The island of Ireland (home to two separate countries at present) has throughout its history been known for eras of political upheaval, economic misfortune, substance abuse, natural disasters, and truly gloomy weather. And so, it's a cosmic irony that it has also produced some of the most joyful music any culture has fashioned. The playful stomping rhythms and melodic play of fiddles and pipes is a true counterpoint to the island's long, ofttimes downtrodden history.

And no one does "joyful" quite like Rend Collective, that veteran, foot-stomping, yelping Irish worship band that has been putting the uplift in modern worship music for nearly two decades now. This is a band that is meant to make Christmas music - to take the most joyous news there is and sing it out loudly.

Christmas In Belfast is Rend's third Christmas offering, and with a short, concise track listing and trademark energy in place, the album goes down like a spicy mulberry drink - sweet and profound and packing a quick punch. The album starts out with its most profound and solemn moment, a reworking of the old Irish hymn "Come Thou Fount" with new Christmas lyrics. Reworking a classic, historic hymn is a gutsy move for any band. But Rend treats the ancient melody with reverence and delivers a fine new set of lyrics with a Christmas theme: "King of glory became nothing / Humbled to the point of death / Stretched His arms out like a beggar / And forgave with His last breath / What God started with a manger / Ended with an empty grave / Suffering servant now exalted / Jesus, name above all names." "A Christmas Hymn (To The Tune Of 'Come Thou Fount')" is a wonderful, magisterial way to kick off a collection of Christmas tunes, and the great old hymn has never sounded better.

The downbeat and pensive "The Reason" follows along afterwards, and with a melancholy delivery Rend Collective's lead singer Chris Llewellyn intones highlights of the Christmas season in a song that might fit the tone of A Charlie Brown Christmas: "Sleigh rides on frosty nights / Warm hearts when it's cold outside Christmas songs playing on repeat inside my head / I know there's a reason for this season / A maker of this magic we're all feeling / Never has a greater gift been given / Jesus You're the reason." The first two tracks' low-key approach to holiday music may be surprising from a band known for its kinetic energy, but the intent here seems to be focusing on another side of the holidays (not everyone out there is merry and full of good cheer) and the more somber tone of the opening songs does justice to the wonderful lyrical theme here.

But the energy does kick up a great deal in the title track, "Christmas In Belfast (Sláinte)." With a great, sing-song Irish feel and foot-stomping beat, the song celebrates the communal season with the classic Irish blessing "sláinte," which is a Galic expression wishing good health to all.

After a haunting rendition of the now-classic "Mary Did You Know" (with a terrific bit of soulful violin and other traditional Celtic instruments), the introspective "Room At The Inn" really delivers a needed punch for those who find themselves "on the outside" of faith: "He's a refuge for us all / No, He won't refuse a soul / You'll never leave a lonely footprint in the snow / Let the thrill of hope arrive / On this silent, holy night / You belong here / Love is strong here / God beckons you in / There is room at the inn / There is room at the inn / In the shelter of each other you are welcome as kin / Rejoice tired eyes / There's a vacancy sign / There is room there is room at the inn." In a time of rising suspicion of "the outsider," a song that reminds us that the king of the universe was born as a stranger and foreigner amongst His own people is a needed message indeed. Jesus' "outsider" status was a purposeful move, and His welcoming of all people into relationship with Him, and fellowship with their fellow man, is a theme worth singing about loudly from every street corner.

The album ends in an explosion of pent-up, Irish energy with a rousing rendition of "Carol Of The Bells," followed hard by a truly heartfelt and boisterous version of "Feliz Navidad" before ending in a goofy, mostly instrumental send off, "A Spontaneous Outburst Of Festive Joy."

Christmas In Belfast is a rousing, joy-inducing album which is sadly too short. A few more numbers here would have made this whole affair a classic Christmas album for years to come. But even with its short run time (which makes the "grab bag of songs" feel more profound, Rend Collective shows here their thematic range and capacity for true joyfulness -- and that's worth shouting "sláinte" about!