Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

The phenomenal success of Hillsongs through the '90s, as their vibrant and gutsy brand of inspirational power praise did more than most to push back the boundaries of worship music, has spawned a plethora of imitations, with clones of Darlene Zschech popping out of the woodwork all over the place. Some of these plagiarists are more blatant than others, the worst being those who trot out (or churn out, depending on how good or bad they are) Hillsong covers note for note. Much more likely to gain my approval are those who write their own stuff, and Abundant Life Ministries, Bradford is one such outfit. Nevertheless, the 11 songs on this CD are stylistically so very similar to typical Russell Fragar or Reuben Morgan opuses, that comparisons are inevitable. Production values are good, there's an excellent live atmosphere on the recording and everybody makes all the right sounds, but in absolute terms, it doesn't measure up, mainly because the material itself isn't strong enough. If you've never heard the genuine article, by all means buy this; but if you have, as I have, then you might be left a little bit disappointed.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.