Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Hillsong's output over the last decade or so has been quite relentless, and here is their 17th live worship album. At times it has been easy to hope that slowing down the release rate would help to increase the quality. But slow down they have not, and here is an album with a dozen or more decent new songs. They needed to do something good after Hillsong United's hugely disappointing "iHeart Revolution" CD. The irony is that the ex-United guys and gals are now running the mainstream band: Joel Houston, Reuben Morgan and Brooke Fraser write and lead the vast majority of the songs, leaving old favourite Darlene just enough space for a couple of duets. And they bring their style with them: energetic rock with a wall of crash cymbals and guitars up to 11. As sophisticated as a slab of Fosters upon first impression, but repeated listens bring out the variety and subtleties as the tunes become more memorable and the lyrics sink in. Hillsong has always been focussed on corporate worship, but some of the songs here actually get quite intimate, and none more so than "Healer", penned and sung by Planetshakers pastor Mike Guglielmucci. The faked cancer testimony of Guglielmucci now of course puts a cloud over this song and indeed the Planetshakers album, and this project, on which it is featured, which is a shame as there are other, good songs here. A number of the new songs are relatively simple (for Hillsong) in form and melody: "He Is Lord", Darlene's "High And Lifted Up", "Stronger" and "Sing To The Lord" are all strong enough with the potential to become congregational classics around the world.at least with those who can accept the new heavier style. In terms of volume and quality, Hillsong have reached another peak.