Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Increasingly modern worship, particularly those like this one emanating from the mega-churches, are getting mixed reviews from the critics. About 'Wake Up The Wonder' one journo enthused that it was "like a shot of adrenaline to your heart, a holy wallop that will reset your soul and get you excited about God once more" while another suggested that an album focused on Genesis 28 "would come alive all the more had the music steered beyond the typical modern worship mould." The truth about this set recorded in front of 16,000 worshippers at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina by the worship team at Charlotte's Elevation Church is that both reviewers have a point. The opener, with its synth-driven melody and propulsive driving does indeed welcome you to a place "where rejoicing reigns/Cause our God is great/And greatly to be praised." But only the most blinkered of Elevation supporters would suggest that this set breaks any new musical ground. So one is left trying to find particular songs that might have the legs to travel to churches beyond North Carolina. The majestic "Ever Glorious" or the plea for miraculous impartation "The King Is Among Us" with its powerful chorus "We need your revival/Holy Spirit fire/Burning every brighter/In our souls" would be my tips. Both were co-written and sung with passion by worship leader Chris Brown while the band here are, as you'd expect from a mega-church ensemble, bright and tight.

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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