Veteran worship rockers Delirious? serve up The Mission Bell, a diversely styled collection of new music regarding society and life's issues. Breaking out of their trademark modern worship sound (but not completely-), this inspiring release includes "Solid Rock," "Fires Burn," "Now Is The Time," and more.

Mission: Church

After 13 albums that helped define the “modern worship” movement as we know it, countless tours of arenas and amphitheaters, and well over a million records sold, the members of Delirious (all original by the way) show no signs of slowing down. In fact, their latest release, The Mission Bell, actually ups the ante in both musical and lyrical terms.

The comparisons between Delirious and U2 are inevitable and well-founded. Though always more liberal with the keyboards than its Irish predecessors, the group’s inspired euro-rock creates updrafts of energizing, anthemic spectacle. And while its connection to people of faith has always been paramount, the songs that comprise The Mission Bell are a virtual clarion call to the church. There are no double entendres or vagaries to be found. This is all about calling the church out, motivating her to become what she was meant to be. Grand? Sweeping? Epic? Sure. It’s all of those things, but add one descriptive to the list for the first time in Delirious’s tenure: prophetic.

Understanding that Biblical prophecy has more to do with spurring the church on to growth and movement than telling the future, Delirious has drawn a bead on the heart—and backside—of believers. As the title suggests, this album is a call to service—to finding and embracing the mission of the body of Christ. The album’s opener, “Stronger,” delivers its challenge toward church unity and focus via a plodding and melancholy piano drone a la Keane or Coldplay, then adds a majestic choir to the ending for a soaring and characteristically moving Delirious experience. The theme continues with the following track, “Now is the Time,” a sweeping and motivational epic.

Other standouts include the simple arena-rock power of “Solid Rock,” an adaptation on the classic hymn “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” that features tobyMac flowing the hymn’s original lyrics to impressive effect. There is also the surprisingly confrontational “Our God Reigns,” which dares to juxtapose faith with serving the least of these (focusing specifically on the issues of abortion, AIDS and humanity’s obsession with “self”).

The Mission Bell is unafraid to challenge, chide and inspire all at the same time. From cavernous rock anthems full of swagger and scope, to intimate and at times painful confessions of failure and fear, this is worship music with teeth.

JOHN J. THOMPSON- CCMMagazine.com

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• Genre >> Alternative/Modern
• Genre >> Modern Worship
• Music >> Full-Album CD
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