3 Artist: Hillsong United
Title: Aftermath
Label: Hillsong
Release Date: 2/15/2011
Reviewer: Joshua Hedlund
Tracklisting:
- Take Heart
- Go
- Like An Avalanche
- Rhythms of Grace
- Aftermath
- B.E.
- Bones
- Father
- Nova
- Light Will Shine
- Search My Heart
- Awakening
- Search My Heart (Radio Version)
Everyone knows that Hillsong United churns out boring cliché worship power ballads year after year, right? Wrong! The Australian group’s latest release, Aftermath, has been met with a strongly positive reception. I had fallen off the United bandwagon in the last couple of years, but when I heard that this was their second studio release, I knew I had to check it out. As much as I love the body of Christ worshipping together in a live setting, there’s just something about the atmosphere of their 2007 studio album All of the Above that has made it my favorite of all the United albums, and I was excited about what this new one might sound like.
The well-built tracks on this album are less power-chord Jesus chants and more patiently developed grooves following a similar road of The Ember Days – but still with that electric United youth-group-ready oomph. “Take Heart” starts off full of delayed guitar picking, rat-a-tat snares, deep toms, and layers of vocals, strings, and experimental atmospheres – relaxing-yet-driving worship at its finest. There is a light burns brighter the sun / He steals the night and casts no shadow / It is hope / Should oceans rise and mountains fall / He never fails / So take heart… The song kicks into full gear on the inspiring bridge that runs through the qualities of God over our weaknesses: All our burdens / And all our shame / God our freedom / He has overcome
“Go” pounds with the energy of a typical United anthem, and to some it may feel like a rehashing of favorites like “Take It All” – but with more thoughtful layering. “Like An Avalanche” pulls back a bit for Brooke Fraser to lead, although its peaks of intensity far outpace her classic ballads like “Hosanna” or “Lead Me to the Cross.” And I find myself here on my knees again / Caught up in grace like an avalanche / Nothing compares to this love.
But the gusto keeps right on going, and you may start wondering how long they can keep this fervor up – as well-crafted as the tracks may be. For the most part Hillsong United has found an atmosphere they like and they are content to explore it to the fullest. We still get tracks with soft, restrained verses, but we know it’s gonna open full-throttle on the bridge – maybe even to higher levels than the group’s ever done before. (The title track and the instrumental that follows are almost vying for movie-soundtrack-level inspiration with their percussion, strings, and ambient layers.)
Yet at the same time this album is anything but formulaic or stale. I bet you’ve never heard of a worship song called “Bones”: You can take my dry bones / Breathe life into this skin. And it’s got plenty of synthesizer and a triangle, to boot. And wait, is that Scripture reading from different nations in the interlude? Or how about “Nova”? Flood all the earth with endless light / Raise up the streets from death to life / Our God be praised forever. Who cares if the bridge adds another dose of +5 Energy? Or if the intro to “Father” feels like the first track all over again? OK, so maybe we care a little. But I challenge you to listen to the whole album and not be inspired to give glory to God through the multi-faceted lyrics expounding on his love and gift of salvation, and the ways he overcomes our troubles, changes our lives, and spreads that love through us to a hurting world.
Still, it’s hard to maintain their level of excitement across twelve full tracks. When it comes down to it, United is essentially pounding deep drums and chugging big guitars for an hour, no matter how much they decorate with strings and piano, or break things up with an occasional experimental interlude. (Although Marty Sampson thankfully shifts gears a bit on “Light Will Shine” with indie basslines, synths, and handclaps… the closest they’ll ever get to MuteMath?) And while there are quiet moments within the tracks, it never really lingers in the precious intimacy of songs like “You” from the last studio album. Don’t get me wrong, it still all sounds really good – and the whole vibe is much less U2-stadium-anthem-y and much more big-epic-soundtrack-y, but you will be forgiven for, say, not finding yourself quite as stoked about the eleventh track as you were about the first three. Maybe if I was still in youth group…
Overall: Ultimately, though, this is a solid effort by the ubiquitous worship crew that is worth more than many may give them credit for. The group took their time crafting layers and rhythms that stretch their sound farther than ever before, and it all sounds a lot more earnest and exciting than the watered-down pop anthems that usually make it onto the radio. The multiple talents of the likes of Joel Houston, Marty Sampson, and Brooke Fraser continue to find fresh lyrics to express hearts crying out in surrender and devotion, and this may be the act’s best release since All of the Above.
