Great & Glorious (CD/DVD)

Yfriday’s latest album arrives at precisely the point when most bands are trying to rebrand and recycle, at some way towards the end of the first decade. But that’s not what’s going on with the worship-soaked, heavenly-charged, congregation-fuel known as Great & Glorious. Controversial as the word may be, there’s none that describes Yfriday’s latest project better: it’s an evolution, a maturing into everything their potential has hinted at.

And so we have the eleven congregational worship songs that make up Great and Glorious; a grown up record, an album of depth and feeling but rooted in the band’s core principles of hooks, melodies, guitars and raw, honest appeal. The album contains the trademark Yfriday bounce-ups – like ‘Joy Of The Lord’, ‘Alive’ and the title track – but it is the presence of a number of slower, more obviously worshipful tracks that mark this release out. ‘You Spoke’ is rooted in Biblical truth, ‘Saviour & Friend’ uploads the intimate truth of a personal revelation of God while ‘Come Let Us Worship’ is as strong a call to worship as you could ever hope to hear.

Perhaps the clearest example of the new phase that Yfriday find themselves in is the track ‘You Will Not Steal Our Children’. Getting the Trinity, Lazarus, the exodus and a powerful declaration of spiritual steadfastness into one song is no mean feat, but pulling it off in such a powerful and infinitely singable song as this is remarkable. Stuff like this can only come from the heart, and just one listen is enough to confirm that Yfriday’s is beating very well indeed.

This new batch of songs sees co-writes with Delirious’ Martin Smith and Worship Central’s Tim Hughes. Some of the songs have already been used on the band’s pre-Christmas tour. With Delirous co-producer Sam Gibson, the band have crafted a contemporary sounding album that crosses into congregational worship which both inspires and challenges. The launch of Great And Glorious coincides with the band leading worship this year at Spring Harvest and ECG Events. A full UK tour will follow later this year. The album will also include a bonus DVD which will feature a guide to playing the songs for a smaller gatherings.

Ken Riley - There On The Cross