It's getting harder and harder to find a truly good and unique worship band. Not that it's not okay to have a sound that strictly fits into a certain genre, but time after time it seems as if the same worship songs are being released by different bands and artists, but with the same exact sound. So when The Glorious Unseen released their album Tonight The Stars Speak, it was truly refreshing.

The album opens with a cry to God, asking Him to "Hear Our Prayers." The song glorifies God and how He is always with us through our hard times, "God, see our tears that we're struggling to see through/God hear our prayers to You/In our weakness You r emain/When we're broken You sustain." The end of the song goes on for a little bit too long, but musically and lyrically it sets the mood for the rest of the project. "Forever Holy" follows, singing about God's holiness and how it's hard for us as humans to contemplate it. Lead vocalist and guitarist Ben Crist sings, "This is what makes my head spin/You're forever holy/God of all creation/Pour Your life into me/This is so overwhelming/You're forever holy/God of my salvation/Clothe me in Your glory." The majority of the disc is fairly soft, but Crist and company play a couple songs in an almost SONICFLOOd-like manner, such as "Meet Us Here" and their rendition of David Crowder*Band's "O Praise Him."

Part of what makes The Glorious Unseen a unique worship band is the ambience of the songs, mixed with the effects used on the guitars. It's allmost like what Underoath would sound like if they were a worship band. Another thing that makes them unique is that the vocals seem not to have been touched up. Bigger name worship acts spend time with their producer polishing up the spots where the singer's voice may have cracked or was a little weak. Although Crist's shaky vocals go well with the music, and fit in with some of their Tooth & Nail labelmates, there are noticeable times when his voice cracks and breaks.

Tonight The Stars Speak is an excellent debut from the worship team of Anchor Fellowship in Nashville, TN. Any music fan can easily like this album. While Crist has stated in interviews that he hopes to reach people in the hardcore and emo scenes, and others who feel outcasted from or not connected with modern church services, The Glorious Unseen should appeal to just about anyone who can love and appreciate good music.

- Review date: 11/3/07, written by Scott Fryberger