Reviewed by Keren Perrott

It may seem an odd title for a record but Franklin has previously spoken of the fact that his albums are created with individual songs born out of a central theme, and the concept of triumph over fear is most definitely the thematic thread here. This is another exceptionally solid offering from Franklin, the Texan-born multi-award-winning gospel star and each song has been created with expert craftsmanship and thought provoking lyrics. From the gospel sounds of the opening title track and the life-affirming "Before I Die", to the beautiful, haunting vocals and piano on "But The Blood", Franklin knows how to hit all the right notes in an album that has huge appeal to lovers of gospel-fused R&B. Oh, and he's cool in his mass market appeal, too - check out American Idol's 2011 finale show for a snippet of Franklin holding stage with Gladys Knight, no less, and fifth-place winner Jacob Lusk. The trio gave a rousing rendition of "I Smile", to the delight of the all-age live audience. That Franklin is so often joined by some of gospel's best-known contemporary talents says a great deal about his standing within the global gospel music scene. This is a fine example of how he got there.

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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