Unspoken is a 4-member band comprised of lead singer Chad Mattson, bassist Jon Lowry, guitarist Mike Gomez and drummer Ariel Munoz. We were first introduced to original compositions from Unspoken with the group's debut Centricity Music EP
Get to Me, which featured the hit song, "Who You Are." They followed that up with their EP
The World Is Waking, which featured the radio success "Lift My Life Up."
Their full-length eponymous album includes the aforementioned songs, along with previously digital only releases "Walking Away," "Everything," "Bury the Workman" and the vertical worship song "In Your Hands." There are an additional six new songs for their debut full-length album, released in all formats April 1. The extended introduction to this great new band is a novel approach, building in some radio airplay and name recognition to propel this very talented musical act forward on their journey of faith.
My church, Calvary Chapel of Quakertown, Penn. was blessed to host this extremely talented band on August 17. In addition to their well-known hit songs, Unspoken's very engaging and worshipful set also included the poignant new songs "Call it Grace," "Real Thing" and "My Recovery," which includes the confessional and vertical expression, "
Your love has shown me how to live, You're my recovery."
Unspoken opened their excellent set of songs with "
Start a Fire." It is an exciting heart cry to live out Matthew 5:16 as the band sings "
Over and over again, I hear Your voice in my head, let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see." The song is a perfect message example of how the band is committed to "
carry the news that You have come to save, only You can save."
In this age of lyrical ambiguity, there is no question that this band is sold-out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That same torch is carried in their hit song "
Lift My Life Up," which is a beautiful harmonious blend with "Take My Life And Let It Be" sung as a modern chorus for the Church to all proclaim in unison "
have Your way in me!"
They also sang "
Who You Are," a beautiful reminder that one's past does not have to dictate one's future. That thread of redemption is woven throughout all of their songs, and is capped off with the poignant ballad "
My Recovery" which addresses Chad Mattson's personal connection with
Celebrate Recovery. Chad shared from stage about being addicted to drugs, and how the boss of the landscaping business he worked for bought a ticket for him to go on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic. On that trip he met Mike Gomez, found his saving faith in Christ and formed the band. The recovery theme is also in the new songs "
Good Fight" and "
Call it Grace." Celebrating God's unmerited favor in the life of a believer is what fuels Christians to finish the race set before us.
The theme of leaving it "
In Your Hands" and finding rest is beautifully phrased in the vertical worship song: "
In Jesus my soul finds rest, 'cause I can leave it in Your hands." The song is the anthem of praise for recovering worriers, addicts and perfectionists who struggle with the unknown. As the song testifies, "
Amen, I can leave it in Your hands." Mike shared a very compelling story about
Compassion International having taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a young man in the Dominican Republic who became the first Christian in his family, and ultimately came to the United States and played keyboards for Unspoken for a couple of years.
"
You can silence the voices, but you can't stop the song, when the Spirit's moving, His will, will be done, you can bury the workman but the work will go on" is the refrain of the Mark 13:31 inspired sing-along anthem "
Bury the Workman." Throughout the concert, I loved the confessional and biblical lyrics and how Chad Mattson's emotive vocal performance caused me to hang on every word such as in "
Who You Are:" "
So let the ashes fall wherever they land, come back from wherever you've been to the foot of the cross, to the feet of Jesus." Amen to that!
In my opinion, Unspoken is the best new band to hit the Christian music scene since Sidewalk Prophets. If you've been desperately waiting for a fresh filling of Christ-focused catchy songs about relying completely on God's grace, then you need to hear Unspoken. Throughout the very engaging and worshipful night, Unspoken's songs were one excellent offering after another and all displayed how you can write and sing lyrics that are unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reach the lost with transparent confessions of faith.
Concert attendees were blessed to sing along with these Christian men who shined brightly the radiance of knowing Jesus personally. I highly recommend Unspoken. Don't miss any opportunity to worship with them in person. As a church body we were entertained by their funny stories, inspired by their vertical songs and excited to host such a talented band. If you like what you've heard on the radio, you'll love seeing them in concert.
You can view photos of the concert taken by
Heather Albert in a gallery published
here.