The Newsboys have been in the game for a long time. In fact, this release officially marks their 23rd LP release, although there are a few ways to count. Coming off of the successful "Newsboys United" tour, this release sees current frontman Michael Tait step back into the spotlight, this time joined by Adam Agee, formerly of pop-punk outfit Stellar Kart, and later (for a brief window), Audio Adrenaline 3.0.

This latest release, World Wide Revival: Part One, is the first of a two-album release plan, and as fans may have guessed, we see the band fall fully into the "big arena worship" sound. To the band's credit, they do deliver on "bigness" throughout the eight-song worship set, easily surpassing the quality of many of their contemporaries. That being said, that isn't a particularly high bar.

While the album isn't "bad," there is little substance to be found. The album opens with the upbeat "Heaven on Earth," which sounds fine but wields lines such as "I've seen the beauty of the grave wide open / Resurrection power, the curse is broken / One way Jesus, set our hearts on fire / Send Your Spirit, we are crying out / Heaven on earth here and now," which are about as rote as the genre allows for. In fact, for the duration of the album, the lyrics are heavily centered on invoking the power of God, albeit with little attached theological substance.

The title track, "Worldwide Revival," is more akin to the Newsboys' more recent works and is one of the stronger tracks on the album. "In God We Trust" walks the middle of the road and "How Many Times" has some well-traveled and safe CCM melodies. "Color" moderately stands out for its attempt at originality, but it too falls into the trap of predictability. However, its lyrics are among the better offerings on the album: "It should always take my breath away / Leave me standing wide-eyed and amazed / All this fragile flesh and bone is an image of His own / And I wanna remember." If the rest of the album matched the level of "Color," it would be a modest improvement.

The record wraps with "He Lives," which is one of the better tracks on the album, and heavily features Agee's vocals. Its lyrics end on a better note: "Hear the shackles breaking free / Hear the song of the redeemed / He is moving, He's alive / So take this freedom, take this love / Can you feel it rising up?"

Upon finishing the album, I was struck by how par-for-the-course most of the songs are." Again, while they aren't bad, they lack the innovative spark that once defined the Newsboys. The reality is that with decades of experience under their collective belts, the Newsboys should be delivering a project that surpasses our expectations and sets them apart from the competition. Once known as bold trendsetters in the Christian music scene, they've largely abandoned that mantle since the close of their Born Again era. This departure is evident in the safe and predictable nature of World Wide Revival: Part One."

Tracks like "Christ and Christ Crucified" and "How Many Times" exemplify this issue, presenting well-trodden themes and melodies without venturing into new or exciting territory. The band's earlier works were characterized by their willingness to push boundaries and experiment with their sound. Albums like Take Me to Your Leader and Step Up to the Microphone showcased their ability to blend different styles and create something unique.

Fans of Bethel, Hillsong, or Elevation will likely feel right at home with this album. Ultimately, the project plays it too safe, delivering a worship experience that feels more like a checklist than original artistic expression. In other words, listeners should have a good idea about how they'll respond to World Wide Revival: Part One long before they click "play." Unfortunately, that predictability is its greatest downfall.

- Review date: 7/24/24, written by David Craft of Jesusfreakhideout.com