Over the years, Christian music has seen its fair share of bands calling it quits, only to return to the stage with fresh energy, new lineups, or unexpected comebacks. Whether it's a brief hiatus, a full-fledged reunion, or a reinvention of their sound, these returns often spark excitement among longtime fans. From Tenth Avenue North's surprising reformation to Anberlin's resurgence with a new touring vocalist and even Capital Kings reigniting the Christian EDM scene, the industry continues to prove that sometimes, goodbye isn’t forever. Here’s a look at some of Christian music's most notable comeback stories, courtesy of NRT’s editorial staff.
Tenth Avenue North
Tenth Avenue North was a very popular Christian contemporary music (CCM) band at the peak of their career when they suddenly called it quits. With eight studio albums and multiple trips on the popular Winter Jam tour, the group was firing on all cylinders. The band, led by Mike Donehey, put out numerous hit singles such as “Control,” “You Are More,” and many others. In 2020, Mike Donehey announced that the band was calling it quits and that he would go solo. It surprised many, and many expected it to be the end of Tenth Avenue North. In 2023, Mike Donehey announced that the band has returned, but with a twist: there’s an entirely new lineup. The new lineup has been working on their debut album and preparing for their first tour. - Brendan Burke
Anberlin
After releasing music and touring for 12 years, Christian rock band Anberlin disbanded in 2014. They released their final album and made a huge deal out of this being the “end” of Anberlin. As a die-hard fan, I was disappointed but respected how they handled it rather than “disappearing,” like many other artists who call it quits. During the pandemic in 2020, they got back together to perform an acoustic live stream and then performed live streams of each album.
Not only did I enjoy live music during the pandemic, but it was from my favorite band that I thought I would never hear live again. In 2022, they released the Silverline EP, and in 2024, they released their first full-length album, Vega, since disbanding. Although lead singer Stephen Christian no longer tours with them, they couldn’t have selected a better touring lead singer. Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire is an incredible vocalist featured on two songs from Vega. Now that Anberlin is back, I’m looking forward to hearing what they’ll release in the future, and I hope this means they’ll be around for many years to come. Bring on the Vega era. - Felicia Holt
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was one of the premiere Christian rock bands of the 1990s. Music fans like me grew up hearing the grooves of "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" or the inspirational anthemic encouragement of songs like "Ocean Floor" or "Leaving 99."
As the 2000s progressed, however, the band hit a significant challenge, with lead singer Mark Stuart experiencing severe vocal problems. These problems eventually led to the band calling it a day, bowing out grandly with a final project and tour. Had that been the final word, it would have still been an incredible run for the band. And yet, several years later, the band announced they were getting back together. Well, sort of. While Mark Stuart would serve as producer and bassist, and Will McGinniss would return on bass; the lineup was a whole new band. Including a new singer and one well-known in Christian music: Kevin Max of DC Talk fame.
This oddly fitting trend occurred only a few short years after Max's DC Talk bandmate Michael Tait took over lead vocals for Peter Furler for the CCM band Newsboys. The group released a critically acclaimed project, Kings and Queens, that produced several hits, even though it felt more like a Kevin Max release than a return of the band that had given us hits like "Hands and Feet" and "Big House."
Circumstances became even more complicated in the following years as virtually the entire lineup departed once again and was replaced by a new band featuring lead singer Adam Agee, known for his work with Stellar Kart (who has now joined the Newsboys). The group released Sound of the Saints before ultimately disbanding again. It's been a few years since we've heard anything from Audio Adrenaline. But who knows? They've been down before. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before they again make a comeback. The question is, who would be involved? - JJ Francesco
Capital Kings
Capital Kings was one of my favorite bands when I first became a Christian music fan. The EDM duo Jon and Cole burst onto the scene in 2013 with their self-titled debut album. They went on to release another successful album, II, along with multiple singles, touring the country to perform fan favorites like "Fireblazin," "Into Your Arms," "I Feel So Alive," "Live for the Drop," and many more. In 2016, lead singer Jon disappeared, and a new face, Dylan House, took his place. The group released five more songs featuring artists like Hollyn, Aaron Cole, and Reconcile.
In early 2018, they announced they would be going on hiatus. Five years later, in July 2023, the original duo, Jon and Cole, returned with a surprise new song, "Higher" (featuring artists Evvie McKinney and Jesse Francis). Since then, they have released two additional songs, "Oxygen" and "Antidote" (featuring artist Sam Rivera), with the latter also getting a remix release. I'm thrilled that Capital Kings has returned to Christian EDM, as fans—including myself—await more new music and, hopefully, a full album or tour from the beloved, trailblazing duo. - Bradden Ford
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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