Risen

iTunes Review

Risen upholds Sovereign Grace’s high standard of Scripturally-based worship music with its collection of diverse yet cohesive tunes honoring the Savior. As on past releases, the group designs its songs for congregational settings, matching poetically stated Biblical themes to well-sculpted melodies rooted in folk, pop and rock. The album’s roster of singers — including Devon Kauflin, Erin Hill, Ryan Baird, David Gilland, Jason McGovern and Meghan Baridl — capture the reverence embodied in these songs with a mixture of strength and humility. Highlights include “Alive” (an anthem of spiritual rebirth with a moody undercurrent), “Behold Our God” (a stately praise song, suggestive of traditional hymnody), “Oh, What a Day” (a big, bright rocker built around a rallying-cry riff) and “To Live Is Christ” (acoustic and ambient in feel, conveying a promise of eternal life). The swirling guitar distortion and marching tempo of “Hail the Day” brings the album to a triumphant conclusion. Risen delivers musical vigor, lyric beauty and overall sense of spiritual joy.