Hear the Hallelujahs Roar (EP) – CityAlight
****
The latest project from Australia’s CityAlight is wonderful five-song EP Hear the Hallelujahs Roar. The songs are a nice balance of upbeat and more slower songs for congregational singing.
Here are a few comments about each song:
Hear the Hallelujahs Roar – This upbeat song about worshipping the Lord in Heaven, was written by Niki Shepherd & Natasha Percy. The song features guitar, drums, bass, backing vocals, and keys.
Key lyric:
A song of praise is rising
From every tribe and tongue
O hear the hallelujahs roar
To Christ the worthy one
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More of this review and a review of Psalm 119 Volume One (EP) – Stillcreek
- Music News
- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “Psalm 27 (The Lord Is My Light)”
My Labour Is Not In Vain – This song was written by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson, Tiarne Tranter and Michael Farren. The song is about our work, and features guitar, keys, drums, bass, and backing vocals, and is based on 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Key lyric:
So may all I do, be it great or small
Bring glory to Your name
In Your grace alone I will car – ry on
Your promise to me remains
My labour is not in vain
We Too Have Overcome – This upbeat song was written by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson, and Ben Fielding. The song features guitar, bass, keys, drums and backing vocals. Christ has overcome the world (John 16:25-33) and those in Christ will as well.
Key lyric:
Yes the victory we need
Is the victory He won
So take heart, He has overcome
In Christ we have overcome
He Will Be – This song about Jesus being faithful, gracious and worthy, was written by James Ferguson and Jaywan Maxwell. It’s my favorite of the new songs. The song features guitar, keys, bass, drums and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Worthy He has been, Worthy He will be
Crowned in endless praise all earth and heaven sing
Holy is the Lord who reigns in majesty
Worthy He has been, worthy He will be
All To Honour Jesus – This beautiful song was written by Sue Lack and Scott Lavender. The song is about serving and loving like Jesus and telling others about Him, loving features guitar and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
God of love would You lead me
Take this heart, make it holy
Help me serve through the strength of Christ
All to honour Jesus with my life
Favorite songs:
Hear the Hallelujahs Roar
He Will Be
You can watch the videos for all songs at CityAlight’s YouTube page.
Psalm 119 Volume One (EP) – Stillcreek
*** ½
Stillcreek is a new band comprised of Dave Aubrey, Bryan Fowler and Aaron Williams. I was familiar with Fowler from his work as a member of the Getty Music writing team and with Shane and Shane and the Worship Initiative.
From the band’s website:
“Stillcreek is a band unapologetically rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Our mission is to pair the timeless truth of scripture with beautiful, compelling, captivating production and melody to create a sonic landscape that would posture the listeners heart towards reverence, awe, and wonder of who God is, and what He has spoken through His sacred Word to us.”
This five song EP with lyrics based on Psalm 119 is mostly acoustic with synth, keys, light drums and beautiful harmonies. The band members share the lead vocals with Aaron Williams singing lead on “As I Go Your Way (Aleph)” and “Renew My Life (He)”, Dave Aubrey singing lead on “I Will Not Forget (Beth)” and Bryan Fowler singing lead on “Wonderful Things (Gimel)” and “Dust (Daleth)”.
A companion “Live Strings Session” version is available consisting of beautiful harmonies over strings and piano.
I really enjoyed this new release and look forward to what the band has next.
You can find out more about Stillcreek here.
- Down to Joy. I loved “Down to Joy” from Van Morrison when it was featured in Kenneth Branagh’s 2021 Oscar winning film Belfast. It is available now for the first time, and will be on Morrison’s upcoming album Remembering When, to be released June 13.
- Wait. Here is the lyric video for “Wait” from Matt Maher.
- No Greater Love. Here is “No Greater Love” by Chris Tomlin, from the film The Last Supper.
“Psalm 27 (The Lord Is My Light)”
This week’s song of the week is “Psalm 27 (The Lord is My Light” performed by Jordan Kauflin and Laura Story at the 2024 Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference. The song was written by Kauflin, Story and Matt Merker. The song takes us to the first verse of an iconic psalm – the 27th psalm – where in just a few short stanzas is found a reminder to rest confidently on the Lord, to sing of His protection and strength, and to say to Him that He is worthy of our life-long devotion and pursuit of His presence. Enjoy the lyric video for the song here.
Verse 1
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Chorus
Lord, You are my shelter
God of my salvation, I am not forsaken
Lord, my shield and protector
Waiting on Your promise I will see Your goodness
O Lord
Verse 2
When troubles arise no foe can harm me
You are my peace, You are my peace
You lift me above the raging storm
You conquer my enemies
Chorus
Verse 3
One thing I have asked, to see Your beauty
This I will seek, this I will seek
To dwell in Your house, to walk in Your ways
Your presence is all I need
Bridge
I wait, wait for the Lord
In faith, trusting Your Word
I wait, wait for the Lord
In faith, trusting Your Word
2x
Chorus
