Reviewed by Tony Cummings

California's Phil Wickham has come a long, long way from those years in the mid 2000s when, as a then unknown worship leader with a couple of independent albums out, he would faithfully make the annual trip to minister at CreationFest at that time held in Devon. Of course Phil is one of the major figures in modern worship who can minister in some of America's biggest auditoriums while his songs like "This Is Amazing Grace" have impacted the world Church. This eagerly awaited set is Phil's 11th album and is as strong as its predecessors. The opener "Doxology" is a perfect doorway to which one steps into spirit-led worship. The standout track here is "The Secret Place", a duet performed with Madison Cunningham (another Californian singer who makes regular visits to CreationFest). The blend of Phil's signature vibrato and Madison's angelic tones brings out all the worshipful beauty of the song. Almost as good is Wickham's "Starmaker", its lyrics powerfully conveying the sense of wonder we feel when we consider God's ways ("I can't look away; I am captivated/What else can I say but sing my adoration/You are holy above the Earth"). While on the subject of lyrics, I love the line from the title track "We are soldiers, we're fighting the faith in love." Production by Pete Kipley is spot on. No doubt this album will feed believers for years to come.

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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