GUESTS

The origins of Tooth & Nail's latest hard rock acquisition The Letter Black actually dates back to the members time in Breaking the Silence. After forming in 2006, the group entered the studio independently with Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Pillar, Disciple), followed by an impressive streak of 150 shows a year including a last minute call from the T&N to serve as a substitute for a broken up band on the otherwise successful Five 4 Five Tour alongside Dizmas and Children 18:3 (with just two weeks notice). Between constant contact with the label through that all-star producer and their new manager, the Uniontown, Pennsylvania-based band turned their backs on other label offers and signed by the dotted line.

Upon making it to the major label ranks, the group stumbled upon a similarly named mainstream band and soon shifted from Breaking the Silence to The Letter Black after a suggestion that stemmed from a joke between legendary Helmet front man Page Hamilton and Manager Danny Hill. Outside of having a curious ring to it, the new moniker better encapsulates the band's aggressive instrumental onslaught and literate lyrical disposition.

"All of us go through different chapters in our lives," suggests guitarist/co-songwriter Mark Anthony. "In these chapters we write letters of good and bad times. Some letters in our chapters, we are happy to share. Others, we are not so proud of. The Letter Black reminds us of the past mistakes we have made and helps us remember to not keep making the same mistakes."

On the aptly titled Breaking the Silence EP, the group expounds upon those poignant reflections, encapsulating back breaking rhythms within universally relatable themes to both believers and the world at large. "Believe" points to having faith in anything bigger than yourself, which in the case of the band's perspective is clearly Christ, but also seeks to be a spiritual introduction to the unchurched. "Best of Me" revolves around making the most of the talents and gifts given here on earth, while "Hanging By a Thread" and "Up From the Ashes" go hand in hand, respectively crying out in desperation and finding resolution through perseverance.

All the while, the band evokes the aggressive likes of Sevendust, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Linkin Park, Red and Disciple, coupled with the classic sensibilities of Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses. Add in blistering production from the legendary Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Korn, 3 Doors Down), and it's a riveting amalgamation of female fronted ferocity, meaty melodies, gritty guitars and a thundering rhythm section.

"I remember being a grungy kind of kid whose world revolved around Metallica and Nirvana, but I never felt embraced by Christians and found some of them to be hypocritical, getting drunk with me at parties on Saturdays and then running to church to pray on Sundays," Mark mentions of the opposite upbringing from the group's singer/co-songwriter Sarah, a pastor's kid who's now his wife. "Ironically, I wound up being asked to help direct music at a church and I agreed because I was looking for outlets to play, but would always show up drunk or hung over. But the associate pastor never condemned me or put me down. He just gave me Jesus the best way he knew how and everything flipped from there." As a result of that unconventional conversion, The Letter Black insists upon presenting a listening ear rather than a preachy disposition, which is just as apparent on the Breaking the Silence EP as it is after a concert (which includes an upcoming slot on Skillet's highly anticipated fall tour). The group often hangs out until the last person leaves, which is a tangible example of members' sincere interest in impacting their audience that often yields inspiring results.

"Our songs are not always happy, but rather about real life situations," notices Mark. "Thank goodness God allows us to go through them and share them on the road because hopefully that will help someone else who is struggling instead of being that Christian band that's telling them they're going to hell. The whole point is kids don't want to be preached at and usually don't want to have you give them an answer to their struggles immediately. They mostly just want you to listen because that actually means you care. If you're not listening and just throw out some line like 'Jesus can do this,' you probably don't really care because most of the time they just want to vent. At that point, you can then share advice and see the Holy Spirit do its job from there. We don't always have the answers, but we can still offer to listen, give the best guidance we know how to and pray with you about it if you want us to."