The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Sombrance ======

Alternative Rock / Gothic\\
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Sombrance is a rock band from St. Louis, Missouri, that was founded by [[Rick Mester]] in 1998. While Rick has written the majority of the Sombrance songs, the band has included a number of different musicians over the years. The band's sound is dark pop/rock influenced by Pink Floyd, [[the Violet Burning]], and [[Starflyer 59]].

[[Rick Mester]] had left his first band, [[Grievance Honor]] to pursue a more melancholy, dark-sounding music. Initially, the new band name was to be Black Sombrance and the sound was to be gothic but the band felt that the gothic genre was too limiting. Rick dropped "Black" from the name and went with the simplified name Sombrance. The original Sombrance lineup featured former [[Grievance Honor]] bandmates Dan Needham (keyboards) and Lael Clark (Guitars) along with Jon Cheatwood (bass) and Rick Mester (vocals, guitars).

In 1998, Rick recorded the demo EP CD called //The Cold Awakening// on a Tascam 488 eight-track recorder. //The Cold Awakening// featured several of Rick's friends, including Wade Baird (Since Hector Was a Pup, Saturn Vs. Jupiter), Lael Clark ([[Deliverance (California)]], Harkonin), Jason Sarino (A Group Called), and Jon Cheatwood.

In 2000, Rick signed with [[Indie Dream Records]]. Indie Dream had recently also signed legendary Christian metal band, [[Deliverance (California)]]. [[Deliverance (California)]] front man, [[Jimmy P. Brown II]] would mix and help produce Sombrance's full-length CD, //Dark Days and Afternoon Sleep//. The record was completed using session musicians from Indie Dream records including Justin DeTie ([[Jambi's Revenge]], [[Sanctified Sistah]]), Jim Calvert ([[Jambi's Revenge]], [[Sanctified Sistah]]) and Chuck Cummings ([[Sanctified Sistah]]).

After completion of //Dark Days and Afternoon Sleep//, Rick assembled a band to support the record. Wade Baird (guitar), Todd Hurt (drums), and Rob Williams (bass) began playing shows in anticipation of the release of //DDark Days and Afternoon Sleep//. Unfortunately, disputes with management and Indie Dream resulted in the album being shelved. Following legal action, Sombrance was granted a release from their contract with Indie Dream. The album was never released after the dispute as the terms of the settlement required Indie Dream to seek permission of Rick to use the band's name in any marketing.

Over time, the band began to ebb and flow with the individual influences of band members and a sound began to emerge. Wade Baird took over the responsibilities of directing personnel. Wade made his first move by replacing Rob Williams with David Jay. It was this lineup that went into the studio in 2003 to record the //Eli// EP. [[Jimmy P. Brown II]] mixed the EP, played bass, and sang background vocals on "Eli".

David Jay was replaced by Jensen Church. Todd Hurt moved to Texas and was replaced with Miq Smith (Since Hector Was a Pup) for a brief time then Bob Stahlheber ([[Sanctified Sistah]], Since Hector Was a Pup).

During this time, Rick and Wade formed their own record label and publishing group called Zophim Records. Zophim Records was the vehicle that the band members would release their band and side projects through.

Wade Baird left Sombrance and Zophim Records in 2005 to pursue his solo project. Rick called former bass player Rob Williams who came back on board, this time as a guitarist. Also, in 2005, Sombrance signed with PsychoAcoustix Records out of Florida. The band recorded two Christmas songs for a future dark Christmas compilation ("What Child is This?" and "We Three Kings"). Sombrance prepared material for a new album, but tragedy struck when Carl Crandell (founder and owner of PsychoAcoustix) was found dead in his study. The label passed with him. The band would suffer more personnel changes over the next few years. Rick and Rob took time to work on side projects.

In 2009, the band finally solidified its lineup with the additions of Thomas Kinder (bass) and Kevin Reese (drums). Thomas and Kevin also play for the band Floodwater.

