Join The NRTeam
Album Review: Worldwide Revival (Deluxe)
Posted May 24, 2025
By JJFrancesco_NRT, Staff Reviewer


What You Need To Know
The fourth generation of the Newsboys has arrived. With the unexpected departure of longtime vocalist Michael Tait (can you believe it's already been 15 years since he joined?), fellow band member Adam Agee has stepped into the frontman role. Newsboys released Worldwide Revival Part 1 last year and are preparing to release a follow-up. While it's unclear how much this project resembles their initial vision, this version has many new songs to flesh out the slim eight-track previous release into a full-length project. 

What It Sounds Like
A hot take from me is that I saw this change in the vocalist coming. Anyone who has seen the Newsboys in concert these past six years knows that Adam Agee has become their official opening act. He was with them on the United Tour and Winter Jam. It wasn't a big surprise when he was added as a full member a few years later. When that happened, I suspected it would slowly transition him into replacing Tait as lead singer. And while the timeline may have been moved up some, I think this was ultimately their vision for a while. Who knows, I could be wrong in that. 

For fans of the Newsboys from back in the 1990s, the band today, despite having many of the same members, barely resembles the quirky Aussies who gave us hits like "Shine" and "Breakfast." While the band often ventured into the corporate worship sound, they commanded it in a way that was still unique. Michael Tait's era introduced a lot of new sounds to the band that also found success for them, from rock to dance to more worship. The latter seemed to be an increasingly prominent focus of theirs in recent projects. So it is no surprise that the Agee era seems poised to run with this sound.

I've been a fan of Agee since his days as lead singer of punk rock band Stellar Kart. He has one of the most upbeat and exuberant voices in Christian music, bursting with life and excitement. Whether it’s his tenure with Audio Adrenaline, his solo project, or Stellar Kart itself, I've enjoyed nearly everything I've heard from him. He's proven he can do rock, pop, and worship. Like how Tait rerecorded "Glorious" shortly after he entered the band, Adam Agee has rerecorded "How Many Times" from last year's project with his vocals. The song makes an effective transition song to show the differences between the vocalists. While Tait's voice commands an undeniable power, Adam Agee brings positivity to the music that it's hard not to like. 

The new tunes sound pretty good and sonically similar to the previous songs. "Fortress" brings home the worship. "New Name" and "Death Was Arrested" are solid Newsboys pop anthems. Nothing too different for them, but Agee's voice fits well with this style. "God of Promises" follows similarly but has some more interesting dynamics, balancing low-key verses with more of the anthemic choruses. 

Similar to alternative band Anberlin's curious choice last year with their Vega album, I believe it may not be the best decision to combine the new song with the old songs into one album. While Agee's supporting vocals were present on several original songs, the news songs with only his vocals kicking off together before transitioning back into the Tait-led songs create a dissonance that is hard to shake. Newsboys have proven time and again that they can navigate lead singer changes. But starting Agee off with a brand new project to lead might have better served the transition. 


Spiritual Highlights
The biting commentary of Newsboys' past isn't present here. These songs slot solidly in the Christian pop and praise genres. Whether it's singing of God's faithfulness ("God of Promises," "How Many Times") or how Christ is our refuge in challenging times ("Fortress"), these songs keep the attention vertical where it belongs. There's something to be said for simple truths expressed in straightforward ways. Newsboys have proven themselves capable of wittier and more thought-provoking imagery. But those albums have their place, and so do albums like these.

For Fans Of
MercyMe, Sidewalk Prophets, Jeremy Camp

Best Song
"How Many Times" is a powerful anthem about God's bottomless mercy and love. I count it among my favorites of recent Newsboys anthems, regardless of which vocalist is at the helm. 

Bottom Line
I'll miss Tait's contributions to the Newsboys and look forward to seeing where his art takes him next. But I can't deny that I am also looking forward to seeing what Agee can bring to the band. Newsboys and Agee's sonic pasts prove they can play some seriously catchy songs. I don't think this project does justice to what they are capable of, but it offers a lot of quality songs nonetheless. For now, it's safe to say the Newsboys have my attention. Let's see what they do next.

View All Music And Book Reviews By JJFrancesco_NRT | View JJFrancesco_NRT's Profile

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

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

 

X