Audio Adrenaline Biography

Take a full throttled blast of musical passion, meld it with a compassionate desire to impact the world at large and add members' rock solid grounding in reality with their vulnerable, no holds barred songwriting and the results comprise Audio Adrenaline's nucleus. Thanks to such earnest performances and undying appreciation for its fans, the group has thrived for nearly fifteen years, sold over three million records and racked up 18 number one singles. Add in a Gold sales award and the prestigious "CCM Song of the Decade" crowning in the 90s, and Audio Adrenaline has consistently proved its relevance, artistry and heart.

At this stage in the game, the foursome could quite contentedly fall into two categories: look back on the past with fondness and seek to recreate it or fly on autopilot under the wings of today's current fads. But never being a group of guys to take the easy way out of any circumstance or capitalize on a trend, singer Mark Stuart, bassist Will McGinniss, guitarist/vocalist Tyler Burkum and drummer Ben Cissell are thriving with a progressive, inventive and comfort zone crushing direction.

"Don't get me wrong, I think we've had records that were really good, but I think this is a way better record that really catches the energy of who this band is now," Stuart says of the group's ninth studio effort, which was over two years in the making. "More than any record, it captures the feel of a concert and the passion we give off from stage. There's a more raw, heavier at times feel overall that finally sums up where we're at in this stage of our career."

Much of that sonic leap towards elevated intensity stems from a pairing with acclaimed producer/guitarist Jay Joyce (The Wallflowers, Iggy Pop, Patty Griffin, Macy Gray). His expansive mainstream experiences, coupled with a cutting edge approach behind the boards, stretched the foursome.

"He was really the first producer who really 'got' what it was that we wanted to do and encouraged us to bring out our passions to the greatest extent possible," McGinniss confirms. "We had no idea what to expect at first, but God really directed our relationship with him and the end result brought all of our performances up to the next level. Jay is a rocker and a rockstar who simply wanted to capture the here and now and vibe of a certain moment, rather than making It perfect or polished."

But perhaps as pivotal as the assertive direction in the control room were the spiritual sentiments behind the disc's nameplate Until My Heart Caves In. Since debuting on Forefront in 1992, AudioA has always meant more than simply its amplification abilities, but rather to reach out to those grappling with life's most paradoxical questions. McGinniss believes in "having real life situations as the muse for most of our songs. We all go through life's up and downs. Being a Christian doesn't protect us from that, but gives us a better way to cope. We want to be individuals who unto our dying breath walk through life experiences victoriously."

Stuart continues: "When you're in a band as long as we've been, one thing you really want to be conscious of is staying on top of your passion and not just walking through life numb. Until My Heart Caves In is about living for God until your body collapses. It's about never giving up, even when you feel like it. So many people aren't living with a fire in their hearts on a day-to-day basis, which is something we're really committed to capturing at this stage of the game. We should be living like warriors and get out there worried less about the nice clothes and plastic personas and more about getting on the edge, living with authentic and real passion."

Indeed the title track carries that concept and dispenses it throughout the entire album at various volume dosages. Such a thread is possibly most apparent throughout the driving "Lost Inside the Wonder," the explosive surges of "King" and the boiling over enthusiasm of "Clap Your Hands."

"All three of those tracks relate to filling the void in your heart with the beauty of God and His love for all of us," Burkum reveals. "There's been a lot more fuel to those truths as of late, especially because we sought to create ideas of personal growth rather than just a bunch of random pop songs. I feel like this record is confronting our own complacency and crying out for something more."

On a more reflective note, there's the "Ocean Floor"-like feel of the redemptive ballad "Starting Over" and the melodic meatiness of the praise tipped "Light of the Sun." A cover of Otis Redding's "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" takes on a tambourine tipped tone of rejoicing, while the equally exuberant "Ready For Love" is rooted in progressive expressions and the call for a revolution amongst Christians.

"We finally took the time we needed to get all those ideas out on paper and to develop them to the fullest potential," admits Cissell. "Studio wise, within a year and a half we were working on Lift, two new songs for Hit Parade and all of Worldwide. That's three projects basically in less then two years and we often found ourselves having to write in the studio. Having so much more breathing room made a big difference that shows on the new album."

Such observations have also been ample on stage as of late, with the new material earning a rabid response from dedicated followers. No strangers to the road, AudioA remains one of today's top touring attractions known for members' explosiveness and energetic outpourings, coupled with state of the art production to permeate each of the senses. Coming this fall, such songs will be translated to a headlining slot on a virtual rock and roll festival tour featuring the likes of Pillar, Sanctus Real, Superchic[k] and Kids in the Way. The ambitious effort will not only reinforce the band's celebrated performance status, but also provide a riveting platform for its meaningful batch of fresh messages.

"We're a band that's been around for a long time," notes Burkum. "To some extent, you start thinking, 'Man, I don't want to sing this stuff half-heartedly and just kind of fade away, I'd like to go out screaming.'"

Even with all the attention surrounding the launch of Until My Heart Caves In, AudioA is insisting another recently generated endeavor doesn't get swept under the rug. Anyone who's caught the band in concert over the last year can attest to their upstart of "The Hands and Feet Project," a missions styled awareness campaign seeking to spread the gospel and provide resources to less fortunate regions (including recent plans spearheaded by Stuart's parents to help orphans in Haiti)."This is a chance for us to put words into action and model a humanitarian perspective," says McGinniss.

Transforming word into action, living with passion and purpose, and consistently pushing oneself toward the edge of what is comfortable, these are the ideas that shape revolution and exist at the heart of Until My Heart Caves In.

"I think the overall theme of this record and the places we're all at as individuals is a passionate cry for purpose," Burkum outlines. "I know it's been in the band's heart all along, but it's really rising to the surface. The music's got attitude, it's got teeth and we're all taking a big step forward, definitely moving on with less complacency. Sometimes you make a record and feel like you've passed over what it's saying by the time it comes out, but this one really does feel where we're at right now within our hearts."

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