I got my copy of AFTERMATH about a month ago and haven’t been able to stop listening to it.
Admittedly, I’m a huge fan of Hillsong United so this review will be a bit biased. BUT, I will say that I generally prefer live projects over studio projects. I love it when the crowd seems to overwhelm the musicians and singers and makes a song of their own in live projects… there seems to be so much corporate energy and passion that is oftentimes not as present in studio albums. That being said, AFTERMATH follows Hillsong United’s first successful studio album Saviour King where we were introduced to Hosanna and Saviour King… both of which are standards in most churches today. Although the passion on these projects is contained to a studio they don’t fail to deliver heartfelt anthems for the Church.
This album is a fresh new sound from UNITED and will no doubt top sales charts and set lists for church worship services. It’s fresh, edgy, original, and at times absoluetely breathtaking.
The thing I love most about Hillsong United is that unlike many groups or bands out there, they are rooted in and committed to their local church, Hillsong Church based in Sydney, Australia [now with locations around the world including New York City]. Hillsong United isn’t a typical band and they don’t do concerts… they are group of musicians and songwriters who love Jesus, are committed to their local church and travel the globe leading people in worship experiences that leave you utterly and completely in awe of God’s presence. It’s not your typical church music and it’s not what you’d expect from a Church group but it’s the sound of a new generation of believers proclaiming the hope and freedom they’ve found in Christ and they can’t stay silent.
“The message of Jesus Christ is eternal, yet He continues to reveal Himself in new ways… giving us what we need to be followers and disciples of Christ for this time in history,” says Hillsong United frontman Joel Houston. “Life with God is fun, its an adventure, it is grace, freedom, peace and everything in between. Whether you are listening to our newest album or our very first, our prayer and passion is that you are empowered to live life with God, encouraged to stay on the course and excited about all that He has for your future.”
On the title of the album, AFTERMATH, Joel Houston says, “The cross is a paradox. What was a symbol of failure and death is now established forever as a symbol of life and victory. The crucifixion was a gruesome and traumatic event and at the moment of surrender as the storm clouds gathered and the skies went to darkness it would have seemed to all who were witnesses, especially His followers, that all hope was lost – the so called ‘Son of God’ humiliated and tortured, dying as He hung upon a cross. But unlike any historical event that has ever taken place before or after, this moment would change everything – Forever. Because of the cross we no longer have to live entangled in the fallout and the wreckage of our lives, or the worst the world can throw at us. We have been lifted out of the ashes and into the LIGHT of the aftermath. We find hope, peace, freedom, and life, and we can know with assurance that He is with us no matter what comes our way.”
A few songs that stood out to me on this project:
Take Heart – This song wrecked me in a good way. It’s a dramatic introduction to set the tone for a great album. This song talks about God’s faithfulness and calls us to take heart, hold on to hope and take courage through all seasons of life. It’s heartfelt, epic, passionate and ends reflectively with strings. I seriously listened to this song on repeat for about 2 days before I listened to the rest of the album. It’s that good.
Go - This is classic stadium rock at its finest with this catchy ballad that says “we’re giving it all to go your way.” Note that purchasing the deluxe edition of the album on iTunes is worth it to get the music video to this song.
Like an Avalanche - What a beautiful picture… being “caught up in grace like an avalanche.” This song starts off quiet and ends in explosive cry, “take my life, take all that I am, with all that I am I will love You…” This song is sure to be one that will follow the same popularity as “Hosanna.”
Rhythms of Grace - One of my favorite translations of Matthew 11:28-30 is in the Message where it says, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” This song talks about the transformative power of God’s grace in our lives. This song definitely is in the top 5 for me on this album, talking about how none of us can imagine how great God is and how expansive His love is for us.
Aftermath – First off, MARTY SAMPSON IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aside from that, this beautiful song is the title track of the album and shares how we are all caught in the aftermath of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It’s a stunningly beautiful song, lyrically and musically, and paints a captivating picture of the freedom and hope we find in Christ. His love will light the way.
