In 2024, Matthew West released Don't Stop Praying with an accompanying devotional book. I can't speak for the book, but the album felt like a lackluster offering from the veteran CCM artist. I'm happy to report, however, that West's latest album, Jesus is King, is a welcome return to form. While the music still feels restrained at times, West comes back to the blend of lyrical content that makes his albums enjoyable. Worshipful, radio-ready tunes mix with songs of encouragement directed at the listener. It's the winning combination that West excels at and that was missing from his last record.

With the title being Jesus is King, you might expect a rumination on Jesus' power and authority. Outside of the opening title track and the two closing tracks, West is less concerned with the regal nature of Jesus' office and more interested in the love the King bestows on His subjects. After the title track opens the album, the next two songs show this emphasis of God's grace and love. "Don't Give Up on Me" and "Good" both offer testimony from West about firsthand experience of this grace. That latter track has the sermon-ready line, "I'm not loved because I'm worthy/I'm loved because You're good!" "Back to Jesus" starts off as a testimony, but West turns it on the listener halfway through to make it an invitation. Other songs branch out from this central theme. "The Good Fight" encourages the listener to keep the faith through hard times, whether that's sickness or breaking sinful habits. "Come Alive" is a cry for personal revival, while "Younger Me" finds West getting introspective about his life.

As mentioned above, the music feels more subdued compared to the energy found on West's earlier albums. To be sure, there are spurts of excitement from the title track or "Come Alive," which nearly verges into swamp rock territory (an appearance by Crowder would have been fitting). For the most part, though, the music keeps itself restrained and in the mid-tempo range. In general, it lacks a firm identity. There may be elements of pop or country on a given track, but it never fully commits. Maybe this gives the album broader appeal to a wider audience, but it also leaves the songs feeling less defined. As a result, outside of a few melodic hooks, the album's sound comes off as bland. What redeems this is West's penchant for stirring lyrics, but it is a weakness the album has to deal with.

Two albums past his magnum opus, My Story, Your Glory, Matthew West shows he can still put out a solid record. Jesus is King may not be his best or most stunning work, but it's an improvement over Don't Stop Praying. You have some classic West gems and you have some radio-friendly tracks you can skip. Overall, anyone who has enjoyed West's music in the past will enjoy his latest.

- Review date: 9/23/26, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com