Mattie Montgomery

Mattie Montgomery
Mattie Montgomery (center) with the members of For Today
Background information
Born	July 24, 1987[1]
Origin	Michigan[2]
Genres	Christian metal,[3][4][5] metalcore[3][6]
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, songwriter, author, evangelist
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Come And Live!, Catapult
Associated acts	For Today, Besieged, Earth vs The Spider
Website	mattiemontgomery.com

Mattie Montgomery is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and frontman in the Christian metalcore band For Today.^[7] Montgomery has been with For Today since 2007, and has released five albums with the band. In addition to his work with For Today, Montgomery has his own solo gospel project named after himself in which he has released two albums and a book.^[8][9] He also preaches as a traveling evangelist when not recording or on tour.

Music career

Montgomery began his involvement in music at the age of fifteen, where he has stated he listened to bands such as Senses Fail and A Static Lullaby.^[10] Groups such as these opened the door to heavier bands that would inspire Montgomery to try heavy vocals and screams in his singing. Before joining For Today, Montgomery was the lead vocalist for the melodic metal band Besieged.^[11]

Montgomery replaced For Today's original lead vocalist, Matt Tyler, in 2007.^[12] In an interview, Montgomery has said that he did not know a single member of the band before his joining. After only a few practices with the band, Montgomery began touring with them. He had given the members of For Today two conditions for his joining of the band: First, the band must have a Bible study together every day. Second, Montgomery wanted the band to use their time on stage performing to minister to the audience.^[10] Since he joined For Today, Montgomery has played well over 700 shows and toured extensively in six countries with the group.^[13] On July 5, 2016, the band announced that they will be disbanding after a farewell tour.^[14][15]

Bands

• For Today - vocals (2007–2016)
• Mattie Montgomery - spoken word (solo)
• Besieged - vocals (2007)
• Earth vs The Spider - vocals

Discography

With Besieged

• Atlantis (Blood and Ink Records, 2007)

With For Today

• Ekklesia (Facedown Records, 2008)
• Portraits (Facedown Records, 2009)
• Breaker (Facedown Records, 2010) U.S. No. 54^[16]
• Immortal (Razor & Tie Records, 2012) U.S. No. 15
• Prevailer EP (Razor & Tie Records, 2013)
• Fight the Silence (Razor & Tie Records, 2014)
• Wake (Nuclear Blast Records, 2015)

Videography

• "Agape"
• "Saul of Tarsus (The Messenger)" (directed by Drew Russ)
• "Devastator" (Scott Hansen Productions)
• "Seraphim" (directed by Drew Russ)
• "Fearless"
• "Foundation"
• "Flesh and Blood" (directed by Ramon Boutviseth)
• "Break the Cycle"
• "Molotov"
• "Broken Lens"
• "Bitter Roots"

Guest appearances

• "Slave To Nothing" by Fit for a King, on their album Slave to Nothing (2013)
• "I W8 4 U" by Love & Death, on their album Between Here and Lost (2012)
• "Unharness" by For All Eternity, on their album Metanoia (2014)
• "Refined in Fire" by Winds of Plague, on their album Against the World (2011)
• "The Body" by Close Your Eyes, on their album We Will Overcome (2010)
• "Revelations" by The Crimson Armada, on their album Guardians (2009)
• "Can We Start Again" by I See Stars (2013)
• "The Slave Ring" by Tourniquet, on their album Onward to Freedom (2014)
• "Oaxaca" by Saving Grace, on their album, Unbreakable (2010)
• "Misogyneric" by Jarrod Alonge, on his album, Beating a Dead Horse (2015)
• "I Believe" by KB, on his album, "Tomorrow We Live" (2015)

Solo work

Montgomery has released three spoken-word gospel albums under his own name. His First album, When the Sons Become Fathers, was released on March 1, 2010, under the Come And Live! record label.^[17] His second solo album, The Keys to Open Ancient Gates, was released on June 14, 2011, under Catapult records.^{[7][9][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]} On October 1, 2013 he released the third album, See the Storm.

Personal life

Montgomery currently lives in Mobile, Alabama with his wife and two children.^[2] Montgomery does not drink alcohol.^[26]

Influences

Montgomery stated in an interview with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, that the bands that got him into his Christian musical career were, Overcome, Strongarm, Zao, and Shai Hulud.^[2]

References

1. Montgomery, Mattie (July 24, 2016). "29.". Instagram. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
2. Jamey Jasta (June 25, 2015). "Episode 97 - Mattie Montgomery (For Today)". The Jasta Show. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
3. "For Today: Sioux City's metalcore masters set to visit the UK in November - For Today". Crossrhythms.co.uk. August 6, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
4. "For Today Discography, For Today Artist Database, For Today Lyrics". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
5. For Today at AllMusic
6. Pernell Fowler. "For Today - Immortal - Review | So, Bring on Mixed Reviews". Bringonmixedreviews.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
7. http://www.fortodayband.com//
8. "Mattie Montgomery's Book". Spirit of Metal.
9. "Mattie Montgomery's Albums With For Today".
10. "Mattie of For Today Tells His Story… | News". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
11. "BLOOD & INK RECORDS - Besieged". Bloodandinkrecords.com. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
12. "For Today, "Prevailer EP / DVD" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
13. "For Today's Mattie Montgomery | Interviews". RockStar Weekly. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
14. For Today (July 5, 2016). "For Today (Photos)". Facebook. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
15. Childers, Chad (July 5, 2016). "For Today Reveals Plans To Split, Announce 2016 Farewell Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
16. Billboard, Allmusic
17. "Mattie Montgomery, "When The Sons Become Fathers" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. March 1, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
18. "Mattie Montgomery (For Today)- Musician Profile". Spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
19. "Mattie Montgomery, "The Keys To Open Ancient Gates" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. June 14, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
20. "Interview With Mattie".
21. "Mattie Montgomery As For Today's Vocalist".
22. "For Today's Bio".
23. "Mattie's Website".
24. "Mattie Montgomery Controversy".
25. "Interview With Mattie Montgomery".
26. Montgomery, Mattie (November 4, 2015). "#136 Mattie Montgomery of For Today". Interview with Matt Carter, Toby Morrell, Joey Svedsen. The BadChristian Podcast. Retrieved June 21, 2016.