Critical Mass
Critical Mass started in 1997 by David Wang as a way to introduce Catholic youth to contemporary Christian music. Initially the group focused on leading worship at youth events and Masses. . The band wrote original music influenced by their Catholic faith. Their first album was a demo recording, Faith Looks Up and received positive reviews. The album went on to win the band Best International Group and Best Modern Rock/Alternative album from the United Catholic Music and Video Association. One of the songs, I\'ll Be Fine topped the spiritual rock charts at mp3.com.
Their second album Completely was produced by Andrew Horrocks and had a more professional sound than the debut demo release. The album immediately garnered the Best Album of the Year at the Canadian Gospel Music Association\'s Covenant Awards. The song Humility was finalist for Rock Song of the Year as well. The Canadian Gospel Music Association and their Covenant Awards are the equivalent of the prestigious Dove Awards in the United States.
The success of Completely resulted in the group being invited to be one of the major two bands involved in the larger liturgical celebrations at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto. The band was given the honor of performing at both the Papal Welcoming Ceremony and at the Papal Vigil, the latter of which was seen by the 600,000 in attendance and on international television. Except for David Wang, the members of the band then left to pursue other projects.
David Wang and new band members Scott McKendrick, Luke Kupczyk, Tracey Doyle, Paul Kieffer and Lawrence Lam continued the mission of Critical Mass with the album Grasping for Hope in the Darkness which was released on September 11, 2004. It too, won Best Rock Album honours at the Covenant Awards. Their cover of the Kansas classic, Carry On Wayward Son also was nominated for Best Rock Song.
In October 2006, the band again received International Group of the Year honours from the United Catholic Music and Video Association. About the same time the band was joined by new member Dave Flitton.
In 2007, Critical Mass released a live praise and worship effort called Celebrate, which includes covers of popular worship songs as well as some remakes of songs from the album Completely. This album was nominated for 6 United Catholic Music and Video Association Awards.
In 2009, Critical Mass released \"Body Language\", an album based on Pope John Paul II\'s Theology of the Body. This is one of the first Christian rock albums to ever deal so explicitly with the topics of sex, love and communion, in a Catholic Christian context.
Influences
Beatles, DC Talk, Steve Taylor, Newsboys
Sounds Like...
DC Talk,.Relient K, Newsboys, Switchfoot, Hawk Nelson, David Crowder Band, Jars of Clay, Sudio Adrenaline, Sanctus Real