Sorry!
This Page Is Under Construction!
Christian metal group brings faith to life through their music
TUNES: Revelation Project
musicians aim to bring
people to Christ.
BY PETER JEHRIO
jehriop@gnnewspaper.com
There are many ways to achieve the same purpose.
For Tom Bender and Graeme Swallow, two members of Revelation Project, a Christian progressive metal music band, the way to bring people to Christ is through their performance of a musical production looking at the story of the Revelation.
The group started out as an ordinary band when Swallow began writing music in 2000 and joined with long-time friend and fellow musician Dave Jonathan to form the group. They then went through an evolution of members as well as focus.
Today, the group consists of Bender, Swallow, Jonathan, Chelsea Wagner and Russ Stack. At the same time, they consider themselves not a band but a ministry and play before Christian audiences.
Bender is pastor of Lockport Wesleyan Church, where he has served for three years. He came to Christianity after a tragic experience involving the death of a close friend.
“I gave Christ a chance,” he said.
His interest in music pre-dates his involvement is his faith, and he has played with bands since he was 13 years old. After he converted, he began to sing in churches and before church groups.
Swallow has been involved in music all his life, starting with piano lessons when he was 5. He played with a few bands when he was in his early 20s and while driving a truck cross country, began writing music. He now is a student at Bryant & Stratton.
The group which evolved from Swallow’s and Jonathan’s early band did a religious performance on a one-time basis and then decided it was too important to let it not happen again. From that point, the band became a ministry and Bender joined them.
They are producing their first CD, which will be available in the spring. The content of the CD is similar to a performance that will be offered Dec. 11 at Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.
“It is a concept CD with a story line, which is based on the biblical end-times and the apocalypse.” Bender said. “It’s like ‘The Wall’ by Pink Floyd where there is a story to each song.”
The basic plot, taken from the Book of Revelations, involves a singer imprisoned because of his faith in Christ. He is reminded that the fate of unbelievers will be far worse. He envisions what the end of the world might be like. The entire set ends with the captive singer reaffirming that his suffering in his belief will not go unrewarded and singing praise to God.
The performance is 80 minutes long and is accompanied by visuals on screen that enhance the story.
The upcoming show will be the sixth related performance for the group. They have done several in Rochester, as well as ones in Darien Lake and Tonawanda.
Their music is what they term progressive metal, which involves synthesizers, guitars, and keyboards.
“It is comparable to a heavier-edged Genesis or Kansas, only with more kinds of musical interludes,” Swallow said.
Information about the group is available at www.revelationproject.com. Information about the performance is available at (585) 765-9093
Please Check Back Soon For Updates!
Thanks!
