Hope-Filled Worship for This Generation
Posted March 25, 2016
By KaitlynBarbour_NRT,
Despite 2016's endless waterfall of local church-based worship releases, only a handful sound like they were recorded with a specific target audience in mind. Minnesota-based River Valley Worship's fourth LP does just this: millennials and members of the iGeneration in particular will find Edge of Heaven captivating, relevant and worshipful.
The first two tracks, "The Church is Alive" and "Do It Again," set the stage for anthem after anthem of praise to our Savior through the use of high-energy synths and driving beats. The former boldly declares how God is moving through the church body, while the latter focuses on the powerful experience of worship.
Packed with reverent lyrics and driving percussion, "I Am Healed" is a wonderful affirmation of the victory found in Jesus, while "All For the One Who Saved Me" beautifully communicates the act of surrendering all to Christ. "Edge of Heaven" puts a new spin on the topic of surrender-- the hope of eternity juxtaposed with giving everything this side of eternity to Jesus with reckless abandon.
Speaking of eternity, "Joy is Coming," my personal favorite, serves as an uplifting reminder of the hope we have in Christ despite our trials. The ambient atmosphere created by the minimal guitar riffs and synth pads complements this Scripture-packed message brilliantly.
The lyrics in the bridge of "Your Presence" are notable: "We pray that Your presence would rest in this place / We pray that Your presence would fill us again / Breathe on us, Holy Spirit, breathe on us." Similarly, the guitar and drum pad-driven "Nothing Was the Same" focuses on how the presence of Jesus transforms us.
"No Wonder (Roar of the Rugged Cross)" stands out from the rest of River Valley Worship's masterpiece. In addition to being the album's only Good Friday-centered song, it also sheds a positive light on the cross. The slightly graphic (at times) verses immediately followed by confident proclamations of victory allows worshipers to experience Jesus' crucifixion through the lens of His resurrection. Another prominent standout is "Then Sings My Soul," where the lyrics of "How Great Thou Art" have been paraphrased into an innovative and original rendition. It is a refreshingly modern take on the beloved old hymn.
To close the album, "God's Not Done" and "The Best is Yet to Come" spike up the energy level and leave listeners energized and encouraged. Both of them weave many synths, percussion grooves and guitar riffs together to create an inspirational message that broadcasts the coming kingdom of God.
The Bottom Line: Every song on Edge of Heaven is a hopeful breath of fresh air that will appeal the most to teens and twenty-somethings.
Song to Download Now:
"No Wonder (Roar of the Rugged Cross)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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