Centricity Music

Release Date: November 5th 2021

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Patrick Mayberry– Holy Spirit Come EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. The King Has Set Me Free
2. No One Like You Lord
3. Breakthrough Miracle Power
4. Holy Spirit Come
5. How You Love Me
6. Our God Is Coming Back

In 2014, in the very first year of this site being operational, I reviewed a compilation album called Reverence: An Offering. It was 19 tracks, I rated it 3 ½, and I didn’t pay it much attention. But last year, an EP released that sounded… eerily familiar. Patrick Mayberry, one of the newest signings to independent CCM label Centricity Music, released his debut EP Holy Spirit Come in November last year. I recognised his name from somewhere… and lo and behold, he was one of the artists on that underrated compilation that I didn’t place too much importance on, and no doubt I don’t think many other listeners placed importance on any of the independent artists on that compilation. However, Patrick has now been signed to a label and released his debut worship EP. This goes to show you that anything is possible and if you work hard enough, and if you have determination to succeed; with God’s help you can achieve unfathomable and seemingly impossible things. Having heard many of Patrick’s songs throughout the year of 2021 (inclusive of “Breakthrough Miracle Power”, made famous by Passion!); I was intrigued by this EP. And thus, I wanted to voice my thoughts. I know, it’s 2022 already… but that doesn’t mean we have to leave music released in 2021 and earlier behind!

Speaking of “Breakthrough Miracle Power”, the melody unfortunately isn’t one of the standouts on this 6-track worship EP. In fact, it’s one of the most uninteresting and the most cliché. Co-written with Kristian Stanfill, “Breakthrough Miracle Power” is a typical Passion song (maybe Patrick and Kristian wrote the song for Passion, and Patrick didn’t intend to sing it and record it until way later?), with simple chords, simple lyrics, and a worshipful yet ‘cliché’ message- and a song that’s catchy, but not real deep. I mean, it’s not as controversial or ground-breaking as Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love”… but this is what Passion do best. The melody really sounds like a Passion song, and considering my latest review for Burn Bright, well this comparison isn’t a good look in Patrick’s favour. Don’t get me wrong, I still will listen to every Passion album (maybe not that intensely or religiously)…unless they have something theologically wrong with their lyrics; but from melody, it’s more of a hands-off approach for me and the band. As for the rest of Patrick’s melodies; this track is solid, however others from this EP stand out to me more. I mean, with a chorus that declares ‘…let that breakthrough miracle power pour out, I need a breakthrough miracle moment right now, only in You and with You, my victory is found, bring that breakthrough miracle power, let it rain down…’; I mean how repetitive, and cliché do you want to get?

With the EP opening with the worshipful, almost hymn-like “The King Has Set Me Free”, Patrick eloquently and passionately relays to us that ‘…I’m free, I’m free, the King has set me free, He pulled me from my prison, death lost its claim on me, I’m free, I’m free, I’m alive and I believe, now I’m singing sweet salvation ’cause the King has set me free…’; in a song that is infinitely better than “Breakthrough Miracle Power”. The EP opener is a fun ball of infectious energy, as Patrick joyously sings out his praises to God because He has set us free; and no doubt a song like that sets the tone for the rest of the project. Vocally similar to Josh (formerly from Abandon); Patrick then moves us into a slower paced worshipful ballad in “No One Like You Lord”. Though repetitive, this track still packs a punch, and is as earnest and honest as we can imagine, with Patrick emphatically relaying to us all that there isn’t anyone in this earth and outside this earth that is like Jesus. While the country/bluegrass-esque Rend Collective-like “Holy Spirit Come” (the title track) is probably the best song on the EP- with Patrick convincingly and fervently asking the Holy Spirit to come and fill our soul, heart, and our inner most being. “How You Love Me”, an acoustic guitar ballad, is extremely vulnerable, honest, reflective and contemplative, with the simple yet inspiring track being a standout- Patrick delivers a song of thanks and gratitude to God, thanking Him for loving him when he was unlovable. Holy Spirit Come then ends with “Our God Is Coming Back”, a radio friendly CCM-esque song where Patrick vocally sounds like Sam from Luminate, and delivers a confident and compelling melody that declares with passion that Jesus is coming back, thus we need not be afraid.

Overall with Patrick Mayberry’s EP being about worship and celebrating Jesus because of who He is and what He’s done for us; this is Christianity at its core. We love Jesus because He first loved us; and thus this EP shows us the gospel in a nutshell, and for that Patrick needs to be proud of this effort. An EP that I will listen to for a long time; everyone else better jump on this bandwagon very quickly! What say all of you? Check out Patrick’s worshipful music; and be amazed at how good he is as a singer and as a songwriter!

All of these songs have been written for the people of the church! I pray that they meet people right where they are in their journey with faith and the Lord…that they would continue to shape and transform how they view themselves and God while pointing to how God views them – as His kids who He’s crazy about!

3 songs to listen to: The King Has Set Me Free, Holy Spirit Come, How You Love Me

Score: 4.5/5

RIYL: Chris Renzema, Lydia Laird, Baylor Wilson, Jonny Diaz, Brandon Heath, Abandon, Luminate, Mack Brock, Tasha Layton