Reviewed by Anthony Longville

In 2005 the hard music band Kutless released the album 'Strong Tower', which Cross Rhythms reviewer Mike Rimmer described as "a flaccid, predictable, damp, dull, pointless album" which simply demonstrated a rock band jumping on the worship bandwagon. Presumably someone disagrees, given the release of this deluxe edition. So what do you get on this version? As well as the original album, there are two previously unreleased songs, a live performance video and chord charts for five songs (I could only find three!). As you listen there is nothing here to tell you this is a hard rock band. Nothing really that makes this stand out from so much of the youth oriented worship music that is available to the masses. One of the bonus cuts, "We Exalt Thee", is a medley of that song and another old worship standard "I Love You Lord". Great worship songs if a little dated perhaps, but a million miles from what you'd expect from Kutless. The other old time hymn "My Saviour And My God" seems even more incongruous. The deluxe version additions don't make 'Strong Tower' any more worthwhile second time around.

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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