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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: 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)

 

 

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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