Red Street Records
Release Date: September 22nd 2023
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Consumed By Fire– First Things First (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Walk With Jesus
- Time In the Water
- What If
- First Things First
- A Little Bit Longer
- Say The Name
- It’s A Yes
- MORE!
- Hope Says
- Hands Up Praise Up
- Goodbye Ole Me
- There Was A Grace
- First Things First (Piano Version)
Over the years, there’s been a few bands that have been comprised of siblings. For King and Country the most notable, with Joel and Luke comprising of the duo, who are actually in fact siblings of pop-worship artist Rebecca St. James. For KING AND COUNTRY became a household name almost overnight with their song “Busted Heart”, and from there, the rest is history. Then you have other artists like About a Mile (consisting of three brothers) and Red Roots (three triplet sisters), both of whom previously have scaled the landscape of worship-rock and country-Christian respectively- and both bands have seemingly moved on to other projects and endeavours, and have quietly slipped away from music. OBB was another sibling band that has since moved on to accomplish other things in their lives; while BarlowGirl was a rock band in the 2000’s comprising of 3 sisters. Cimorelli is a sibling band that is still active, as is Switchfoot (two brothers in Jon and Tim Foreman, plus friends) and Needtobreathe (Bear and Bo Rineheart plus friends); while country/pop trio The Band Perry split not too long ago. And so, these artists aforementioned have reached stratospheric heights (for KING & COUNTRY, Switchfoot, Needtobreathe), while others haven’t had as much success. But nonetheless these sibling bands have still presented to us albums full of heart and poignancy. Now enter in another band comprised of siblings- Consumed By Fire. Previously signed to Inpop Records, and now to Red Street Records; this trio of three brothers in a band have released a successful album Giving Over in 2016, one that boasted the singles “Lean on Me” and “He Waits For Me”. We reviewed the album here, and with the group musically similar to needtobreathe and Rhett Walker Band (and vocally sounding like Bear from needtobreathe as well), the band’s continuance in bringing together genres of rock, folk, gospel and praise are enough for anyone, whatever your musical genre persuasion, to listen to this band, at least once. The group also released their song “I Need You God” in 2017… and since that time they’ve been dormant for whatever reason. But this year, the group have now resurfaced; and their brand-new full length album First Things First is a breath of fresh air for the CCM market and for music in general.
If ever you have any doubt that Consumed By Fire will hit the sophomore slump, like a fair few other artists in the past; then this new full length album should shatter your beliefs from the get-go. Let me tell you this plainly- Consumed By Fire’s new album is perhaps one of their most real, honest, hopeful and encouraging CCM releases I’ve heard this year thus far, alongside Riley Clemmons’ Church Pew. Opening with the catchy, moving, and inspiring song “Walk With Jesus”, the band highlight the fact that we can and should walk with Jesus at all times because of the change He has made in each of our individual lives, that ‘…I’m gonna live the way he says to live, do what He says to do, you can choose whatever road you choose, but I’m gonna love the way He says to love, trust the way He says to trust, this world alone will never be enough, so I’m gonna walk with Jesus…’. “Time In The Water” follows, and carries on from the theme of walking closely to Jesus, as the track filled with water references encourages us to spend some time in ‘the water’ and soaked into Jesus’ presence, so that Jesus can wash us clean and that we can be brand new again. “What If” poses question after question, with the radio-friendly melody asking what would happen if we open our heart and our lives to God and to trusting Him and then we get let down, but then also wonders what would happen if following God is the best decision of our lives; while the piano led ballad that is the title track (also recorded as a ‘piano-only version’ that is the album ender), is lyrically and thematically the heartbeat of the project. And as Consumed By Fire eloquently and ardently relay to us all that what they want to do is chase after Jesus, and nothing else matters; they compellingly and powerfully relay that ‘…first thing’s first, I seek Your will, not my own, surrender all my wants to You, keep the first thing first, to live Your truth, walk Your ways, set my eyes, Lord I fix my face on You, all my desires reversed to keep the first thing first…’, and we are encouraged to actively live a life that pursues Jesus, and to always put Him at the forefront of our lives no matter what.
“A Little Bit Longer”, a testimony-like track which speaks about being in Jesus’ presence just a little bit longer, almost sounds like a romantic love song (but we know that it’s directed at Jesus purely because we know it’s a CCM album and a worshipful song!); while “Say The Name” proclaims that if we shout out the name of Jesus at the top of our lungs, that everything else in this world and everything else in the spiritual realm, has to bow and submit to the name of Jesus and to whatever we ask in the name of Jesus. “It’s A Yes”, a testimony-like track, outlines Caleb’s desire to follow Jesus and say ‘yes’ to Him every day; while the poppy and energetic track “MORE!” has us longing for more and more of Jesus’ presence, and longing to be more like Jesus and less like ourselves. “Hope Says”, a radio friendly CCM/pop melody, speaks about trusting in the hope we have in Jesus and trusting in the promises of God whenever we feel like we are in a tough spot or need His guidance and assistance; while the equally enjoyable and danceable pop tune “Hands Up, Praise Up”, speaks about praising Jesus Christ on a regular basis, and singing hallelujah at the top of our lungs for everything that Jesus has done for us- inclusive of dying on the cross for each one of us, and raising up from the dead three days later.
The hard-hitting and powerful “Goodbye Ole Me”, is where the band present to us a fired-up gospel infused pop/worship anthem, with lead singer Caleb declaring that Jesus Christ has rescued us from hell, and that we are not the same anymore. Our identity is in Jesus Christ alone, and not what we feel nor what our parents or friends or the media tell us; and so it’s refreshing to find a song that outwardly declares this notion that Jesus Christ has set us free and because of what He has done on the cross, we can say goodbye to the old us and say hello to the person Jesus made us to be. The final new track, aside from the piano version of “First Things First”, is the piano ballad “There Was A Grace”, an honest and emotional melody where Caleb Ward outlines his testimony, and is by far the band’s crowning achievement on an already powerful and encouraging track list, with Caleb crying out that ‘…there was a grace that carried me through, through all my darkest nights, it said, the sun is gonna shine again, there was a grace that helped me keep standing, it gave me the will to fight, it kept my hope alive when there seemed to be no way, there was a grace…’.
First Things First is an album that I’m positive I will listen to many more times before the year ends. Prayerful, and realistic, hopeful, and honest; these three brothers which make up Consumed by Fire really have a winner in the making. And while it’s been 6 years in between releases; this album shows us that class, temperament, greatness, and ability don’t really ever go away. If the next full-length album is anything like this one, then Consumed By Fire’s third full length album will be one to savour, whenever it releases! And while vocally the lead singer may sound like needtobreathe, the vocal similarity is a good thing- people hearing this new music from Consumed by Fire will try needtobreathe, or vice versa. Whatever the case, First Things First the album, is as personal as they come, with the band inviting us to partake alongside them, proclaiming that we need to put the Lord first in all situations, not just the times when everything is going good. Well done to the guys for such an enjoyable album; I absolutely can’t wait to the next album whenever it releases!
3 songs to listen to: First Things First, Hope Says, There Was A Grace
Score: 5/5
RIYL: Third Day, needtobreathe, Rhett Walker Band, Lifehouse, Switchfoot, Carrollton