Alternative Rock
Belmont, North Carolina, USA

“Zeal started in early 1996 as a praise band for the Wednesday night youth meeting at Unity Baptist Church in Belmont, NC. In the beginning of 1998 the group felt that God was calling them in a different direction. They began to play in surrounding coffeehouses and clubs as well as churches. This had a dramatic influence on the band in that it changed the style of songs they had been writing into a more modern type of praise along with some modern rock songs that are about their experiences and faith in Jesus. In 1999, the group began recording their first CD that came to be titled Out of My Darkness. This CD featured J.W. McGuiness on bass and Kurt Sanger on percussion. Due to different circumstances J.W. and Kurt have left the band to be replaced by Nathan Freeman and David Howard. Zeal has experience in playing many types of shows including youth groups, disciple now events, coffeehouses, clubs, and festivals. They also can put on a ninety minute full force rock show, lead praise and worship unplugged, or somewhere in between. They've opened for Mike Roe (of The 77s), Zaccheous Tree, 180 degrees, and many others.”

1998 Independent

Cleve Persinger - Vocals, guitar
Eric Howard - Guitar, backing vocals
J.W. McGuiness - Bass
Kurt Sanger - Drums

1. Beautiful Loser
2. See
3. Light
4. Simple Praise Song
5. Repentance
6. Again