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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Ian Yates

Ian Yates
Kingdom

Street Date: October 11, 2024
Style: Indie Rock



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



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: 7Core Music
. Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds
. Street Date: October 11, 2024
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  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)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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