Reviewed by Gareth Hills

Creating big, anthemic music, worthy of backing up lines such as "Unlock my roar" and "My God's not dead, he's surely alive/He's living on the inside/Roaring like a lion" is no easy feat and yet it's exactly what Bashta and band have set out to do with this collection of stadium-sized worship. Musically, the sound is reminiscent of Coldplay and U2 but with elements of the more ambient shades of post-rock, tied together in an all-hands-in-the-air celebration of God's love and power. Generally Bashta manages to pull this of on tracks such as "Awakening (Dry Bones)" and "The Sound", although some of the songs have a tendency to drag on just a bit too long without as much variety as might befit pieces of this length. In corporate worship though, for which it feels like these songs have been written, this would not be an issue. However, it's the quieter, more reflective pieces which are the standouts for me - "Heaven" is a particularly gorgeous plea for more of God, with a lush violin and percussion arrangement. It's also on these songs that Bashta's vocal work is at its best - while he sings passionately on the bigger tracks, he unfortunately sometimes can't quite carry the power required. As a collection of songs, this release is not without its flaws but still stands as a heartfelt, inventive expression of corporate worship.

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.

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Daniel Bashta, writer of the new church anthems Like A Lion and Awakening, marks his recording debut with The Sounds Of Daniel Bashta.

His imaginative, prophetic expressions introduce a new standard to corporate worship with an 11-song tour de force that will arm, challenge and give voice to the roar of heaven.