Jesusfreakhideout.com: Southland, "Like The World Has Never Seen" Review

JFH Indie Review

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Southland
Like The World Has Never Seen

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: February 21, 2025
Style: Worship
Official Site: ElevationChurch.com
Buy It: Amazon Music

North Carolina-based Elevation Church is very well known for its celebrity pastor and large worship team. However, Australia has their own Elevation Church (unaffiliated with the US Elevation), which is quite large as well. The multi-campus church from Cairns has a young worship team called Southland (formerly Elevation Youth), who has just released a new live worship album. Like The World Has Never Seen sounds similar to what you would hear from most modern worship music, but they do offer up some wrinkles that you won't normally hear in this type of music.

The opening of the album contains one of these wrinkles. The track has an almost bluesy/R&B feel to it, and the electric guitar lead really lends itself to that style. The "He is the Lord (ministry)" tag also really leans into the more R&B feel. It's nice to start things off with a song that has a slightly different sound than you're used to with this type of music. The next few songs are pretty standard, but I do appreciate the personalization found in "The Great Awakening." While asking for Holy Spirit to bring revival, the Azusa Street Revival (in early 1900's California) is mentioned, followed shortly for a prayer for "The Great Southland" -- a nickname for Australia. "This Is The Day" is a standout on the album, and the chorus refers to the hymn. In fact, several songs on the album harken back to the past with hymns and worship choruses being referenced and utilized. "Give You Praise" and "Bring It Now" are even reminiscent of early Hillsong United sounds. Another big standout moment on the album is the transition into "Rest On Us" at the very end. It's a powerful swing from "Move Again" and crescendos nicely from a musical perspective.

Overall, Like The World Has Never Seen is a very good and enjoyable worship album. This team is earnestly praying for revival and a movement of the Holy Spirit around the world. Their sound and lyrics pay homage to the earlier days of worship music, but it also sits comfortably in the modern feel that people are used to. Most of these songs could fit right into any church's worship service today. Songs like "The Great Awakening" are a little more relevant to the region, but generally speaking, the songs would be a great addition to a worship team's repertoire. It's exciting to see a younger generation embracing the past while also praying for God to move and work in big and glorious ways. Worship as a business can be ugly and should be called out when appropriate, but the sincerity of these songs and lyrics is undeniable. Those looking for some new music for their worship time should give Southland a listen.

- Review date: 4/16/25, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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Record Label: Integrated Music Rights

Album length: 12 tracks: 50 minutes, 5 seconds

Street Date: February 21, 2025

Buy It: Amazon Music

He Is The Lord (Live) (4:51)
He Is The Lord (ministry) (Live) (2:18)
The Way (Live) (3:35)
A Great Awakening (Live) (4:27)
This Is The Day (Live) (4:26)
Give You Praise (Live) (4:18)
Bring It Now (Live) (3:54)
Every Promise (Live) (6:30)
My Good Shepherd (Live) (4:39)
Move Again (Live) (6:24)
Move Again (ministry) (Live) (1:07)
Rest On Us (Live) (3:38)
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Jesus Freak Hideout (Michael Weaver): Congratulations on the new album! I'm curious, what led to the name change to Southland from Elevation Youth?

Lachlan Holmes: Thank you so much! Honestly, there was a lot to it. When we started releasing music as a church, we were all in our youth (student) ministry, This was our heart, passion, and mission! But as we all do, we grew up, and life looked incredibly different since our last album as Elevation Youth (2020), so we went on a long journey of asking what was next! Through prayer, time, and MANY conversations, we really felt like God gave us the gift of this name 'Southland'. The word 'Southland' holds a lot of meaning to our nation and the area of the South Pacific, and there has been a declaration made by many that this is the Southland of the Holy Spirit, and we believe in this season that not only is that true but the songs that would come out of the Southland would carry his presence and give people around the world, language to the way God is moving!

JFH (Michael): I think it's fairly obvious from a lot of the lyrics throughout the album, but what does Like The World Has Never Seen mean to you?

Lachlan: What it means to me is that no matter what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, we are in! It is the honest, simple prayer of our hearts, "God we are praying for revival like the world has never seen". We believe this isn't just something we will see but it is something we are seeing across the world today!

JFH (Michael): Australia has been known for worship music, and it feels that you take that lineage seriously. I love that you add so many aspects of older hymns and worship choruses into your music. What draws you to some of these older songs/hymns -- such as your usage of "This is the Day."

Lachlan: As you mentioned, there has been so much incredible heritage of worship music that has come from our nation! In everyway, we want to draw on that wisdom, give honour where honour is due, meanwhile packing that in a way that the next generation can carry forward for the days to come.

JFH (Michael): "The Great Awakening" mentions the Azusa Street Revivals while praying for a God to move like this on a worldwide level -- I also appreciate your specific prayer for your own region here as well. What drew you to the events of Azusa Street for this song?

Lachlan: There were a few reasons for that! The idea came through a conversation with our good friend, Alex Pappas, where we asked each other, is it even possible for us to find a way too reference different times we have seen God move and revival has broken out, to stir our faith for the future. This led us to reference 'the Upperoom', 'Azusa Street' & 'The Great Southland'! But while the Azusa Street Revival is one of the most recognizable and respected revivals globally, the morning when we had started writing 'A Great Awakening', we were in LA and on my way to coffee, I had driven past the Azusa Street Church building where it that great outpouring, so it only felt right to sing about it!

JFH (Michael): As a guitarist on my worship team at church, I thought the transition to from "Move Again" to "Rest On Us" was excellent. How did this idea come about? It was very impactful.

Lachlan: I'm so glad you love it! It honestly was a flow that just happened at our album recording, we didn't have a plan to release, but it felt special to the project as thematically the lyrics "Fire & Wind, would you do it again" resonated with us in every way. Also, we lost guitars in worship music for a while, but trust me, they are back!

JFH (Michael): Is Southland involved in any sort of ministry outside of Elevation Church?

Lachlan: Our church is a part of a movement called, 'International Network of Churches', or INC (previously known as Christian Outreach Centre). Our movement was birthed in revival, sustained in revival and we are seeing revival today! They have played a significant part in both the heart and intention of everything we have done so far.

We also have a massive heart to serve THE church around the world, so we travel to serve at churches, conferences, events and worship gatherings around the world!

JFH (Michael): While listening to the album I could feel the honesty and sincerity pouring out of your music and lyrics. That's not something I can truly say about all "worship albums" that I hear. What is your prayer for God to do through this release?

Lachlan: My prayer is that these songs would serve Christians and Churches globally, to give them articulation to the prayers they are praying and language for all God is doing today, and faith for the future!