UK worship artist Ian Yates had a busy 2024. He opened the year with a small EP (Battlelands, Vol. 2), and closed it out with his latest full-length, Kingdom. This 12-track record revolves around the concept of the Kingdom of God. What does it look like to chase that Kingdom? How should that affect the lives of Christians while living on earth? It's an album full of energy and focused in on its themes.

Those themes pull quite a bit from Jesus' parables and teachings on the Kingdom. References can be found throughout the album, but a few songs lean heavily on those gospel passages (like "Surprise" and "Do You Know About This Kingdom?"). Some songs carry a more personal touch ("White Flag," "Choosing Joy"), while others seek to encourage the listener ("Welcome to the Gift of Being Wrong," "Don't Give In"). Most of these tracks don't really fall into the category of "worship music," instead feeling more like one sharing lessons with others. A couple tracks ("King Jesus" and "Hands Held High") are more traditional worship tracks, though they still walk in step with the larger themes of the album.

The music is on par with what Yates has been putting out over the past few years: a mix of upbeat, British rock songs with some slower meditative tracks thrown in. The difference with Kingdom is that he leans more toward the rock sound and limits his softer side. This is a benefit to the album. It gives the songs a fun energy and keeps the record from feeling too long. The slower, more worshipful tracks are probably the more "skippable" ones, but even those don't overstay their welcome.

Overall, Kingdom is probably Ian Yates' best album so far. It's focused with a good theme, carries energy in its music, and in general clicks together in a way that his previous records failed to do. It has all the elements of what he's been exploring on past albums (musically and lyrically), and meshes them together in a hopeful message about being better people of the Kingdom of God. Yates seems to be hitting a creative stride that will hopefully keep producing engaging "worship albums" for years to come.

- Review date: 1/9/25, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

Record Label: 7Core Music
Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds
Street Date: October 11, 2024
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: Amazon Music

1. Seeking First (intro) (0:59)
2. Welcome To The Gift Of Being Wrong (3:04)
3. Surprise (2:48
4. Don't Give In (3:35)
5. King Jesus (5:10)
6. My World Is On Fire (3:54)
7. White Flag (2:53)
8. Lament And Repent (4:45)
9. Choosing Joy (2:56)
10. Do You Know About This Kingdom? (4:38)
11. Hands Held High (4:36)
12. Fall Forward (4:9)