Reviewed by Paul Ewbank

Throughout the three decades Newsboys have been a band and through all their lineup changes and shifts in style, one thing has remained the same: their sense of fun. No matter who is singing or what sound they're going for you can always count on these guys to deliver a set of bright, fun-filled pop songs overflowing with gleeful energy and charisma. 'Love Riot', the band's sixth album with frontman Michael Tate, is no exception. From the opening moments of "Crazy" Tate's booming, show-stopper of a voice takes centre stage, boldly declaring his faith in God over a backdrop of throbbing synths and disco beats. "I don't care if the whole world thinks I'm crazy," roars Tate like a lion, delivering the kind of straightforward, life-affirming message Newsboys are so good at. There's nothing careful or subtle about this music. Every thunderous vocal melody and earth-shaking drum beat on "Hero" or the title track sounds tailor made to fill arenas and stadiums around the world. "Guilty" shows a slightly more thoughtful side with its topical lyrics about political correctness gone too far, but it always comes back to the simple, powerful idea of standing for Christ against the rest of the world. One of the most inspired moments is the cover of Bethel's "No Longer Slaves", which starts out with the same reverent tone as the original but piles on more and more vocal tracks, morphing into a roof-raising gospel anthem by the jubilant conclusion. The album is a tiny bit inconsistent but the atmosphere of joy and praise never lets up. Newsboys are undeniable masters of the pop craft and on 'Love Riot' they sound just as unstoppable as ever.

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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