A Christmas present from the sibling duo For King & Country

“We had no idea we would be doing this during the quarantine and lockdown. But yes, it was always expected, ”Smallbone said.

“A Drummer Boy Christmas” was one of the best holiday deals of 2020 and an album that might appeal to Christian and lay fans alike.

Legend

For King & Country will play at Gas South Arena in Duluth on December 18th.

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Legend

For King & Country will play at Gas South Arena in Duluth on December 18th.

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

The sound of For King & Country is built around epic melodies and a strong rhythmic presence, so it’s no surprise that this duo adds considerable weight to standards such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, ” Silent Night “,” The Little Drummer Boy “and” Heavenly Hosts “(one of the album’s two original songs), while majestic bands of strings and synthetic sounds, assertive rhythms and choral-style backing vocals soar those hymns. But it’s not just the ability to incorporate King & Country sound into the music that makes “A Drummer Boy Christmas.” The Smallbone brothers also reshape the arrangements of many familiar hymns, adding creative instrumental segments and inventive vocal parts to “Angels We Have Heard On High”, “Joy To The World”, “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “The Little Drummer Boy”, to name a few songs that have truly transformative musical elements.

“A Drummer Boy Christmas” was another hit in a career that saw the Smallbone brothers quickly rise to the top of Christian music groups.

The Australian duo (who have since moved to Nashville and become US citizens) made their first impact with their 2012 debut album, “Crave,” which reached # 4 on Billboard magazine’s Christian Albums chart. Then the follow-up to 2014, “Run Wild. Live freely. Love Strong. Opened things up, topping the Christian Album chart and producing two No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart – “Shoulders” and “Fix My Eyes”. Things culminated with the Grammy-winning album for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. The duo’s contributions to the soundtrack of the 2016 film “Priceless” only solidified their position ahead of the recording of their third album, “Burn The Ships”, of 2018, which quickly became another hit for the duo. duo, giving For King & Country Chart -top singles in “Joy,” “Amen” and “God Only Knows” and winning two Grammys, including Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

Next year should be another big year for the Smallbone Brothers. The duo’s fourth studio album, “What Are We Waiting For?”, Will be released on March 11. The main single, “Relate”, is already No. 1 on the Christian Airplay charts of “Billboard” magazine.

The success of For King & Country has been encouraging, Smallbone said, especially with “Burn The Ships.” This very personal album included songs that dealt with difficult times for Luke Smallbone, including his wife’s battle with prescription drug addiction and a major fear for the couple’s young son, Leo, who had to undergo reconstructive skull surgery. .

“I think the encouraging thing is’ Burn The Ships, it’s not very, there’s not a lot of sugar coating there. Even our song ‘Joy’ actually talks about how hard it was to try. to choose joy these days, “Smallbone said.” It’s a real honor to be able to (write) music that can impact another (person). I think that’s how we ourselves. feel grateful that this music was accepted. But I think this album (“Burn The Ships”) is for all the people who suffer in a way that you don’t often see. that this album really represents.