B.E. - B.E. is an instrumental interlude featuring clips from the song A Beautiful Exchange. I can see many churches using this song for random videos. Definitely has a great vibe… sounds out of this world!
Father – I can’t wait to hear this song live. It will be out of control. This is song touches on the fact that God’s grace is enough for everyone and is a cry for the marginalized and oppressed. It’s a beautiful song revealing God’s heart for justice, reconciliation, and hope.
Search My Heart – The vibe of this song is just plain awesome. And the song is a familiar prayer “search my heart, and search my soul” and ends with the powerful declaration that “without You I am nothing.” This is a close contender for being one of my favorites from this project.
Awakening - For the first time, Hillsong United covers a song from Chris Tomlin from the Passion Awakening project and does a great job of adding their signature spin to it. LOVE IT. Such a great and powerful song.
This album has a fresh sound, will encourage you and remind you of the truths of God’s Word, and will give you a new song to sing. It will take you on a journey and beyond the creativity, musicianship, and lyrics, it will leave you with a great sense of awe… of God, His love, and the hope we have living in AFTERMATH of His grace.
Even if you think you’ve heard Hillsong United before, you haven’t heard anything like this and you owe it to yourself to get found in the AFTERMATH.
It’s official, Hillsong United’s full-length movie, We’re All in This Together, is going hit theatres in the USA for one night only in November.
The film has been years in the making and will be for the Church what Call + Response was for everyone else.
The movie is part of a movement started by Hillsong United called the I Heart Revolution.
I-HEART is a movement of people helping people – showing the love of God in practical ways, wherever need exists. Right here, real soon, you’ll find an online community with the sole purpose of offline action – sharing ideas, being inspired, shoulder to shoulder, part of the solution – transforming local initiatives into a collaborative global impact. But in the meantime, let’s take time to look beyond ourselves and truly see others…Their worth, their needs, their future. Because it’s together that we love… and think… and act. As one, I-HEART.
The concept was first introduced through the I Heart Revolution CD + DVD from Hillsong United last year and the movie will serve as a springboard for a broader global movement that is going to be launched by Hillsong United and Hillsong Church.
On the I-Heart blog, Hillsong United frontman Joel Houston shared,
I-Heart is part apologetic, part documentary, part call to action, the film is a story made up of many stories, told by many voices, no individual voice any more or any less important than any other, yet every voice working together to ultimately tell the ONE story – A story that involves everyONE; that seeks to capture our collective and idiosyncratic purpose in ONE.
And so… WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER will officially be launched this November. We’re taking it into cinemas for ONE night only – our prayer; that the Church across the earth would rally together and do whatever it takes to see as many people as possible gather at the same time in cinemas everywhere and be stirred and inspired by the message of Christ, to ultimately work closer together in seeing the real needs of humanity collide with a love that can only be found in God who by definition – IS Love.
W.A.I.T.T. isn’t for a second about Hillsong UNITED.. It doesn’t serve to document the music and the adventurous nature of travel, nor has it been designed even to quench our thirst to be entertained.. This is a ultimately about YOU - It’s about all of us.. And so our hope is that we would ALL get behind it.. We never had a big budget.. No corporate sponsorship or professional help.. It has been pulled together by a small team of incredibly selfless and dedicated people who have tirelessly given of themselves and persevered to make it a reality.. And our prayer is that we all as individuals would play our part and take it upon ourselves to see as many of our friends, youth, churches mobilised to be a part of this event.. It has the potential to be HUGE!!
More details including locations + theaters will be posted soon, and I will of course post them when I find out more.
Joel’s closing comments on the blog were:
I don’t know where this is all headed.. But I’m convinced, that if we all choose to play our part and continue to work together in loving God and loving others with everything, that there is no end to what we can see established for the Kingdom and the glory of God in our lifetime.
I couldn’t agree more.
Stay tuned.
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