
Glass Hammer officially began in 1992 when longtime
friends Steve Babb and Fred Schendel began writing
and recording the Tolkienesque concept album
"Journey of the Dunadan". They released the
album independently in 1993 and were amazed when several thousand copies were
purchased through the internet, The QVC Shop At Home Network, several
international distributors, and their own toll-free order number. The stage was
set for a successful career that now includes nine albums and an enthusiastic,
world-wide fan base that numbers in the thousands.
The album featured performances by David Carter (Wyzards),
Terry Clouse (Somnambulist), and solo-artist Michelle Young. Its success led to
the construction of Sound Resources, a state-of-the-art recording studio where Glass Hammer albums (as well
as albums by Somnambulist, Volare and others) are
written and produced to this day.
In 1994 they began working on their second album "Perelandra", which was released in 1995. The album was
an immediate success. Continued musical growth, a cooler tone, epic tracks and
mind-blowingly complex passages were the hallmarks of
this album as Glass Hammer began building its own mythos
centered around a world
called "Evermore". David Carter returned to perform on one track, as
did Michelle Young. Tracy Cloud made her first appearance on Perelandra, as did Walter Moore who contributed vocals and
twelve-string guitar.



In 1997 the band began working on their next epic. To tide fans over,
they released "Live and Revived", a
limited-edition collection of live rehearsal recordings and unreleased material
written just after "Journey" was released. This featured the 'live'
group which was then made up of Steve, Fred, David Carter, Walter Moore, and
Michelle Young.
|
|
|
|
"On To Evermore" came out to a flood of anticipation in March
1998. Continuing the story of "Perelandra",
it added more guitar crunch to the atmospheric keyboard-rock that was GH's trademark. "On To Evermore" also showcased
the considerable vocal talents of Walter Moore, who sang lead on several
tracks. Furthermore, the entire band branched out, Fred and Walter in
particular playing a bewildering array of instruments. "On To
Evermore" would receive critical acclaim from many sources and go on to be
recognized as one of the better albums of 1998.
Glass Hammer released the retro-prog
masterpiece "Chronometree" in April 2000. Fans quickly leaped at the chance to pick up this album
full of vintage keyboards and blazing instrumental prowess. Guest stars Arjen A. Lucassen and Terry
Clouse, as well as new vocalist Brad Marler, helped
expand the GH sound even further. "Chronometree" quickly matched
"Journey of the Dunadan" in its popularity,
and became the most successful Glass Hammer album yet.



2001 saw the release of "The Middle-earth Album", a collection of songs based on Tolkien's "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy. This 'special edition' album was the result of numerous
fan-requests for Glass Hammer's return to Middle Earth. Steve and Fred took
those requests to heart, and literally returned to the world of halflings, elves, and trolls, recording their live
performance (through means both magical and mysterious) at The Prancing Pony
Inn in Bree. The group's interest in Middle Earth has
made them a huge hit with fans of Tolkien, who are already requesting future
additions.
|
|
|
1. Bethany Warren and
Susie Bogdanowicz, angels on vocals; 2. Steve, Matt and Walter
rock out
|
|
|
|
|
1. Eric Parker strums madly while
Steve sings; 2. The whole band; Glass Hammer live in concert!
|
|
|
|
|
1. Steve, Walter and Fred wrest
magic from their instruments; 2. Matt concentrates while Walter solos
|
|
|
|
|
1. Bethany and Susie look
thoughtful;
|
|
|
|
|
1. Sarah Lovell joins the gang for
vocals on "Chronos Deliverer"; 2. More
"Chronos Deliverer": Fred on lap steel,
Walter on keys
|
|
|
|
|
1. Steve introduces Sarah at first
as "just some girl from the audience"; 2. Bethany and Susie watch
Fred from across the stage as he takes another keyboard solo, and Steve grooves
on his own keyboard
Released in 2002, "LEX REX" firmly established Glass Hammer as
one of the most beloved and successful progressive rock groups in the world. A
concept album of grand proportions, "LEX REX" seemed to combine all
the best elements of the GH style: vintage synths,
epic songs, complex vocal layering, virtuoso performances. "LEX REX"
quickly became the group's biggest "hit" with their established
audience, and earned them thousands of new fans as well.
GH performed "LEX REX" live at NEARfest 2003 with the now
"classic" GH lineup of Fred Schendel, Steve Babb, Walter Moore, Susie Bogdanowicz, and Matt Mendians,
along with additional backup singers Bethany Warren and Flo
Paris. Recording artist Eric Parker joined the group on acoustic guitar, as did
a twenty member choir to fill out the vocal sections of songs from "LEX
REX", "Chronometree" and "Perelandra". GH performed several concerts during 2003,
and filmed a DVD that is slated for release in 2004.




2003 also saw production of the eighth GH album, "Shadowlands", which combines the legendary talents of
Steve Babb and Fred Schendel, the incredible vocals
of Walter Moore and Susie Bogdanowicz, a half-million
dollar pipe organ, a string section, an arsenal of analog
gear, and all the magic that modern recording technology has to offer.
According to the group’s website, "Glass Hammer's Shadowlands
delivers everything that modern progressive rock should be: the vintage sounds,
the contemporary production, the epic style." The album is set for release
on January 14th, 2004.
Glass Hammer’s musical output continues to grow in popularity around the
world. The name "Glass Hammer" has become synonymous with high
production standards, and epic storytelling realized through a bewildering
array of musical styles, dominated by complex melodic progressive rock. Without
a doubt, GH remain one of the most popular groups in the progressive rock
genre.