UMG Recordings
Release Date: September 11th 2020
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
We The Kingdom– The Awakening EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Waking Up
- Holy Water
- God So Loved
- You Are Heaven
As I look around at all of the worship artists (solo and bands) out there; I’m left wondering. Are we in fact at worship saturation point? It’s the point when a worship artist releases a new song, and then we all shrug our shoulders and go about our business- we don’t really care anymore whether a worship artist releases something new or not. I know I have felt that many times with Planetshakers… but the point is that there is a time, maybe now or maybe into the future, whereby new bands come and they sing praises to Jesus, but we aren’t as excited anymore. For some bands, worship saturation may be very applicable to them, however for this next ‘new’ band recently signed to Capitol Christian Music Group, I’m definitely not at saturation point yet. As you can read from my positive and glowing review of Holy Water, we can see that We The Kingdom musically is something different. They’re similar to I Am They, Zach Williams, Passion, Rend Collective and The Crabb Family all rolled into one; and the band comprises of songwriter Ed Cash and his family (brother Scott, children Franni and Martin as well as close friend Andrew Bergthold)- it’s probably the most energetic band since Rend Collective. I know, I know, it’s a bold statement, but one listen to their debut EP Live At The Wheelhouse EP and one or more watches of any of their live videos on Youtube will quickly change your mind. What will also change your mind is the group’s debut album Holy Water which released last month.
Yet if there’s any truth to this rumour of a sophomore slump, We The Kingdom have got it bad this past week. Because this past week, the group unveiled a new EP called The Awakening. I half expected brand new tracks, or acoustic versions of some fan-favourites, or even B-sides. Yet what we have here are 4 songs… but they’re the same studio versions from Holy Water! Yep, you heard me! An EP with 4 re-released tracks verbatim. No alterations, just songs we’ve heard before and arrangements we’ve heard before. And though I love these songs- lead single “Holy Water”, energetic pop tune “Waking Up”, promotional single and worship anthem “God So Loved” and the piano led reflective ballad “You Are Heaven”; the fact alone that these songs are great and enjoyable…doesn’t excuse the band for unveiling an unnecessary release. Yes, I said it. The Awakening EP is an EP that should have never been made. Not because these songs aren’t good, but because they have already been heard- on Holy Water.
By now you’ve probably read my review of Holy Water. Thus there is nothing much more needing to be said about We The Kingdom and this release. The group is extremely good, while both Ed and Franni sing to perfection! Songs on the debut full length album like “Holy Water”, “Waking Up”, “No Doubt About It” and “Don’t Tread On Me” are personal album highlights, with every track having no discernible weaknesses in any aspect. So with this release should you spin it? I mean you could, but why would you want to when Holy Water is right there? So what are you all waiting for? Holy Water, just like Live At The Wheelhouse before it, deserves 2, 3, 5, 10+ listens. Not so much the Awakening. However as this release is being unveiled through UMG Recordings as opposed to Capitol Christian Music Group- perhaps this EP is for the mainstream market? Still not a reason to release this EP with no new material in my opinion though… So howabout I go away while you guys check out We The Kingdom? Alright, have you finished? What do you reckon?
3 songs to listen to: Waking Up, Holy Water, God So Loved
Score: 1/5 (simply because these songs are all ‘double-ups’!)
RIYL: Leeland, Hillsong UNITED, Rend Collective, All Sons And Daughters, I Am They