Biography

Critical Mass started in 1997 by David Wang as a way to introduce Catholic youth to contemporary Christian music. Initially the group focused on leading worship at youth events and Masses. The band wrote original music influenced by their Catholic faith. Their first album was a demo recording, Faith Looks Up and received positive reviews. The album went on to win the band Best International Group and Best Modern Rock/Alternative album from the United Catholic Music and Video Association.

Their second album Completely was produced by Andrew Horrocks and had a more professional sound than the debut demo release. The album immediately garnered the Best Album of the Year at the Canadian Gospel Music Association's Covenant Awards. The song Humility was finalist for Rock Song of the Year as well. The Canadian Gospel Music Association and their Covenant Awards are the equivalent of the prestigious Dove Awards in the United States.

The success of Completely resulted in the group being invited to be one of the major two bands involved in the larger liturgical celebrations at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto. The band was given the honor of performing at both the Papal Welcoming Ceremony and at the Papal Vigil, the latter of which was seen by a million in attendance and on international television.

The band continued with the album Grasping for Hope in the Darkness which was released on September 11, 2004. It won Best Rock Album honours at the Covenant Awards. Their cover of the Kansas classic, Carry On Wayward Son also was nominated for Best Rock Song.

In October 2006, the band again received International Group of the Year honours from the United Catholic Music and Video Association.

In 2007, Critical Mass released a live praise and worship effort called Celebrate, which includes covers of popular worship songs as well as some remakes of songs from the album Completely. This album was nominated for 6 United Catholic Music and Video Association Awards.

In 2009, Critical Mass released "Body Language", an album based on Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. This is one of the first Christian rock albums to ever deal so explicitly with the topics of sex, love and communion, in a Christian context.

Critical Mass marked 2012 with the release of 15 (1997-2012), a compilation album with three new songs along with 12 other songs from their catalog.

After a hiatus of 8 years, the group stormed back with a new single, Misery, My Friend, which was released to help those struggling with depression and anxiety during the 2020 Covid-19 crisis.