Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


The Rock Worship, God Will Reign
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

The Rock Worship
God Will Reign



Genre(s): Worship / Live
Album length: 12 tracks: 62 minutes, 36 seconds
Street Date: July 13, 2014 / July 7, 2017


READER RATING:   


For some inexplicable reason unknown to this reviewer, other than to presumably expand the music's audience, a live worship album from 2014 is being re-released in 2017. As far as I can tell, nothing has been changed or added to God Will Reign by The Rock Worship, which is the music ministry of The Rock Church, a multi-site, multilingual church network based out of Anaheim, California. Luckily for Dream Records, the label that's redistributing this three-year-old collection, it has gotten its hands on an usually strong entry into the over-saturated live worship genre. And luckily for The Rock Worship, by virtue of this being a live recording where the crowd is ever-present, the album hasn't aged poorly at all.

"Unstoppable" comes sprinting out of the gate with its battle cry, "God is building His church," making as great a start as imaginable to what was likely one evening of music -- at least, that's what this hour of music feels like. "Unstoppable" highlights the best aspects of the album as a whole: songs that are both worshipful and fun, singers that are passionate without overindulging in adlibbing, and surprisingly tasteful and inventive musicianship--especially from the electric guitarists. The upbeat numbers, like "All" and "Love Love Love," are absolutely effervescent, defying the ambient moods of most modern worship and instead partaking in pop bombast that wouldn't be out of place on a Hanson album.

The worst aspect of listening to God Will Reign is the false precedent that "Unstoppable" establishes. While there isn't a weak entry here, there isn't anything as great as that opening track until eight songs in, with the aptly titled, truly epic "Matchless Name." Also, the outstanding male and female vocalists who lead us through "Unstoppable" get replaced for the next two songs by David Dirmann, one of the executive pastors of The Rock Church. He's also the songwriter behind nine of these twelve songs, so it should be mentioned that his songwriting skills are excellent. Unfortunately, Dirmann's singing skills do not match his writing skills; he has a throaty, Randy Newman-like quality that keeps him from really "selling" the triumphant lyrics he's penned. The four songs where he has leading duties could've benefitted by being handed over to the many fantastic singers who shine throughout the rest of this album.

The variety here is usually a good thing, though, from the different styles to the different singers. One probably wouldn't expect songs with the commonplace titles "Praise the Lord" and "I Let Go" to actually be interesting, but they are and then some; the dynamics, from unexpected builds to unorthodox shifts in drumming patterns, should keep anyone invested in what's going on here, even when the obstinate hugeness of the live recording occasionally threatens to suffocate. And for a relatively obscure church to make an album this powerful, this magnetic, and this vibrant -- even now, three whole years since the original release date -- means that we should be expecting plenty from The Rock Worship in years to come.

- Review date: 7/5/17, written by Chase Tremaine of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Dream Worship
. Album length: 12 tracks: 62 minutes, 36 seconds
. Street Date: July 13, 2014 / July 7, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Unstoppable (Live) (5:23)
  2. My Life Is In You (Live) (5:58)
  3. All (Live) (3:39)
  4. We Will Arise (Live) (5:20)
  5. God Will Reign (Live) (4:51)
  6. Love Love Love (Live) (3:51)
  7. I Live To Worship You (Live) (4:53)
  8. Matchless Name (Live) (6:16)
  9. Praise The Lord (Live) (4:58)
  10. I Let Go (Live) (3:51)
  11. You First Loved Me (Live) (8:32)
  12. Wonderful (Live) (5:04)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images