Integrity Music
Release Date: March 8th / March 29th 2019
Reviewed by Joshua Andre
Martin Smith– Great And Glorious / Fire’s Gonna Fall (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Great And Glorious
- Fire’s Gonna Fall
Martin Smith is one of the most inspiring, passionate, emotional and honest songwriters and worship leaders I’ve ever heard. Yep, that means ever. Yeah, I reckon I just said a controversial statement (because what about Phil Wickham, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Crowder, Leeland, Bethel Music, Lincoln Brewster, All Sons And Daughters, Paul Baloche, Kari Jobe, Vertical Worship, Meredith Andrews? The list goes on and on…), but if you think about Martin’s discography with his band Delirious? years ago, as well as his solo material; then you may be inclined to agree with me that Martin is on a whole another level. With some of his singles of late (inclusive of “Back To The Start”, “Waiting Here For You”, “Emmanuel”, “Song Of Solomon”, “God’s Great Dance Floor”, “Fire Never Sleeps”, “Only Got Eyes For You”, “Redemption Day”, “Great Is Your Faithfulness” and “Awake My Soul”) being the best he’s ever been in his whole career; I’m very excited to hear Martin’s new songs in the upcoming year- basically because Love Song For A City and Back To The Start were nothing short of brilliant.
This year in preparation for his upcoming album Iron Lung releasing sometime in 2019, Martin has unveiled 2 singles that harkens back to his Delirious? rock roots yet also comprising of the later worship elements that much of his recent songs contain as well. The marriage of these two genres theoretically shouldn’t work- they’re like oil and water- but Martin manages to make it work, and work well. Big booming electric guitars and an 80’s rock sound is abundant in “Great And Glorious”, with Martin singing across electronics and synth that ‘…this is a holy, holy sound, when the world begins to shake, when all hell begins to break, now the dead are gonna rise, as we lift our voices high…’, while later on in the track Martin conveys that Jesus is great and glorious, and therefore we can praise Him all day and all night long, just because He is sovereign. “Fire’s Gonna Fall”, on the other hand, is slightly more subdued and slightly more repetitive, yet nonetheless still impactful and worshipful, as Martin fervently relays to us that Jesus’ presence is forever going to be invading our lives and the lives of others- changing them beyond our wildest dreams, and for the better also. Thus we can praise Him because of future events in our lives that Jesus orchestrates for our benefit.
While it isn’t known if Delirious? will reunite in the near or far future (or if they will remain like dc Talk- forever on hiatus!); I’d say that you all need to check out Love Song For A City– what I think will be, in months to come- a revolutionary album; first before these two singles from Iron Lung. Hearing Martin Smith praise God in a live setting is a sight to behold (or song to be-hear!)- and then after that magical experience we can get a better sense of his heart behind “Great And Glorious” and “Fire’s Gonna Fall”. And as we listen, as Jesus ministers to our souls while we yearn and long for Him to come and fill our hearts with His presence, let us remember that it is only Jesus who can make us whole and satisfied. Well done Martin Smith for a hopeful, insightful, compelling, joyous and reflective two songs- and has me excited for your next project! Hopefully others will be too!
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Hillsong Worship, Worship Central, Planetshakers