In 2010, Sombrance re-released the //Eli// CD with three new tracks and a special remix of "Wasting Away," calling the album //Eli 2010//.

In 2011 Sombrance began working on songs for their next CD, //Through Waterless Places// and resumed playing live shows. 2011 also finally saw the release of //Dark Days and Afternoon Sleep//. Near the end of 2011, the band introduced Mike Kushins as the new piano/keyboard player via their official Facebook page. In December 2015, the song "Sunswept" from the upcoming EP //Through Waterless Places// was released as a single. On July 14, 2017, //Through Waterless Places// was finally released. December 2017 also saw the release of the two Christmas songs recorded for PsychoAcoustix Records as //X: Christmas//.

===== Discography =====

| 1998 | The Cold Awakening |
| 2001 | Dark Days and Afternoon Sleep |
| 2003 | Eli |
| 2010 | Eli 2010 |
| 2017 | Through Waterless Places |
| 2017 | X: Christmas |

------

==== The Cold Awakening ====

1998 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] - Guitars, vocals\\
Wade Baird - Guitars\\
Jon Cheatwood - Bass\\
Jason Sarino - Drums\\
Lael Clark - Guitars\\

  - With Fear
  - Resonance
  - Autumn’s Breath
  - Tribalamawa
  - I Live Without (bonus scratch demo track)
  - Autumn’s Breath (bonus live)
  - Caving In (bonus scratch demo track)
  - Cry To Understand (bonus scratch demo track)

------

==== Dark Days and Afternoon Sleep ====

2001/2011 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] - Vocals, guitars, programming, keyboards\\
Justin DeTie - Guitars, keyboards\\
Jim Calvert - Drums, vocals\\
Chuck Cummings - Bass\\
[[Jimmy P. Brown II]] - Bass\\
Caprice Cummings - Vocals\\

  - Hope Lies Beyond
  - Annabel
  - With Fear
  - Purge
  - I Need You Forever
  - Tangram
  - Alive
  - Memories of the Fallen
  - Cranberry Skies
  - Nephilim Song

------

==== Eli ====

2003 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] - Vocals\\
Wade Baird - Guitars\\
Todd Hurt - Drums\\
[[Jimmy P. Brown II]] - Bass, vocals

  - Back and Forth
  - Mercy River
  - Lucky 7
  - Wasting Away

------

==== Eli 2010 ====

2010 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] - Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming\\
Wade Baird - Guitars\\
Todd Hurt - Drums\\
[[Jimmy P. Brown II]] - Bass, vocals\\
Rob Williams - Guitars, bass\\

  - Back and Forth
  - Mercy River
  - Lucky 7
  - Wasting Away
  - Crow on a Cross
  - All I Want 2 Know
  - Shades of Heaven
  - Wasting Away (Lush Tattoo Mix)

------

==== Through Waterless Places ====

2017 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] – Vocals, guitars, bass, keys, programming\\
Rob Williams – Lead guitar, bass\\
Ian Baird – Drums, sounds, feedback\\
Kevin Reeves – Piano\\
Thomas Kinder – Bass\\
Kevin Reese – Drums\\
Mike Kushins – Keyboards

Mastered by [[Jimmy P. Brown II]]

  - Rising
  - Crown on a Cross
  - All I Want To Know
  - Sunswept
  - Shades of Heaven

------

==== X: Christmas ====

2017 Independent

[[Rick Mester]] - Vocals, sitar, programming\\
Rob Williams - Guitars, bass

  - What Child is This? (3:53)
  - We Three Kings (6:07)

------

==== Links =====

  * [[http://www.sombrance.com/|Official Sombrance Website]]
  * [[https://sombrance.bandcamp.com/|Sombrance on BandCamp]]
  * [[https://www.facebook.com/sombrance/|Sombrance on Facebook]]
  * [[https://twitter.com/Sombrance|Sombrance on Twitter]]