We Love Christian Music Awards
AZUSA: The Next Generation by Hezekiah Walker | CD Reviews And Information | NewReleaseToday

Shop Now At Amazon Buy Christian Music On iTunes

ADVERTISEMENT

AZUSA: The Next Generation [edit]
by Hezekiah Walker | Genre: Gospel | Release Date: June 11, 2013
 

Named after what has been called the origin of the Pentecostal movement, Azusa:The Next Generation is a musical representation of what Azusa became. Started in Los Angeles in 1906 as a small Bible study, what became known as the Azusa Street Revival blossomed into an annual event, drawing people from all over the world and crossing racial barriers.

Hezekiah Walker last year led the Azusa revival in his hometown of New York, and thousands attended. He assembled a choir, and the result was a new body of work that encompasses the spirit and fellowship of Azusa. Hez once again teamed up with multiple Stellar Award winning producer Donald Lawrence. The album also features guest artists such as Donnie McClurkin, Deitrick Haddon and John P. Kee.

Hezekiah's last release, "Souled Out", from 2008 was a huge success, scanning over 260,000 and featured two of his biggest hits, "God Favored Me" and the title track "Souled Out."

Track Listing
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
01. Every Praise
Click To Add Lyrics
02. Work In Your Favor - featuring John P. Kee
Click To Add Lyrics
03. Lead Me To That Rock
Click To Add Lyrics
04. Amazing - featuring Ashley Brown
Click To Add Lyrics
05. No Greater Love
Click To Add Lyrics
06. Break Every Chain - featuring Deitrick Haddon
Click To Add Lyrics
07. Breakthrough - featuring Donnie McClurkin
Click To Add Lyrics
08. More Than A Conqueror - featuring Timiney Figueroa Canton
Click To Add Lyrics
09. I Feel Your Spirit - Featuring Roni SuSu Bobien
Click To Add Lyrics
10. Your Grace - featuring Brian Courtney Wilson
Click To Add Lyrics

Entry last edited by NRTeamAdmin on 06.11.13

Christian CD Reviews
(1) Total Review(s) | Average NRTeam Rating:
Rated 5 Stars
Add Your Review Join The NRTeam
 
Sort Reviews By: Most Helpful | Most Recent | Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 1:  

Hezekiah Walker is back with a blazing new album! | Posted June 17, 2013
Good Gospel choir music can be underappreciated these days. From the 1970s to 1990s, Gospel choirs were at the forefront of Gospel music. In the subsequent decades, people have downsized their choirs to make more of an ensemble. There is nothing wrong with this. However, thankfully the Gospel choir sound is kept alive with people like J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise, Mississippi Mass Choir and of course Hezekiah Walker. 
 
Hezekiah Walker has been a mainstay in Gospel music since the late '80s, and his songs have been sung across the world during church services. Now he is back with Azuza: The Next Generation. He uses the 500-voice Azusa Mass Choir (which includes many of his LFC members) this time. Donald Lawrence, who basically has the Midas touch, takes the helm as the album's producer. 
 
The great thing about this project is how it has something for people with different tastes, including foot-stomping Gospel, Contemporary Christian, soul, and a hint of pop. The Azusa Mass Choir does their good singing throughout the whole album. 
 
Things start off with lead single, "Every Praise." This number is simple lyrically and will be easy for listeners to understand, but compelling enough to draw people in. It is a mid-tempo number that will be great for choirs and praise teams. It is also not complicated vocally and it has a cross-cultural feel. Detrick Haddon takes the lead as United Pursuit Band's "Break Every Chain" receives a light rock reworking with electric and acoustic guitars weaved throughout. 
 
On "I Feel Your Spirit," Walker pays homage to his mentor, the late Bishop Kenneth Moales Sr. When you listen to this song, you will think, "We are having CHURCH!" It's hand-clapping and foot-stomping music with Moales' famous "war cry" included. 
 
"Lead Me To the Rock" has a nice groove to it that we have grown accustomed to hearing on a Hezekiah Walker album. A song that will be a mainstay on car stereos, iPhones, iPods, etc. is the ballad "More Than A Conqueror" featuring Walker's favorite singer, Timiney Figeroa-Caton. With Romans 8:37 being the inspiration for the song, it will serve to give the listeners confidence in who they are in Christ. Prepare to be taken back with the R&B tinged, "Grace" featuring some GREAT singing by Brian Courtney Wilson. 
 
"Breakthrough" can be described as Gospel meets Contemporary Christian meets Adult Contemporary. Donnie McClurkin was the perfect person to lead and ad-lib. Donnie sings, "You are God and you are greater than anything/and I worship You / You're bigger than life to me / You are my breakthrough.
 
Are there more gems or standout songs left? The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" "Amazed" is vertical in lyrics, but it is definitely soul-stirring. Imagine people worshipping God, but yet leaving a service changed after hearing this song. It is one of "those" songs! Other songs to check out are "No Greater Love" and "Work In Your Favor" featuring John P. Kee. 
 
Closing Thoughts:
This is one album that after listening, you want to stop and honestly, selah! In a time where albums only have two to three standout songs, Azusa: The Next Generation is chock full of them. If you are not a fan or Gospel choir music, give this one a chance. If you are a fan, you are going to be WELL pleased. Kudos to Hezekiah Walker and the Azusa Mass Choir for making a great album! 
 
Song to Download Now:
"I Feel Your Spirit" (Get it on iTunes here.)


Comments (0)Add Comment | Is This Review Helpful? Yes | No
NRTeam Review RSS Feed
Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 1:  

Christian Music, Facebook Christian Music, Twitter Christian Music, YouTube Christian Music, Instagram

ADVERTISEMENTS

We Love Christian Music Awards

Christian Music

©2025 NewReleaseToday
A Division Of NRT Media Inc.

 

Secure
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Discover New Artists
New This Week
Coming Soon
Playlists
Free Music
Album Reviews

NEWS
New Music
Movies / Media
Events
Tours
General

PODCASTS
NRT Now Podcast
NRT Podcast Network

VIDEOS
Music Videos
Exclusives

EXCLUSIVES
Articles
Devotionals
Interviews
Concert Reviews
We Love Awards

MORE INFO
RSS
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Advertising
Staff
New Music Email
Contact

RESOURCES
Music Studies
Artist Training

CONNECT
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube