CD Review

A Review of Hillsong United's "Across the Earth"

By Marty Richardson

Hillsong United has been holding the reigns of modern praise and worship's pop rock center for several years now.  Songs like "From the Inside Out" and "Hosanna" have begun to define and give the emerging generation a voice and a song to express their worship to God.  This album marks a return to live recording for the United's albums.  Many people have stated how the live recording with the crowd noise, claps and chants take away from the musicality of the album.  I, however, love the sounds of people connecting with the music.

The opening cut, "Freedom is Here," is typical Hillsong. The song begins with an entrancing synth line that blends into the high power pre-chorus and chorus then reemerges to fill-in the low spots.  The second song "No Reason to Hide" continues with the theme of freedom.  Both of the first two cuts on this album are high energy and focused on calling out to God.  The third track, "More Than Anything," rounds out the top of the album with the most sing-able of power songs.  "More Than Anything" is a catchy and intense anthem that helps transition "Across the Earth" to the classic United beat driven expression of modern worship.  King of All Days and Desert Song represent a maturing of HU writing with complex themes of submission in the midst of trials and understanding the depth of God's sacrifice for our redemption. "Desert Song" showcases the now married Brooke Frasier Ligertwood author of the acclaimed anthem "Hosanna." "Tear Down the Walls" and "Oh You Bring" are the ethereal musically dynamic extended worship tracks expected to be included in every Hillsong United Album.  "Soon" is a beautiful female lead worship ballad your team will be clamoring to do. "You Hold Me Now" and "Arms Open Wide" are definite contenders for congregational use. The album rounds off with an 80's-ish power rock number that is a fun and honestly unexpected edition.

Overall, "Across the Earth" is a solid worship album.  The rock feel of this album is nothing new to Hillsong United.  I do see some deepening of musical and lyrical expression present in this work.  Time will tell if it will have the impact of past United albums. I enjoyed Across the Earth a lot and will have it in my main playlist for awhile.  Every worship junkie should definitely have this album in the arsenal of worship music.