Since day one of its humble 1993 genesis, Tooth & Nail founder Brandon Ebel quietly but determinedly built the label with an ambitious release schedule that crossed over genre borders with a freedom uncommon in the indie label underground. While Christianity was often a unifying factor, it was still out of the ordinary to find a label where styles as disparate as ska and death metal coexisted in peace. This limited-edition, tenth-anniversary retrospective celebrates that diversity with six discs of Tooth & Nail music. It ...
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Since day one of its humble 1993 genesis, Tooth & Nail founder Brandon Ebel quietly but determinedly built the label with an ambitious release schedule that crossed over genre borders with a freedom uncommon in the indie label underground. While Christianity was often a unifying factor, it was still out of the ordinary to find a label where styles as disparate as ska and death metal coexisted in peace. This limited-edition, tenth-anniversary retrospective celebrates that diversity with six discs of Tooth & Nail music. It will be a boon for the imprint's throng of disciples, many of whom glommed onto initial releases from types like Starflyer 59, Blenderhead, and MXPX and stuck around for the duration, appreciating with equal fervor latter-day material from Further Seems Forever, FM Static, Halo Friendlies, and the Agony Scene. All of this and everything in between is represented on Tooth & Nail Tenth Anniversary, which runs in general chronological order through the label's decade of rock & roll devotion. Nothing is previously unreleased, but plenty offers pause for the memories. There are the established classics -- "Duane Joseph" from Juliana Theory, Bon Voyage's "West Coast Friendship" -- as well as relatively deep cuts like "Separate" from Morella's Forest and a representative sample from the label's stable of well-groomed CCM modern rockers: Anberlin, Fighting Jacks, Side Walk Slam. Even if it does seem to favor certain groups (the O.C. Supertones, for example), Tooth & Nail Tenth Anniversary will be a fun and thorough history lesson for new fans and longtime listeners. A congratulatory, photo-packed booklet accompanies the set. ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi
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