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I did like their debut studio album so I’ll have to make sure I check this one out!
Honestly, I was more hesitant about Aftermath because of their previous studio album. I didn’t think the energy translated as well in the studio. The live albums are definitely more my thing, especially Across the Earth and The I Heart Revolution.
But despite this, I think Aftermath is probably their best to date, even among Hillsong albums in general. Bones is probably my favorite song.
Definitely not the intensity of Hillsong Live, but the songwriting is actually pretty good and complements the live albums well. I really appreciate the interesting dynamic Hillsong has captured between being a rock band and a worship band at the same time.
Yeah it doesn’t have the “live crowd” intensity but they are definitely striving for musical intensity on this one. But yeah they do a good job trying to be creative and worshipful in their songwriting. (I saw a good interview with Joel Houston over at JesusFreakHideout)
I have to respectfully disagree. For the most part, I love Hillsong, minus songs like Break Free and Take It All (both good songs but a bit too generic for my taste and severely overplayed). I personally like Beautiful Exchange WAY more than Aftermath. Who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind after some more listens.
All that is to say, I think Beautiful Exchange is a great album. One of their best, in my book.
Actually I have to admit, it was probably a bit presumptuous to say Aftermath is their best since All of the Above considering I haven’t really listened to everything since then!
Beautiful Exchange isn’t a Hillsong United album, though. That’s the main Hillsong band.
The only United album you really missed is Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls. It was good. The I Heart Revolution only had a couple new songs, so not much missed there.
It’s interesting that people really miss the live sound that much. That “live intensity” doesn’t matter to me. The last studio album All of the Above has been my favorite since I heard it. Maybe because I hear their songs played live by my church all the time I don’t miss that feel?
I like Aftermath. I think like Joshua said, they turned up the musical intensity. Not in the sense of faster, louder, or heavier, but writing. Most of the songs sound more mature than their typical style. They haven’t really deviated from that in the past, only built upon it, so it was nice to hear something different and mature on Aftermath. The lyrics seemed to follow suit, too, which was great and a surprise to me.
Good point about it not being United, DT.
Its kinda tricky though…I feel like we can include the majority of the albums to be by the same “band”. Of course, different musicians and writers, etc…but the lines are so blurred, I think. They all play each others songs and write together frequently. Especially now with Joel Houston on Hillsong Live albums and United albums, its even trickier to really say these bands are entirely different. At this point, I’m rambling and probably taking the topic farther than you intended. Haha sorry about that.
So I’ll just close with a couple of things:
Across the Earth has my [probably] favorite Hillsong song, King of All Days. Wow.
Also, is Brooke Ligertwood/Fraser out of United now? Again, with the way they all shift around between various Hillsong bands confuses me!
And can you imagine if your youth band wrote and played United-caliber songs?! Gah, that would be amazing…
In my opinion, Hillsong United should either step up their lyrics or sing about something else.
There’s so much bad theology in worship music that I often check out the lyrics before I even listen to a sample to let myself know whether it would be a waste of time or not. In this case, I’m not sure I have a beef with what is said but with how it suffers from a lack of what is missing.
“Take Heart”: Trouble, tears, a fallen world, heartache, pain, burdens, failures and shame are all mentioned. But not sin.
“Go”: “Lay your life down, give it all now.” “We’re giving it all away away. We’re giving it all to go Your way.” Here’s my problem. Regardless of who the intended audience is, people could hear this song and be swept away by the emotion of it but not understand that their bad deeds deserve Hell and stand between them and God. It just seems reckless to give up your life if you are not secure in your afterlife. This song is a classic modern worship song, focusing on this missional, sacrificial “gift” to God when the more important thing is what Jesus did for us and what our response should be (repenting and believing).
“Like An Avalanche”: Two truths:
1. This isn’t rocket science. What Jesus did on Earth is mind-blowing and supernatural but what He accomplished on the cross isn’t that hard to explain. JESUS DIED…FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RAISED FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. He absorbed the wrath for our sins. Here are some samples of lyrics from this song:
“You reached out in love to show me life.” That sounds great but what life? Jesus died…to show you life?
“Breathing Your life into my heart.” Yes, how and why does He do this?
“And I find myself here on my knees again. Caught up in grace like an avalanche.” Here, a prayer is described obscurely. How did you get this grace? WHAT DO YOU NEED THE GRACE FOR? What are you praying?
“Oh. Take my life. Take all that I am. With all that I am I will love You. Take my heart. Take all that I have.” This is what the Bible says about when we obey Him. Are we supposed to write songs proclaiming our obedience and sacrifice? “Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” That’s what Jesus said in Luke 17:9 and 10 (ESV).
I’m willing to guess that the writers, Joel Houston and Dylan Thomas will fail at the “with all that I am” part at some point. Why? Because we are all sinners, even us who have been regenerated still sin. Now, I do believe the act of repenting and believing is one of being 100% convinced and confessing 100% of the sins you are convicted of, but no one is perfect. And if you’re a non-Christian and you hear this song, it would be nice to know some of the answers to my questions.
2. No one put guns to Hillsong’s heads and said they had to write songs on the topic of the crucifixion. As much as I’m underwhelmed by the lyrics of a lot of other bands, addressing a lot of other topics, I’d still give them props and support them because they represent a clear view of the Gospel or none at all.
“Rhythms of Grace”: “My life is a light for Your cause. My will laid aside for Your call.” How does one lay aside their own will? I know Jesus talked about taking up your cross, laying down your life, etc. but in the context of the Bible, it’s clear two things:
1. “Laying your will aside” is not something you can accomplish on your own, therefore the wording of it is a little alarming. “My will laid aside for Your call”. If you are able to choose God’s will over your own, it’s not by your own power or volition and that lyric is incomplete.
2. The reason I hate worship songs that worship our own acts and proclaim THOSE before God rather than proclaim solely the acts of the Trinity is due to that verse above
Maybe it’s not sinful to write lyrics like this, I just wouldn’t do it. I don’t get caught up in waves of sentiment unless I fully agree with the lyrics so when I hear “for Your cause” also, my mind asks “what cause?”
“Light Will Shine”: “We are devoted to You.” Cool, great. Are you always devoted? This is the problem…we all sin. Our sins deserve Hell. All these songs point to this rapturous love and mercy and grace but don’t point us to how to receive it. The closest we get is “we leave the past behind.” Wait, YOU do that? How?
? The song is all about this guy begging God to search his heart because he’s all about God. “There’s nothing else that I want more.” What’s odd is that when the singer talks about what HE feels, it’s always with certainty in the present tense. When he sings about God, he’s asking Him to do something He hasn’t done yet. Odd. Given all the soul-searching and this guy’s yearning to be like God – virtually proclaiming his own heart to be true – you would think the word sin might come up. What would God be looking for?
Feel free to call me crazy but I think these lyrics are dismal.
So you want worship music that reads like a systematic theology, rather than poetry? Let me know when you find that.
I just want someone who gives a real reason for why Jesus died. That’s all. Remember, a lot of the psalms were written before Jesus arrived. Many of the hymn writers never had a hard time bringing up sin, propitiation, sanctification, and taking the focus off themselves and onto the Trinity.
To set us free, to give us vision, to open up the Heavens, to dance on a mountain, to give us sloppy wet kisses, to make us perfect on Earth, to soak us, and to show us what to do are all either incomplete or incorrect.
Don’t think theology has a place in worship music? Listen to Shai Linne’s “Triune Praise”.
I haven’t actually heard the album, but just from what you’ve quoted above, I have a couple disagreements, although I completely respect your point of view! From what I understand, a song of worship is a song for God and directed to God. And let me say first that I have no idea the intentions with which the words were written, but this is how I would interpret them. For instance, “With all that I am I will love You” is not the writers proclaiming to the world, “look, I’m loving God, I’m obeying God, I’m sacrificing my life for God! Aren’t I great?!” but rather them saying to God that this is what they are going to try to do. And of course, as humans we are all afflicted by sin so we most likely are going to fall short of our goal, and that is where repentance and new dedication to God comes in. I also think that everything in worship should lead back to the gospel and cross, in one way or another. Of course there are great songs about the gospel and the cross which are great witnessing tools, but I’m just saying that not every worship song has to be uhh, accessible maybe, to unbelievers. That’s where we come in to explain stuff to them I suppose.
I agree with you that in a lot of modern worship songs the lyrics are vague and shallow and there are certain phrases that really have no meaning. I know some songs I’ve hesitated singing because either I don’t agree with the lyrics or they are so watered down and cliche that they mean nothing to me. Anyways, there’s my thoughts. God bless! (:
I still think the lyrics are a step up poetically from past cheesy lines like, “I will read my Bible and pray, I will follow you all day.” Sure, Aftermath is still not on par with John Mark McMillan, but for United I thought the album was nice and reflects how far they’ve come.
I have to be honest with you Chris, I really think it’s wrong to say, “Hillsong United should either step up their lyrics or sing about something else.” That is extreme and sounds hateful by being so exclusionary.
I understand where you’re coming from with wanting something more theologically focused, but, to be fair, United is what United is. You can be disappointed but it’s really not worth it to be so, nor is it worthy of extreme statements. Their voice is specifically theirs and it is has value to it even if it doesn’t comprehensively meet what is your ideal. It’s not wrong to have an ideal, but it’s not right to hold it against others who are having a positive spiritual impact, either.
It’s easy to lose sight of the following verses when you get focused on what is ideal:
Mark 9:39-40, “Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.”
So, it’s wrong to state my opinion?
No, I didn’t mean it was wrong to state your opinion–as if you’re not free to share what’s on your mind. I was only disagreeing with it. You did invite people to call you crazy. I didn’t think you were crazy, but I did share my thoughts. My apologies if I misunderstood and you weren’t open to that.
Have you read the Psalms? They’re just songs/poems right? They don’t explain the finer points of theology, they capture emotion and point to God.
From “Father” on this album: “The weight of all our sin upon His shoulders”
1. The Psalms were directed at God, yes. A lot of these songs are directed at Jesus. I always read the Bible in its context (and with illumined eyes). The Psalms still point to the Gospel and are refined in the context of the scope of history including Jesus’ death and resurrection.
2. My “step up your game” attitude is directed at letting people know there is superior worship music out there, Shai Linne being the first example. I like what I’ve heard by Brandon Bee. Steve Green’s music is very sound. Json is another good artist with some worshipful lyrics.
3. John Mark McMillan is one of the most notorious extrabiblical writers in worship history. “Sloppy wet kisses” makes me cringe.
4. I will continue to criticize Merchant Band, Hillsong United, and Jesus Culture as long as they are associated with churches and organizations that obscure and re-paint the Gospel. Have you ever heard a sermon from Hillsong’s church? I’ve heard three of them, all bad.
Oh, this is interesting. We’re coming from totally different perspectives and I’m happy with that.
I have no problem with John Mark McMillan. I want honest feelings in my worship because I’d rather tell God how I am feeling than give him a 10 point theological essay. I guess it depends on what ‘worship’ is. I believe worship is a lifestyle and is interaction with the King of Kings – it’s not just songs. He already knows what he’s done for me. I am happy simply singing to him that I am thankful for what he has done. As long as it’s the overflow of my heart and as long as the words allow me to journey deeper into his heart and the love he has for me (that he would go to the cross even when I was a waste of space!)… then I am happy.
But as I said, we’re coming from a totally different perspective and that does not offend me at all! Bless you brother. Keep listening to music that blesses your heart and takes you deeper into his (I may even check out your recommendations).
Chris I just wanted to say that I like you because I can tell when you comment on IVM that lyrics are very important to you and they are very important to me too… I listen to a lot of music online that bands put up for streaming but the lyrics are probably the biggest decision in whether or not I buy it and add it to my collection and keep listening to it (it’s why I can’t get into the otherwise-brilliant Civil Wars, for instance… too much melodrama that doesn’t jive with my attempt at a Scriptural-based worldview)
However at the same time I have tried to grow in this area… For instance in middle school I used to be mad at bands like POD that were supposed to be Christians but were popular in the mainstream because they weren’t “Christian enough” – as if not writing Christian-y music itself was a bad thing. But since then I have even found some secular songs that edify me spiritually and lead me to praise God because of how well they reveal some truth about God’s creation – whether the writer realized it or not. I have also come to realize that in the diversity of Christ’s children many people come from different perspectives or are in different places than I am, which is why we have some Christians making music and quoting the Bible, some referencing God in emotional terms, some not really mentioning his name at all. But I now feel that as long as the songwriter is not contradicting Scripture with their lyrics, it is not my place to criticize them for revealing what’s on their heart, whether they are quoting everything in Luke 12:16 right on down to 21, or just stating how much God loves us (which as we know from Scripture is impossible to overstate), or even just writing a love song (hey, that’s in the Bible too).
Now I still may not agree with the emphasis of certain songwriters, but it is my prerogative not to listen to them. I think a lot of CCM is cheesy, weak, and cliché, but I know a lot of people that are encouraged in their walk with God by it, and who am I to disagree? I think we are actually in agreement about not liking overly emotional worship lyrics, just maybe at different degrees. John Mark McMillan’s song doesn’t bother me because I see it as just stating the truth of the depths of God’s love (and I’m also familiar with the story behind the song). But I also don’t like those nebulous party-in-God’s-presence worship songs about opening up the heavens or dancing on a mountain or whatever because it’s not speaking to God and it’s not declaring his character to others, either. But Hillsong’s lyrics don’t bother me, and I actually think the songwriting quality has improved over time. I don’t see anything wrong with declaring devotion to God, even though we will fail. “Search my heart” is Scriptural. So are themes of God’s love and grace. And their entire catalog, including this album, have plenty of references to our sin and shortcomings and inability to reach God on our own but only through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Anyway I feel like I’m just rambling now but I just wanted to say that I appreciate your perspective and your desire to see God reflected accurately and completely through Christian songwriters. I would encourage you to be unyielding in that conviction, but I would also encourage you to allow for the possibility that more songs may fit under that Scriptural umbrella than you think. There are a lot of bad “Christian” songs out there, to be sure, but there’s a difference between displaying one facet of truth and displaying an actual counterfeit of truth, and just because a song doesn’t mention sin doesn’t mean it can’t speak to someone about God’s love.
While I appreciate your compliment, I think the two explanations I’ve seen about McMillan’s lyric choice are still incomplete. He couldn’t have been so isolated in his indie world that he doesn’t realize that sloppy wet kiss is sexual imagery.
Also, the Spirit is powerfully moving through Shai Linne’s new album before it is even out. BEHOLD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s83EtpDHrwY . A clip of “The Sovereignty of God” off the album The Attributes of God. Praise the Lord!
Just instigating debate (to gain insight into your perspective more than anything), but doesn’t Song of Solomon detail a lot of ‘sexual imagery’? Yet the spiritual interpretations of that book/song point directly to relationship with Christ.
I’m not really sure how you can criticize another person’s worship and feel good about it.
I really hope I haven’t done that. I was trying to be respectful. It’s all subjective.
Haha not you Tim. I’m talking about Chris.
I agree with Tim “song of songs” is full of sexual imagery
This is the best blog I have ever read regarding lyrics, theology, worship etc.
It’s by Great Awakening, a band from Come&Live!
http://greatawakeningworship.tumblr.com/post/1513986593/lyrics
I criticize people’s worship and feel SAD about the worship, content with my criticism.
I don’t think anyone who believes the Bible is the literal Word of God would be sticking up for Hillsong if they’d listened to some of the sermons. Many of them are filled with “name it, claim it” heresy.
ugh, they are from australia…not new zealand….your review is not even credible.
Bit harsh to say “your review is not even credible”…
Oh snap… Been listening to so many New Zealander’s lately I mixed up my down under… good thing there is an edit button, maybe I’m credible now? Thanks for the catch.
New Zealanders are equally insulted that someone would try put United on us.
Haha, I kid, I kid. =P
@Seth – most worship songs before the 1960s are actually deeply theological and even reach systematic theology and more over, the full Gospel message. In fact historically – most writers ft this was vitally important – to get the cleR whole picture. And the songs are both emotional and logical. Some are more on the logical side than emotional depending on the time period – but “now” is a time where moat toss out sound thinking for the emotional high – and worship is not about annexational high or bouncing around like a hare in heat.
@Chris.. I’ve never posted on here, but I was wondering about the “name it and claim it” comment. I’ve never listened to a Hillsong sermon, and I was interested in what you mean by that?
Thanks,