Provident Label Group

Release Date: August 30th 2019

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Elevation Worship– At Midnight EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Gone
2. It Is So
3. See A Victory
4. Love Won’t Give Up
5. With You

With so many worship bands and solo artists out there; the competition is high and the standard is quite high as well- as groups like Hillsong (all facets!), Planetshakers, Vertical Worship, Bethel Music, Jesus Culture and Passion all deliver high quality worship albums year in and year out; not to mention solo artists like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe, Meredith Andrews, Crowder and Paul Baloche to name a few. Creating probably something of a worship saturation point from all of these many artists churning out the album releases; does the addition of another worship movement/band create an unnecessary movement, or a challenge for new and existing bands to rise up and become more creative and inventive with their songs, musically and lyrically? What exactly makes a band like Elevation Worship so special?

Hallelujah Here Below is a release that was distributed to us last year at the end of September (and I’m not really going to write an in-depth review here, as since September, the internet probably has been flooding with reviews- so I’ll just give my brief thoughts); while Paradoxlogy dropped a few weeks ago, which is a collection of reimagining’s and rerecordings of select songs from Hallelujah Here Below. And while the band has recently started to become popular due to their songs “O Come To The Altar”, “Do It Again”, and “Resurrecting”; I reckon their latest offering is one of the most cohesive ever. It’s no mean feat for the group to release a new album in the same year that both Mack Brock and London Gatch have left to pursue solo careers; yet in light of this development, Hallelujah Here Below stands tall amongst quite a lot of worship albums from last year. Again, another album that I wish I reviewed at the time (to be a bit more current!); Elevation Worship deserve to be congratulated, and to be proud of themselves.

Does it seem like I’m being lazy in not writing an intro, not just for this review of Elevation Worship’s At Midnight EP, but for their Spanish release too? Perhaps. But personally, it just doesn’t bode well when all that needs to be said for an artist has been said already. Usually that’s a good thing, as with the saying that we’re ‘lost for words’, but with the case of this release, saying the ‘same’ thing in my introduction is me making a point. That no matter how great of an album Hallelujah Here Below is, the group was always going to struggle when both Mack Brock and London Gatch left to pursue solo careers. That’s a fact that can’t be sliced up to sound better than it does. And with this EP, I am left wanting. Not because it’s only 5 songs long, but because there seems to be a cohesiveness lacking in the tracks. You may feel differently, but let me quickly voice my thoughts.

Opening track “Gone” is admirable in its message and somewhat enjoyable musically, however the ‘woahs’ are way too distracting, and the chorus is way to repetitive. As we are presented with the notion that we’re going to live like our chains are gone, and that our sin is gone, I’m reminded by the more superior track “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” by Chris Tomlin. “Gone” by Elevation Worship doesn’t even register in my brain unfortunately, and after 10 minutes of me listening to this song, I’ve completely forgotten the track. Which is unfortunate as these guys can do better. “It Is So”, a contemplative piano led ballad and one of the better songs on this EP, still can be improved upon, as the track duration is way too long, and reminds me of Planetshakers’ ballads, which often start off with good intentions, but along the way somehow gets lost. Lyrically this track is strong, as we are reminded that ‘…by Your stripes, I am healed, with one touch I am made whole, You have spoken, and I know that it is so…’, but close to 6 minutes is quite long isn’t it? “See A Victory”, though catchy, is way, way, way too repetitive all over for its own good; as is “Love Won’t Give Up On Me”, which speaks about God’s love not giving up on us (which is fine by all accounts) yet still contains similar themes to much more impacting songs like “Love Won’t Let Me Down” (Y&F), “Promises” (Sanctus Real) and “Never Giving Up On You” (Matthew Parker). Sadly, “With You” ends the EP on a whimper. On its own it’s an alright song, but it’s way too long, and as a EP closer sounds far too lullaby-ish. Sorry guys, I don’t mean to write a negative review, but I cannot write a positive review for this release, so…here we are.

While the band is still on the rise, and many songs from Hallelujah Here Below expected to propel Elevation Worship to even greater heights than “O Come To The Altar”, “Do It Again” and “Resurrecting”; it seems that the group are doing just fine without Mack and London. But along comes their ‘sophomore slump’ (2^nd live album without Mack and London!). Sure they will miss these guys because of their experience and the worship leading ability, however we must have faith in the newer guys that Jesus would guide their steps in respect to leading people in worship just like in this album. This release is a hiccup, however perhaps the next full album may be sounding like something completely different and let us hope and pray that the awesome music that was present in Hallelujah Here Below continues. Paradoxology was great, but we all want another live album! Bring on the next full-length album sometime this year/early next year!

3 songs to listen to: It Is So, See A Victory, With You

Score: 2.5/5

RIYL: Hillsong Worship, Planetshakers, Meredith Andrews, Kari Jobe, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman