Kim Gentes

Woah! Worship music redefined? With the last 10 years, what has been defined as a "worship album" has become a moving target. Well friends, the target has just moved again. Hillsong United's "Zion" departs from the stadium anthems and deep grooved choruses of their previous albums and the standard mix of the 4/5 piece "praise band" is traded in for electronics, pop-production ballads and an "Owl City"-esque layering of arrangements. Even the vocals are pulled back to set the songs into an artistic place never before seen on any Hillsong (United or otherwise) project. Experimental electronica, orchestral pad swells, breathy solo vocals, deep reverb and loop-timed guitar arpeggios all make this recording seem an almost surreal departure for Hillsong United. 

I found this a very unique album to get used to. Because it is much more of an initial listening experience than a typical "worship album", you might be tempted to start listening for "usable songs"- but taking that approach won't work, at least not initially. What you must do with this album is listen to it 4 or 5 times first- just sit. Listen. After the songs go through your head and heart enough times, you will find yourself really loving this project. Then, you are ready. Listen through it again for what might be songs that could fit and work in your local context. There will be some, perhaps several. But take the time.

So much of this album sounds like something new, literally every track is worth a listen. The album starts like a euro-pop 80's hit radio barrage with front track "Relentless" leading into a beat driven chorus of

Your love is relentless
Your love is relentless

Track two, "Up In Arms" beckons to more European sounds with whistles and pipes bubbling over drum cadence, and while gradually flowing into full refrains it infectiously implants the melody in your head long before the song ends (that is despite this song's vague, aimless and scattered lyrical themes). "Scandal of Grace" is a 6/8 departure with acoustic guitar only intro on a parched dry vocal- but once again, this builds eventually into an "all in" chorus.

When I hit "Oceans" I found myself weeping in surrendered prayer along with the song, as Taya Smith sang against a backdrop of stripped down pads and electronic drums. With a Leigh Nash-esque style, her vocals lilt and soar to make this song a poweful ocean of experience and prayer. Really, really good.

And so this album goes.. ranging from songs that sound like 80's euro-pop to modern day acoustic, unplugged. Stops made along the way will range across sounds like more organic bands such as "City Harmonic" and "Rend Collective Experiment" to electronica "Owl City".  And while there is a definite thread of electronica loops and tones that sow this album together, its clear that the Hillsong United crew was looking to step completely out of the "worship rock" world their youth concerts are known for. Even the end of the album keeps throwing twists your way- from the stripped back piano ballad of "King of Heaven", the John Mark McMillan styled "Arise", to the overdriven bass on "Mountain" that leads into a few big choruses.

For myself, my three favorite tracks on this project are "Oceans", "Scandal of Grace" (both previously mentioned) and "A Million Suns" (track 10), whose strange 70's cheesy organ sound blithely tags the song sections into a surprisingly well scripted lyrical adoration of

Jesus the First, the Last,
the Bright and Morning Star

In sum, this album is a brilliant musical exploration of what worship groups and songwriters can do when the "limitations" are taken off. There is much to like here and, excepting the directionless lyrical approach of "Up In Arms", the rest of the album not only scores strongly on musical vibrancy and enjoyment, but lands some solid songs that (perhaps re-arranged) could find their way into youth groups and Sunday morning worship services.  You must listen to this album. It is truly unique and truly a gift.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database. If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.