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mightier_than_thunder

Mightier Than Thunder

Progressive Metal
Newport News, Virginia USA

“Our Vision - to explore and discover reality using our personal life experiences, spiritual convictions, and general observations and beliefs about life, the afterlife, and everything related and communicate it to our listeners utilizing musical forms, shapes, and tones, as well as well-written and thought provoking lyrics, so that the listener might come away having connected with us mentally and emotionally and might use our perspective to offset their own.”

Mightier Than Thunder was formed in January of 1990 by founding member and guitarist Matthew Robinson and then drummer John Stickles. In May of 1990, bassist Stephen Disney was asked to join the band. In the beginning of January 1992, Stephen's younger brother Michael joined the band on rhythm guitar, but took over drums in July of 1992 when John left the band for personal reasons.

In June of 1994, the band released its first major studio release entitled One Nation Under God. In December of 1993, the band submitted the title track, “One Nation?”, for inclusion in the 'Roo Records compilation disc Soundings to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. As a result, this band was the only one who's lyrics were censored in the disc's insert. Apparently the song wasn't politically correct enough, which proved to be more important to the foundation than the truth or the adult language found on other tracks.

The band released their second major release, Temptation, in June of 1995. It was followed by the side release Remixes, Rejects, and More. The band released their third major release, Reality (…a concept album in four parts.), in September of 1996. It was followed by the side release Reality Rejects. In October of 1997, the band released their fourth release (and first on CD) Seven Years Of Dreaming. This release was a “best of” of sorts that brought together remastered, augmented, and newly recorded versions of the bands most commercial songs, as well as a new song and live bonus track, to commemorate the bands seventh anniversary and the end of a stage in the existence of the band. It was followed by the side release Hometown Zeros: the Georgia Sessions.

In the fall of 1997, the band was privileged to have their first title track, “One Nation?”, picked up by Bunnim/Murray Productions for use as background music in an episode of MTV's The Real World V: Miami. Dubbed the “Love” episode by the production company, the episode proved to be the wildest half hour aired in MTV's history till that time. Most interesting was the positioning of the band's song amongst the various goings on in the episode. Needless to say, it spotlighted the band well. The band was also asked to play the Xtreme stage at Bay Days that fall, which proved to be a memorable experience for all involved.

Mightier Than Thunder released their fifth major studio release, A Liturgy for the Human Journey, Volume One: The Road Less Traveled, in 2002. It was a more mature release and a significant departure from the bands past releases. Fans can rest assured, however, that the band's signature sound was intact for this release. It proved to be a very good starting point for progressing into the future sound of the band, which included the contributions brought to the band by new drummer Tommy Hoff. He took over on drums in November 1999 when Michael left to join other projects (including Groove Child Productions, the popular cover band Fat Elvis, and even more popular original act LuthersFall). Tommy will be familiar to local music fans from his stints in Brothers With Different Mothers and Deacon Brodie. We think you'll love what he brought to the band's sound, which he illustrated well with the next recording, Liturgy Volume One's side release Live, recorded live in the studio. At this time, the band also started the lengthy recording process for Volume Two, The Trials of the Broken-Hearted, which is recorded and hopefully not much longer stalled in the mixing process.

Mightier Than Thunder reached its 14th anniversary in 2004, with the timely release of their sixth major release, The Way of Suffering, featuring the massive concept pieces “Salvation” and “The Way of Suffering” as well as two single tracks “Broken” and “Reborn.” After an anniversary show featuring sets with both former drummer Mike Disney and current drummer Tommy Hoff, the band went into hiatus. The show was taped for the future release, 14 Years of Screaming. After the show, Stephen moved to upstate New York. Following the untimely demise of LuthersFall, Matt and Tommy joined Mike and longtime LuthersFall crew member Brian to form Proven. Stephen is currently producing their debut album. Mightier Than Thunder's hiatus may very well prove to be permanent, but you never know what the future may hold. At any rate these guys will always make time to play together… and there is always the two albums and Never Look Back (a side release of previously unreleased material) that will eventually be released… so as you can see, Mightier Than Thunder is not going away any time soon. It may be down for the count, but refuses to be forgotten. “God bless all our long time listeners and friends… and stay tuned for new unreleased music… some of the best we ever recorded!” - Stephen Disney 3-28-07

