Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As long-in-tooth followers of modern worship will tell you, Anaheim, California was where John Wimber's Vineyard Music grew and flourished a few decades back. Now clearly this aggregation, emanating from The Rock Church, Anaheim, are continuing in that line with passionate, give-God-everything worship. The lyric "My life is in you/My hope is in you/My trust is in you/For evermore" followed by the declaration "I will not fear" may not be the most poetic or imaginative lyrics you've encountered but they are just the kind of words we need to be singing to our Lord during this time as fear and insecurity circle our globe. That song "My Life Is In You" is followed by a brief preach that reminds us that God will give us the desires of our heart and that "probably God has put those desires in our heart already" before worship pastor David Dirmann leads us into "All". There was nothing musically groundbreaking about this album and certainly the production is a bit rawer than some of those high profile "live" worship projects we are used to hearing where there are numerous overdubs and electronic adjustments. But there is though throughout 'God Will Reign' a sense of worship and abandoned praise even on a song as simplistic as "Praise The Lord". Plus we occasionally do get above-average songs like the gentle "Matchless Love" sung by a female choir or the propulsive opening rocker "Unstoppable". If you are looking for modern worship where atmosphere and authenticity seem more important than production slickness, this album could well be for you.

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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