Last year’s much-acclaimed worship album Radical Love proved to be so successful that the team behind it, which calls itself Victory Worship, decided the time was ripe for them to make another one. And so here it is, Rise Heart, a new album of pop Christian songs, which was released late last month. Once again, it is a clear embodiment of the group’s passion to create and make known music where they praise God and which also inspires others to do the same.
Victory Worship records under Every Nation Music, one of the music ministry arms of the local church named Victory. Among its members are well-known figures in the Philippine music industry. That being the case, it is no surprise that a major part of their daily worship is offering songs up to God. And because of this creativity conducive situation, putting together an album of their works seemed like the logical and of course, the easy thing to do.
That was how the Gold-selling Radical Love was born. Released last September 2014, it was recorded live at the Every Nation Building in Bonifacio Global City. This is the home of Every Nation, which is mainly a global church that is active in the campus ministry movement. If you will take the time to check the album credits you will find included in the line-up are compositions by Victor Asuncion, Lee Simon Brown, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan, Mico del Mundo, Archie Castillo and Joey Benin. All of them are familiar names in music, who I suppose, are among the talented members of Every Nation and the Victory Worship team.
The result was a blend of superior music writing and world-class production skills that instantly drew the attention of listeners from all over the world. Radical Love, recorded in the Philippines, mixed in Los Angeles and mastered in Nashville in the US of A became the first Contemporary Christian album in the whole world to top an iTunes chart during its first week of release. Aside from hitting it big in the Philippines, the album also made the charts of Singapore, Indonesia and the US.
This is no surprise as Radical Love has songs that can easily stand side by side with the best that pop producers have to offer. It is a very-well produced pop album of appealing songs that are great to listen to and which also gets you to worship the Lord at the same time. Songs included are Faithful, Your Love Is Greater, He Who Loved, Lord Of All, Hope Will Rise, We Will Go and the picks of the lot, Grace Changes Everything, Shine Upon The Philippines, Jesus My Savior, Radical Love and my favorite Great God.
Rise Heart, the new release, is no different. It is just as well-made and I do love the attention to detail that the producers also gave this album. And then there are the new songs, 16 cuts in all, all of them among the best that Victory Worship and Every Nation have to offer. Particularly involving is Rise Heart featuring Isa Fabregas, The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 quarter finalist. She also co-wrote the song with James Murrell, Rachel Murrell and William Murrell. Another standout is the celebratory anthem Dance In Freedom featuring Victor Asuncion, who is better known to his fans as Ian Asuncion. He also composed this song of joy about being set free and saved.
The other tracks in the album and the featured worship leaders are Call To Worship and My God featuring Joseph Ramos, Lost Without You and Many Waters, featuring Lee Brown, Ruler Of Nations, Pour Us Out and Reign Forever featuring Cathy Go, Blessing And Honor and Call To The Nations, also featuring Brown, Everlasting Glory, again with Ramos, Praise to The Lord Almighty with Brown and Go, and Forever Be and Lay It Down with Fabregas.
Radical Love and Rise Heart are now available in all House of Praise, Life by the Book and All Worship Generation outlets, as well as in selected branches of Astrovision, Odyssey and SM Record Bars.
Michael W. Smith at the Big Dome
Still on Contemporary Christian music. Here is a show fans might want to catch. One of its biggest stars, the singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith, will be in concert at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 17. Watch him live as he performs songs from Sovereign, his album of originals, and from his latest The Spirit Of Christmas, which recently won the Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year.