Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Revive, Chorus Of The Saints
Revive
Chorus Of The Saints



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 41 minutes, 52 seconds
Street Date: March 10, 2009


It is surprising how many Christian artists don't originate in the United States, but are still quite successful in its market. Such artists include Newsboys, Delirious?, Rebecca St. James, and the list goes on. But another band by the name of Revive wants to make their mark overseas from their native land, Australia, and with their US debut, Chorus of the Saints, they are well on their way to achieving that goal.

Though this is the first album released by the band to be geared towards the American market, this album isn't completely new material. Chorus of the Saints is actually just a repackaging of the band's last album by the same title with remastered and reordered tracks plus the addition of a new song ("The Truth Is"). If you happen to already own this version of the album, this record really may not be worth your while, but for the vast majority of American listeners, this will be the first time they've heard Revive's work.

Revive does a great job of getting the listener's attention right from the get-go, with the energetic title track and the equally lively "Can't Change Yesterday" to start things off. "Stay" and "Distant Memories" continue the energy later on in the record, with the more thoughtful "The Truth Is" and "You Know" in between these song sets. "You Know" particularly stands out, as it features a collaboration with Third Day's frontman Mac Powell. Powell and Revive's singer Dave Hanbury work very well together vocally, and make the song one of the gems in the bunch. The record ends up being a decent collection of worshipful pop/rock tracks with a few surprises (such as the country rock track "Don't Look Anywhere Else") thrown in. The closing track is a little bit lacking in power to take the record to a satisfying finish, but it achieves its purpose, nonetheless.

I'd like to give Revive major kudos for their lyrical content. This is indeed a pop/rock record to give God glory. It seems to be a trend right now to have more watered-down messages in some albums' lyrics, but Revive is a refreshing break from this tendency, shamelessly crediting God and his majesty all the way through the record. I applaud this boldness.

The factor that really holds this album back, however, is its lack of uniqueness musically. Revive can pull off the pop/rock sound decently, and it's obvious from their execution they aren't new to the trade of making music. But what they perform has been heard before many a time, and a little distinctiveness could have improved the entire album significantly. It's especially disappointing since this isn't their first record, and one could expect more from an already seasoned band. Perhaps we can hear something a little more different musically by the time their next effort comes around.

Revive will likely win over a good number of American listeners, and they should. With unashamed lyrics and a sufficient sound, the band should get enough success with this release. A little more experience in the industry will fill up their holes, however. This is just another band to keep an eye on, and will probably prove to be one of the better new groups of this year.

- Review date: 3/8/09; PReview date: 2/12/09, written by Roger Gelwicks



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Essential Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 41 minutes, 52 seconds
. Street Date: March 10, 2009
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Chorus Of The Saints
  2. Can't Change Yesterday
  3. The Truth Is
  4. You Know (featuring Mac Powell)
  5. Don't Look Anywhere Else
  6. You're All I Need
  7. Stay
  8. Distant Memories
  9. Sit With Me
  10. Power
  11. Wonder Why
  12. Promise Of Tomorrow

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images