Fair Trade Services
Release Date: February 21st 2025
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Phil Wickham– The King Is In The Room (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- The King Is In The Room
One of my favourite worship leaders and singer/songwriters of late, Phil Wickham has this uncanny ability to write gems, which on the surface may be very underrated, and could slip under the radar; but defying logic quickly rise to become anthems for the church and hits on the radio. Ever since hit chart topping single “Grace” and “After Your Heart”, Phil has just kept churning out hit after hit- accessible for the church yet lyrically sound and complex, and also not threatening nor condemning either. From explosive and vibrant hits such as “At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh)”, “Battle Belongs”, “Living Hope”, “Til I Found You”, “Wonderful”, “The Jesus Way”, “Back To Life”, “This Is Our God”, “It’s Always Been You”, “Reason I Sing”, “My All In All”, “The Secret Place”, “I’ll Always Love You” and “This Is Amazing Grace”, to other inspiring melodies such as “Love Of God”, “I Believe”, “Sunday Is Coming”, “Your Love Awakens Me”, “Safe”, “Beautiful”, “Great Things”, “Hymn Of Heaven”, “His Name Is Jesus”, “Glory”, “Heaven Fall Down”, “When My Heart Is Torn Asunder”, “House Of the Lord”, “1000 Names”, “God Of Revival”, and “This Love Will Last Forever” (did I name, along with “Grace” and “After Your Heart”, a potential greatest hits album?); Phil has shown us that quality work and long lasting impressions can and often do result from persistent effort in one’s craft and the desires that God has put in our hearts.
Enter in “The King Is In The Room”, a celebratory, joyous, praise melody co-written with ex-Paramore guitarist Josh Farro. Presumably the lead single from Phil’s upcoming new album; the energetic, high-octane, and powerful track speaks about worshipping God because Jesus is right here with us, and also because ‘…fear has to flee, shame has to leave before the King, before the King, chains have to break, dry bones awake, prepare the way…’. Unfortunately though, I think there’s probably a glut of ‘too much Phil Wickham’ right now- as this song sounds thematically and musically similar to a number of his previous tracks- “House Of The Lord”, “This Is Our God”, “Battle Belongs”, “This Is Amazing Grace”… this one sadly doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the other hard-hitting worship anthems Phil has recorded in the past. The track isn’t bad, and it is biblically sound. But perhaps letting songs ‘breathe’ a bit and perhaps dropping this melody even a year later might be more beneficial. I mean… we haven’t fully listened to Hallelujah! It’s Christmas! yet, haven’t we?
As Phil Wickham readies to release his new Sing Along album later on this year (or early next year), not to mention his new Christmas album released last year; “The King Is In The Room” is a solid and impacting melody, from one of my most impacting worship songwriters I’ve ever heard. But sadly it’s forgettable at this point in time (perhaps that will change in time?), and I suppose you all may have a different opinion to me, so there’s still no reason not to listen to this track; so what are you waiting for? Maybe listen to it once, twice, three times, maybe more, as you eagerly wait for the new album, which should still be awesome in every way! And…you can also let us know how much Phil’s track has impacted your life later on as well, in the comments below! Well done Phil, I can’t wait to hear what’s next in the pipeline!
Score: 3.5/5
RIYL: Leeland, Tim Hughes, UNITED, All Sons and Daughters, Crowder