Saving Grace (band)

Saving Grace is a Christian metal band from New Zealand. They were the first foreign band to sign to Strike First Records. They have toured with bands such as, Comeback Kid, Norma Jean, August Burns Red, Blessthefall, and Bleeding Through. Their album, The Urgency, debuted at No. 3 on the New Zealand Top 20 albums chart alongside multi-platinum sellers Lorde and Sole Mio and also debuted at No. 57 on the Billboard Hard Music Chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart in the United States.^[2][3]

History

The band started in 2005 with Nick Tauthi, Vasely Sapunov, Bruce Reid, and Mark Stichbury as Marty and the Boys, but later changed it to Saving Grace. Stichbury and Reid left soon after, and were replaced by Benjamin Davidson and Andrew Savage. Savage quit and was replaced by Benjamin Clement. Clement left and was replaced by George White. The band recorded their debut album, Behind Enemy Lines in 2008.

In 2010, the band recorded Unbreakable and released their first music video for the title song and, "Oaxena". Davidson left the band and was replaced by Ryan Wilson. Wilson left a year later and was replaced by Shaun Anderson. Mike Benson took over bass in 2010 and White took over Rhythm Guitar. In 2011, they recorded their third album, The King Is Coming and released two new music videos for "Shekinah" and "The First Woe".

Benson left the band in 2014, and Ross McDougall joined the band on guitar, with White taking over bass again. The band recorded their fourth and most highly appreciated album, The Urgency in 2014. On August 19, 2016, the band premiered a video for the first single off of their upcoming album, Into Hell, entitled "Recidivist".^[4]

Media

The band was the cover story of the HM Magazine issue for January 2014 in The HM Awards Issue, and band was profiled in a nine-page spread in the issue.^[1]

Musical style and influences

The band stated their influences as Arkangel, Reprisal, Cannibal Corpse, Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, Earth Crisis, Biohazard, Heaven Shall Burn, Maroon, Wu-Tang Clan, as well as, Zao,^[1] Living Sacrifice,^[1] and Society's Finest.^[1]

Members

Current

• Nicholas "Nick" Tautuhi - vocals (2005–present)
• Ross McDougall - guitars (2014–present)
• Vasely Sapunov - guitars (2005–present)
• George White - bass (2007-2010, 2014–present), guitars (2010–2014)
• Shaun "Drum Ferret" Anderson - drums (2011–present)

Former

• Andrew Savage - bass (2006)
• Benjamin "Little Ben" Clement - bass (2006–2007)
• Bruce Reid - bass (2005–2006)
• Mark Stichbury - drums (2005–2006)
• Benjamin "Big Ben" "Papa Bear" Davidson - drums (2006–2010)
• Mike Benson - bass (2010–2014)
• Ryan Wilson - drums (2010–2011)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Behind Enemy Lines (2008; Harvest Earth)^[5]
• Unbreakable (2010; Strike First)^[6][7][8]
• The King Is Coming (2011; Facedown)^[9][10][11]
• The Urgency (2014; Facedown)^{[12][13][14][15]}

EPs

• Saving Grace (2005; EP)
• Upheld / Saving Grace (2006; Split EP)
• Now This War Has Two Sides (2011; Split EP)

Music videos

• "Unbreakable" (2010)
• "Oaxaca" (2011)
• "Shekinah" (2012)
• "The First Woe" (2012)
• "Anthem of the Underground" (2016)
• "Recidivist" (2016)

Singles

• "Shekinah" (2011)
• "Habakkuk" (2011)
• "1994" (2014)
• "Ablaze" (2014)
• "Recidivist" (August 19, 2016)

External links

• Saving Grace on Myspace
• Saving Grace on Pure Volume
• Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived 22 December 2014)

References