Cry," the choir is using its latest offering to "declare" God's name globally.

Declare Your Name (0-00768-47302-3, Integrity Music/Provident-Integrity Distribution), was released Nov. 17.

It features Israel Houghton on the upbeat "I'll Sing of Your Love" and Paul Baloche on the acoustic ballad "Helpless." Pop star Jonathan Butler shows up for "Coming Back" and the Caribbean-flavored "It All Belongs to You." Alicia Olatuja's soprano soars on the "Wonderful to Me," while the set closes with the hand-clapper "Declare Your Name."

All 13 songs were composed by choir founder Carol Cymbala and her in-house song-writing team that includes choir director Onaje Jefferson and assistant director Jason Michael Webb.

"One of the objectives that we had was to be able to create—with God's help—songs that the world could sing," said Webb, referring to uncomplicated songs with easy refrains and moderate vocal modulations. "The basic thing we can understand is that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and everything we see He created and it all belongs to Him. All of the songs relate to that."

The release will be promoted in part with a karaoke contest in January. Contestants will download an instrumental track from the CD and record a new version that will be posted on YouTube. The winners will receive a trip for two to New York City to perform the song with the choir.

To order, call 800-333-9000 or visit www.provident-integrity.com.