Reviewed by Pete Townsend

Since the long standing New Zealand-based worship aggregation re-launched with a new line up and a guitar-driven rock worship sound, quite different from the soul-tinged pop of the original Parachute Band, the group have toured the world and released two pretty good albums in 2007 and 2008 . But now, with a new lead singer, Omega Levine and with Sam de Jong (son of the Parachute Festival founders) producing, the group have delivered an album that delves into the '80s music scene with a nod at the punk world and an embrace of grunge guitar. Citing influences as diverse as the Killers, OneRepublic and Passion Pit, Parachute Band's music has an immediate familiarity to it that draws you in from the synth and vocal intro of "Gave It All" through to the final instrumental track "Soar". "Peace On Earth" is reminiscent of Delirious? at their best, which is confirmed when Martin Smith joins the band as guest vocalist on "It's You". This is one of those albums that is a gradual warmer - the more you listen the better it gets. If you get over the similar intros of string synths and smooth vocals for the start of each track then you may well agree that the band were worthy winners of the People's Choice Award at the mainstream 2008 NZ music awards.

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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Omega Levine and Sam de Jong formed New Zealand’s ‘next gen’ Parachute Band in 2007, picking up from where the original Parachute Band (1997–2006) had left off. They built a team of like-hearted musicians for one purpose: to translate an ancient message into sounds that could be understood on city streets.

To date, the ‘next gen’ Parachute Band have released two albums: Roadmaps & Revelations and Technicolour, which have had songs covered by Casting Crowns (Mercy) and Lincoln Brewster (I Belong To You).

Their third album, Love Without Measure, features more great songwriting and pulsing drums, angular guitars and odd synthbreakdowns that their fans have come to expect.