Glorified PitStop: The Best Of Sanctus Real

In a town called Toledo, Ohio back in 1996 two sophomore boys named Matt Hammitt and Chris Rohman joined together to lead worship at their high school and church. It wasn't long before they started creating their own music and adding Mark Graalman and Matt Kollar creating the original line up of the band we all still know twenty years later as Sanctus Real.

Message For The Masses was there first full length album released on June 18, 1999. Shortly following the release of this recording, Steve Goodrum replaced Matt Kollar and the band released Nothing To Lose on a independent label.

After several record label offers in 2001 they decided to sign with Sparrow Records in 2002 blasting their way into the mainstream CCM industry with Say It Loud. To date they have nine album releases including their Anthology under their Sparrow belt. They have also been nominated for several Grammy and Dove awards taking home Modern Rock Album Of The Year in 2005 for Fight The Tide.

A Snapshot From The Farewell Tour

October 9, 2015 The Best Of Sanctus Real was released as the last full length album created by the band before saying good-bye to lead singer Matt Hammitt. Their farewell tour will wrap up soon, and they will begin travelling separate paths after twenty years of ministry together.

Over the years Sanctus Real has gained and lost both in their personal lives and members who they had created wonderful music with. Dan Gartley and Pete Prevost decided it was time for them to part ways with the band in 2013 after their sixth release Run on the Sparrow label. Jake Rye and Seth Huff stepped in shortly after to help create their last original album The Dream in 2014.

     On The Best of Sanctus Real, you will hear fifteen original tracks. Birthed through the victories and trials of life they experienced together, all while fighting a lot of their own personal spiritual battles and sorting out their priorities in life. They never failed to express beautifully in their lyrics the spirit behind their ambition and desire to share the life changing power of the Gospel.

     Say It Loud, which was the title track off their first Sparrow release in 2002 reflects the rockier side of the entrance they made into the industry. This song prompts me to recall the popular secular punk rock era of the likes of Green Day and Offspring.

     Fight The Tide (2004) also makes a singular contribution with Everything About You.  This appears to be the trending popular sound of that time as well. I would be curious to learn how early fans of the band grew with them as their sound began to change through the years. Lyrically you can also see the band maturing with each album.

They chose to include three hits off their 2006 release The Face Of Love including the popular title track. In my personal opinion this is when the group began to tap into a different musical character incorporating a more radio friendly sound, while keeping their early fans happy with I'm Not Alright and Don't Give Up.

In 2008, they released We Need Each Other , which birthed one of my favorite songs Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly), which made it into the selections along with the title track.

One of their most popular songs that really hit home for listeners is the powerful prayer of a humble man asking God to help him be the spiritual leader of his family. Matt's wife had come to him out of love expressing her desire for him to be the rock for the family and the strength for them to stand on. The spiritual depth of that conversation led to him penning a partial song. The group had not planned to add Lead Me on their 2010 album Pieces Of A Real Heart, however the president of the record label came across the unfinished version and expressed how highly he thought of it, which became in my opinion one of most emotionally raw songs they created together.

Also making the cut onto the list off Pieces Of A Real Heart were Forgiven and The Redeemer. Both passionately express questions and confidence of walking in the redemption of Christ and trusting His purpose He has created for our lives.

It's no surprise that during this season Matt and his family also found out about their son Bowen (meaning small victorious one), would be born with a serious rare congenital defect (HLHS ). As they faced this trial, he poured out his heart in a Solo Album which a portion of sales goes into a non profit organization that helps other families facing similar difficulties.

In 2013, the band released Run, which as I mentioned earlier was the last album they created with Dan and Pete. It's strange when a band has been around for such a long time it's like you can hear their spiritual maturity as it grows through the years. Pray and Promises, both of which became popular radio hits were plucked off this gem to be added to list of the best.

     Closing out the few choice selections that were added to The Best Of Sanctus Real were On Fire and Lay It Down. Both of these were peeled off their 2014 release, The Dream. These two songs are truly remarkable on their own, still maintaining their signature sound and carrying true emotion behind lyrics that challenge your walk with Christ.

     I was able to catch them live a few times over the past two decades and had the opportunity to have a phone interview with Chris back in 2012 while they were on the Winter Jam Tour.  Their music has been a blessing to me personally for so many years and I know it has reached numerous others as well. I am looking forward to see the next journey for the band unfold as well as seeing where God moves Matt and his family in ministry.

     The one brand new title on The Best Of Sanctus Real encapsulates the journey they took and expresses beautifully the end of something God created to bless so many people who have been touched by their gifts and talents along the way. Longer Than A Lifetime is a song many of us can relate to in our own lives as well and I have included the video for you below.