The Letter Black - big guitars and big heart for God

|PIC1|It's always nice to write about a band that is totally sold out for God with their music. This Pennsylvania band is fronted by Sarah Anthony (vocals), who along with her husband Mark Anthony (backing vocals, guitar), and fellow band mates, Mat Slagle (drums) and Terry Johnson (guitar) make up their lineup.

The band got started in 2006 and produced an independent studio project with Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Pillar, Disciple), following that up with a run of 150 shows. A call from Tooth & Nail Records found the band getting the chance to fill in for a band on the 'Five 4 Five Tour' alongside Dizmas and Children 18:3. The band then found out that there was already a similarly named band so they changed their name from Breaking the Silence to The Letter Black.

Fast forward to now and the band's debut label release on Tooth & Nail Records entitled, Breaking the Silence, which also called on the talents of famed producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn, 3 Doors Down). This EP offers up six songs that deliver a hard rock sound that can hang with the best of them.

The band says that their music is much like life and doesn't always deal with happy subjects. Band guitarist/co-songwriter Mark Anthony says, "The Letter Black reminds us of the past mistakes we have made and helps us remember to not keep making the same mistakes."

"Moving On" get things rolling with its hard edged rock beats complete with wailing guitars and soaring vocals that are filled with the message of moving on and not looking back.

"Hanging on by a Thread" is another big guitars and drums rocker with passion soaked vocals talking about the need to keep holding on and not giving up. The next track, "Best of Me", adds in some strings to enrichen its sound. The song is all about making the best of your God given talents with your time spent on earth.

Track 4, "Collapse", is a mid-tempo rock song that deals with overcoming being hurt and being willing to trust again. Track 5, "Away From Me", offers up a bit of hard music with an almost industrial sounding opening.

"Perfect" deals with the subject of perfect love and wraps things up. The song offers up a nice mixture of both up-tempo and ballad-like styles that are found in it.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea but with Breaking the Silence, The Letter Black shows that they can definitely climb to the top of the musical ladder.