Discography

1993 Mighty Beginning
1994 One Nation Under God
1995 Temptation
1995 Remixes, Rejects, and More
1996 Reality (…a concept album in four parts)
1996 Reality Rejects
1997 Seven Years of Dreaming D&R Records
1997 Hometown Zeros: the Georgia Sessions
2002 A Liturgy for the Human Journey, Volume One: The Road Less Traveled D&R Records
2004 The Way of Suffering

Mighty Beginning

1993 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

  1. Side 1: Pre-release tracks from the upcoming Spring '94 release One Nation Under God.
  2. Side 2: Other previously unreleased tracks

One Nation Under God

1994 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

  1. One Nation?
  2. Burn Fire Burn
  3. Don't Turn Away
  4. Mercy of Salvation
  5. Save Me Tonight
  6. Meaningless
  7. Finding My Way Home
  8. Wonderland
  9. Warning of Insanity
  10. Defenseless
  11. Tell Me the Truth
  12. You Can't Justify
  13. Jesus Wept
  14. Blow the Trumpet

Temptation

1995 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

  1. Beyond Darkness
  2. Kingdom
  3. Angel in a White Dress
  4. Lover's Leap
  5. Paradise Lost and Gained
  6. Dreamer
  7. Misconception
  8. Temptation
  9. Madman
  10. Thunder of My Heart
  11. Tribute for the Unknown
  12. Where Are You Now?
  13. Rambling for Love's Sake
  14. Rapture

Remixes, Rejects, and More

1995 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

This contains a lot of track related to the Temptation album. Remixes, rejected songs and such.


Reality (...a concept album in four parts)

1996 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

  1. Hating the Situation at Hand (4:23)
  2. Unnecessary Hell (4:05)
  3. Cards (3:29)
  4. The Bleeding of a Prince's Blood (5:08)
  5. Hold Me (4:48)
  6. Wicked Dreams (5:01)
  7. Praying for Death (10:02)
  8. Phantom of my Opera (0:38)
  9. Gaining Sight (4:30)
  10. A Little Fire (3:59)
  11. You Can Never Tame the Heart (4:40)
  12. What is Love? (4:17)
  13. Love Remains (5:15)
  14. Sweat, Blood, and Tears (3:46)
  15. Confirming Reality (6:21)
  16. In The Arena (4:39)
  17. The End (3:31)
  18. Mine (4:54)

Reality Rejects

1996 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

This is a set of tracks related to the Reality album. Remixes, rejected songs etc.


Seven Years of Dreaming

1997 D&R Records

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

  1. One Nation?
  2. Hating the Situation at Hand
  3. Cards
  4. Tell Me the Truth
  5. Hold Me
  6. Jesus Wept
  7. Madman
  8. Mine
  9. Beyond Darkness
  10. Wonderland
  11. Unnecessary Hell
  12. Praying for Death
  13. Dreamer
  14. Love Remains
  15. Finding My Way Home
  16. Forever and Tonight

Hometown Zeros: the Georgia Sessions

1997 Independent

Matthew Robinson - Guitar, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, lead and backing vocals, keys
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals


A Liturgy for the Human Journey, Volume One: The Road Less Traveled

2002 D&R Records

Matthew Robinson - Guitars, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, backing and lead vocals, keys, percussion
Mike Disney - Drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

Greg Corbin - Percussion on “Gentle, Kind, Easy Killer” and “Dry”
Shawn Dalton - rap on “A Life Forsaken”

All songs by Mightier Than Thunder, except “A Life Forsaken” by M.T.T. and Shawn Dalton. All songs c 1998
Recorded at Winter Sound Studio (Gloucester, Virginia) in 1998-99, and mixed in 1999-2000
Engineered by Bob Gurske
Produced by Stephen D., Matthew R., and Bob Gurske
Mastered by Stephen D. Cover art by Nick Hadley
Disc layout and booklet design by Stephen D
All else copyright 2002 by D&R Music (S. Disney and M. Robinson). A. R. R.

