Genre:
Members: Adrienne Liesching (vocals), Marc Pautz (guitars), Chris Poisat (guitars), Costa Balamatsias (bass), Nick Volsteedt (drums)
For fans of: Garbage, Lush, Alanis Morrisette, Björk, The Cranberries, Veruca Salt
Label: Forefront Records

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Revolutionary times bring about revolutionary ideas. For South Africa's top rock import, The Benjamin Gate, clicking the age counter in a nation facing historic changes — including the end of apartheid and the country's first democratic elections — stirred this female-fronted five-piece to the conviction that boundaries don't exist when it comes to life, hope, and imagination. Though not a political band, The Benjamin Gate makes the case for living a zealous life as they power out a musical style that emulates their own empowering message. Inspired to the hilt, The Benjamin Gate best manifests their compelling creative paradigm with their sophomore effort, Contact.

The Benjamin Gate — made up of singer Adrienne Liesching, bassist Costa Balamatsias, drummer Nick Volsteedt, and guitarists Marc Pautz and Chris Poisat — splashed the stateside shores in 2001 with their stunning rookie bow, untitled. Their full-length debut received rave reviews, earned four Dove Award nods, and scored a pair of #1 singles on the rock charts ("All of Me" and "Lay It Down") and a #2 single ("How Long"), all culminating in solid first round sales. Yet as untitled highlighted several Euro-pop touches, Contact finds its focus upping the tempo and energy for a more dynamic and daring rock release. Vibrant vocals, masterful melodies, and hard-stacked hooks all come together to give Contact a passionate, guitar-driven clash of rocket-fueled pop and searing six-string distortion. Contact soars with a raw vitality that opts for an energized live feel over the confined sterility of the overtly primmed and polished.

"We wanted Contact to have a raw, organic edge," says the 20-year-old Adrienne. "The guys in the band love effects, and they filtered that influence into a more rock sound. We also had fun playing around with different sounds and approaches to the songs. In the end, we want to take the special element we have performing live — a passionate, energetic, melodic, guitar heavy show — and translate them onto the album."

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