Artist description We're a modern rock Catholic band. We have received rave reviews. won Best Rock Album Honours at the 2000 Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards, Best Modern Rock/Alternative Album & Best International Group Awards from the United Catholic Music and Video Association Unity Awards and have had a no. 1 song on the Spiritual Rock charts on www.mp3.com

Music Style Christian Rock

Artist History People often asked how Critical Mass got started. The group firmly believes God brought them all together. Dave Wang is a concert promoter and a regular columnist on the topic of Contemporary Christian music. In his day job, he is a university professor. His wife, Jodie, is a physician and a chastity speaker. Eric Kubica is also a university professor and has known the Wangs since his graduate school days. In 1997, while these three individuals were helping to promote a Christian rock concert, they met Tom and Sharon Pawelko and found out that they had a common interest in Contemporary Christian music and, in fact, lived close to each other. Tom is an electrical engineer and Sharon is a teacher but both are also the choir directors for their church. Tim Devine was next to join. He is currently a seminarian (who also happens to be visually impaired and is a wonderful role model!) for the Priesthood at the Companions of the Cross in Ottawa. A short time later, his brother, Matt, left a secular band to join Critical Mass. Matt is a high school religion teacher. Finally, Matthew Bierschbach also left a secular band to join Critical Mass while maintaining a sales/marketing position during the day. The band started off doing youth Masses using Contemporary Christian music. After awhile, the band members felt called to begin writing music from a Catholic perspective. The Devine brothers were already seasoned songwriters, having released two albums, one of which received widespread critical acclaim. Along with the other members of the band, work began on the demo recording, "Faith Looks Up". Recorded on a shoe-string budget (around $1200), the band members were shocked to have the recording take off in sales and in rave reviews. Radio play soon happened all over Canada and parts of the US. Since that time, the CD is now distributed internationally and the song, "Body and Blood" has become a Communion song all over the world, including apparently at a mission in a remote area of Columbia. The album has received several honorable mentions at the Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards and the song "I'll Be Fine" recently hit no. 1 on the Spiritual Rock charts on mp3.com! In September of 2000, Critical Mass released their second album entitled "Completely". Produced by Andrew Horrocks of the Canadian rock band, 100 Days, the new album has a tighter, more aggressive sound than "Faith Looks Up" but continues with beautiful ballads including a new Marian song. To the band members' surprise, the album immediately garnered the Best Album of the Year at the Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards and the song "Humility" was finalist for Rock Song of the year. The band looks forward to continuing to push the artistic envelope and to create music that is relevant to today's culture. The band's live performances reached a peak when they performed at the Papal Welcoming Ceremony and the Papal Vigil in front of a combined audience of 1 million attendees and even more television viewers! Critical Mass hopes to continue their music in service to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church for as long as God is calling them!

Group Members Matt and Tim Devine, Tom and Sharon Pawelko, David and Jodie Wang, Eric Kubica, Matthew Bierschbach

Albums Faith Looks Up (1997), Completely (2000)

Press Reviews The Record, Kitchener-Waterloo, Thursday, January 19,1998: This debut CD by one of the area's most respected new Christian alternative bands is only half an hour long, but don't let its brevity fool you. All seven songs are impressive originals by band members Matt Devine, Tim Devine, Eric Kubica, David Wang and friend, Giasone Italiano. If you look for satisfaction in well-crafted, intelligent lyrics, as well as polished musical presentation (and you should be), you'll find yourself wanting to hit the repeat button a lot. The K-W area performers who sing and play as Critical Mass project a confident, affirming and substantial approach to young people (of all ages) and their faith. While the words are inspired by Catholic experience and tradition, the overall message is inclusively Christian and ecumenical. What's so refreshing about Faith Looks Up and albums of its standard is the unambiguous proof that religious convictions should never excuse inferior writing, self-indulgent sentiment or tacky simplicity. In songs like Wisdom, I'll be Fine, In the Meantime, Body and Blood, Save Me, Eyes of Love and Kephas (meaning the Rock), Critical Mass- yes, the sacramental pun is front and centre- runs the rock gamut of gutsy, driving energy and folk-like serenity. Only a half hour, perhaps, but every minute is one of excitement and promise. Look for a lot more from Critical Mass. Pauline Finch-Durichen

Location Kitchener, ON - Canada

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