Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

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



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!






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)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, February 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Anike With Love, Anike - EP [Reach]
HeIsTheArtist Confessions of a Fallen Angel - EP [MTS]
Marvin Sapp If I Were an R&B Singer - EP [Elev8]
Sidewalk Prophets Looking Up [Curb]
Spoken Worth Jesus Is (independent)
Denison Witmer Anything At All [Asthmatic Kitty]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down His Mercy is More - Single [BEC]
Alphein Lost In Ya Love - Single [Syntax]
Bill B. Get It Right - Single [Syntax]
Josh Baldwin Thank You Jesus (Studio Version) - Single [Bethel]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pray About It (feat. Big Fil) - Single [Marv4MoBeats]
Diatheke The Creator - Single [Rottweiler]
Drenae & OnBeatMusic Me & You - Single [Syntax]
Elevation Worship I Know A Name (feat. Brandon Lake) - Single [Elevation]
Fine China Fraught With Danger - Single [Velvet Blue]
Jericko Only You - Single [Syntax]
Lady Redneck Amazing Grace - Single [MTS]
Olivia Lane Who God Says You Are - Single [BEC]
QEW LVL Up - Single [Syntax]
Sixpence None the Richer Kiss Me (Live) - Single [Flatiron]
SNT. VINCENT Invite Me - Single [Syntax]
Solachi Voz Horsepower - Single [Syntax]
Sound Street Heaven In The House - Single [Sonlite]
Brandon Watson Still Hurts - Single (independent)

Next Friday, February 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Gather Worship Hear The World That You So Love Sing Back To You [Integrity]
Mat Kearney Mat Kearney (still drowning in nostalgia) [Deluxe] [Middle Kid]
Natalie Layne All Joy [Centricity]
David Leonard Just Jesus [Provident]
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal [Gaither]

SINGLES
Coqui only Idol - Single [DREAM]
Melody Noel Closer Than I Know - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham The King is in the Room - Single [Fair Trade]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images