Artist: Sojourn
Album: Over the Grave
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewer: Alex Judge
Sojourn is basically a group of friends from church who got together to make a worship record. This new release was completely produced, engineered, and performed by members of the Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY. Those heading up the project decided that they were going to do an in depth study of the music of Isaac Watts, the father of hymns as we know them, and to write contemporary songs based on the concepts he used. This album, “Over the Grave,” is the first installment of what will be a few albums under the same roof of Watts’s influence.
The style of these songs is very different of the typical worship song, as there are elements that one would certainly not expect. Lyrics bring a very often overlooked theme to the table such as God’s judgement and wrath. Sojourn presents a varied album stylistically and thematically. The opening song, “Warrior,” has a very unique style with an upright bass, plucked strings and a vocal line in the style of Jimmy Needham. This song presents God as the warrior who will conquer all the earth and will have the nations bowing before him. “Reveal Your Love” is a call for God to show his love and not his wrath, his people appealing to his merciful nature. The album overall seeks to create a balance between the reality that God is a just, wrathful, and righteous God and the equally as true reality that he is loving, merciful, and full of grace.
You will enjoy this album. Though it may not necessarily be one of those all time favorite collections of songs that will just be replayed over and over, you will greatly benefit from the truths present in the songs. I believe that this album will cause many to rethink what worship music sounds like and this fresh look at the old hymns will be wonderful addition to your collection of music.
