A new album from a classic band
As someone who grew up in a Hispanic—and very charismatic—church, gospel tunes and old-school spirituals were all I knew. If I went to service without hearing the clanging cymbals of a drumset or the yelling of a congregation, then I didn’t actually go to church that day—or so I thought. So, when I arrived at APU as a freshman, my discovery of hymnody changed the way I viewed the practices of praise and worship.
One of the foremost bands in this substratum of Christian worship is Sovereign Grace Music, a group that has produced songs for the church for nearly four decades. Although they have produced Christian rap, alternative and other genres, hymns have always made up the bulk of the band’s discography.
Their album, “Unchanging God: Songs from the Book of Psalms, Vol. 1 (Live)” lives up to its name. Setting out to produce a project that would capture the raw energy of previous live albums like “The Glorious Christ” (2019), Sovereign Grace’s recent March release does just that.
Given Sovereign Grace’s traditional roots, this album harkens back to the words of the Psalter itself. The lyrics are derived from the theological principles contained within a psalm, providing a depth and richness that is so often void in much of contemporary Christian music.
“Your name will be revered by children yet to come,” the opening track, “How Great (Psalm 145)” declares, “As generations sing of wonders You have done.” These words are based upon Psalm 145:4, which states, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”
Coupled with simplified harmonies, chord progressions and a beefy drum groove, these lyrics set the tone for what to expect in the rest of the album.
The third track, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul (Psalm 103)” utilizes the motif of blessing the Lord throughout all situations. Conversely from the opening track, this song has a shuffle-feel, sacrificing vocal grit, bass and drums in exchange for a bluegrass influence.
“Praise the Father, praise the Son and Holy Ghost—Bless the Lord, O my soul!” the crowd passionately sings over a quickly strummed acoustic guitar and light keys. These doctrinally noteworthy words are what separate this album from others on the Christian music charts. The lyrics are not egocentric, but theocentric.
The top two tracks on this album are “The Lord Almighty Reigns (Psalm 93)” and “My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62).”
Although hymns such as these are typically classified by simple instrumentation and congregational singing, these two tracks break away from their piano and violin based counterparts.
Declaring the justice and covenant faithfulness of God, “The Lord Almighty Reigns” features distorted single-coil electric guitars, a great bridge to final chorus breakdown reminiscent of gospel group Maverick City’s recent work.
“I will trust in You, O Lord,” is the theme of “My Soul Will Wait.” Building upon the ideas of God being our solid rock and steadfast hope from Psalm 62, Sovereign Grace displays their masterful musical pacing in this prominent track. The song dynamically ebbs and flows through the verses and choruses, ultimately building up to a formidable final chorus that praises God for being our defender and Savior in times of trouble.
“Pouring out our hearts before you/We will trust in you/Perfect Savior, strong defender/We will trust in You!” the song proclaims.
Sovereign Grace did not fail with this project. The group continues to produce great, timeless worship songs for the church to rejoice in.
The Beat @APU 