This week’s premieres feature the third studio album from a group of youth pastors and a rock band whose recent Canadian tour showed why there is such a huge buzz surrounding this band.

Casting Crowns’ third studio album, The Altar And The Door, draws on their first-hand ministry experience with real people, real life struggles and the faith that overcomes.

“At the altar, everything makes sense,” says lead singer Mark Hall. “When we’re in the church and spending time with God, we know what we’re supposed to do and how to live. Everything is black and white. But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out. Everything gets grey again. It’s like we have these two lives, and the Christian life is the journey between the altar and the door… trying to get the things you’ve got in your head, into your hands, into your feet, and into your life. This album is all about that journey of realization, the struggles we encounter and the victory of seeing it as possible.”

South Carolina-based quartet, needtobreathe, led by brothers Bear and Bo Rineheart, returns with a sophomore project that fully embraces their Christian market fan base with unashamed lyrical content throughout the album. Their debut album had songs placed in the Jessica Simpson film “Employee Of The Month”, ABC’s “The Evidence” and Fox Sports television coverage of the 2006 World Series.

The Heat will be specially priced at $17.99 or less while The Altar And The Door will be spotlight priced at $17.99 or less for a limited time at participating Canadian Christian retailers. Head over to HearItFirst.ca to hear these upcoming releases.