  1. Intro. / Liturgy (3:53)
  2. Learning to Live (5:52)
  3. Whipping Boy (2:46)
  4. Little Girl Die! (4:12)
  5. Onward Pigs (3:32)
  6. Out of Time (4:03)
  7. Buried Alive (4:29)
  8. Man from Uz (3:45)
  9. Gentle, Kind, Easy, Killer (4:31)
  10. A Life Forsaken (4:24)
  11. Ignorant Fool (3:34)
  12. My Lady Guinevere (7:16)
  13. Crawl (4:44)
  14. Dry (3:53)
  15. Feeling Empty (4:29)
  16. Worthless (4:19)
  17. Why? (4:28)

The disc itself is a “CD Extra” w/ additional content in the way of bonus tracks, artwork, lyrics, etc. available as files on the CD-ROM.

A note from Mightier Than Thunder:

We are glad to finally feel able to release this “lost” album with former drummer Mike Disney. In between a lineup change, working new material, and advancing towards our goals for the future of the band, we felt compelled to hold back this release. A Liturgy for the Human Journey has, since its inception, been a very large and arduous project intended to span two discs. The circumstances involved and directions taken since that beginning had left the completion of this project as a whole in question. We are happy to report that all hardship involved has brought the band to a new level previously unimagined. Volume One, this release, is a snapshot of where we were in 1998 (with material dating as far back as 1996). If you like this, just wait for Volume Two. If you don't, prepare to be surprised in the near future.

Faith, Hope, and Love,
Matthew and Stephen

P.S. A very special recognition and warm, heartfelt thanks to Mike for eight great years


The Way of Suffering

2004 Independentt

Matthew Robinson - Guitars, lead and backing vocals, keys
Stephen Disney - Bass, backing and lead vocals, keys
Tommy Hoff - Drums and percussion

All songs by Mightier Than Thunder and copyright 2004. A.R.R.
Basic tracks and some finishing tracks recorded at Winter Sound Studio (Gloucester, Virginia) and engineered by Bob Gurske.
All other tracks recorded at D&R Music Studio (Newport News, Virginia) and engineered by Stephen Disney.
Produced by Stephen Disney and Matthew Robinson. Mastered by Stephen Disney. Disc layout and design by Stephen Disney.
Album artwork by El Greco. A.R.R. All else copyright 2004 by D&R Music (S. Disney and M. Robinson). A.R.R.

  1. Just Once (6:37)
  2. Live Without Your Love (2:58)
  3. Sozo (6:24)
  4. Serenity (3:49)
  5. Broken (4:16)
  6. Precious Blood (3:54)
  7. Man of Sorrows (3:58)
  8. Goodbye (2:46)
  9. Blame God (7:07)
  10. The Way of Suffering (4:32)
  11. Requiem (4:20)
  12. Response (4:05)
  13. Are You Listening? (3:18)
  14. Precious Blood (reprise) (2:29)
  15. Reborn? (5:07)

Tracks 1-4 comprise the “Salvation” suite, tracks 6-14 comprise “The Way of Suffering” suite.

A note from Mightier Than Thunder:

We hope you enjoy this album as much as we enjoyed making it. It's definitely the most complex MTT album to date, but it was fun and a labor of love. To better your enjoyment of our work, we'd like to make one suggestion. “Salvation” and “The Way of Sufferin”g both consist of multiple tracks that come together to make up complete pieces. We ask that you listen to these pieces in their entirety on your first listen. Thanks and enjoy!

Faith, Hope, and Love,
Matthew, Stephen, and Tommy


mightier_than_thunder.txt · Last modified: 2019/07/25 05:59 by admin