Remedy Drive

Remedy Drive are a contemporary Christian group with roots in Nebraska whose music incorporates alternative rock, contemporary pop, and flashes of post-punk as a musical framework for their messages of finding hope and being an instrument for change in a troubled world. Initially, Remedy Drive's music (typified by 2006's Rip Open the Skies and 2008's Daylight Is Coming) featured a blend of processed guitar sounds and keyboards that drew comparisons to Coldplay. As their lineup and approach evolved, they showed off a sharper attack on 2014's Commodity and 2021's Imago Amor, as group leader David Zach used their music and fan base as a platform for activism against human trafficking. Remedy Drive was formed in 1998 by four brothers growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska: David Zach on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and keyboards; Paul Zach on lead guitar and backing vocals; Philip Zach on bass and backing vocals; and Daniel Zach on drums. They grew up in a Christian household without a television, and first developed a passion for music through the work of contemporary Christian artist Keith Green. As the siblings began to explore alternative rock, their musical ideas took new directions, and in 1995, David, Philip, and Daniel started a group they called the Aslan Band, named for the lion in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia novels. The Aslan Band released an album in 1998, Remedy; later the same year, Paul joined the band, and they changed their name to Remedy. As Remedy, the group cut three independent studio albums -- 1999's Remedy (The Blue One), 2001's Remedy (The Red One), and 2004's Magnify -- and issued a live album in 2003. By the end of 2004, the band had once again changed their name, to Remedy Drive, and in 2006 they released the album Rip Open the Skies, which sold well in the contemporary Christian market. Remedy Drive was soon touring heavily, playing as many as 200 shows every year. After the success of Rip Open the Skies, Remedy Drive signed with gospel/CCM powerhouse Word Records, which issued their next album, Daylight Is Coming, in 2008. A follow-up EP, The Daylight EP, arrived in 2010, and Remedy Drive relocated from Lincoln to Nashville, Tennessee. The next year, they experienced a major personnel shake-up when Daniel, Paul, and Philip Zach all chose to leave the band, leaving David as the sole original member. Philip Zach returned to Nebraska and opened a recording studio, as well as working with the groups Arrows and Sound, A Thousand Fires, and the Silver Pages, the latter also featuring Paul Zach. Meanwhile, David Zach launched a new edition of Remedy Drive, joined by Dave Mohr on lead guitar and backing vocals, Corey Horn on bass and backing vocals, and Timmy Jones on drums. This version of the band made their recording debut with an independent EP, 2011's Light Finds a Way, and Centricity Music struck a deal with Remedy Drive, releasing the album Resuscitate in 2012. Timmy Jones left Remedy Drive in 2013, and Tim Buell took over behind the drum kit for 2014's Commodity, which was produced by former member Philip Zach. It was the first of the group's albums to address the issue of human trafficking, which had become a major concern of David Zach and his bandmates. Human trafficking also informed the songs on 2018's The North Star (which saw Zach Hunter take over on drums) and 2021's Imago Amor. In addition to speaking out through his songs, David Zach took more direct action by joining The Exodus Road, a counter-trafficking organization whose efforts have led to rescuing over 1,500 survivors and the arrest of over 800 traffickers. Remedy Drive took a look at their musical past with the 2016 album Hope's Not Giving Up, featuring new recordings of popular songs from their back catalog.
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