Music. Sing a New Song.

God Is Able

By Hillsong Live

Hillsong Live has just released God Is Able, the group’s 20th annual recording. The album features 11 brand-new songs led by Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Ben Fielding, Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong United team. This time they’ve also involved musicians from their churches in London, Stockholm and Cape Town.

The theme of God Is Able centers on having hope and confidence in God, even in the midst of personal devastation or that caused by phenomena such as tsunami, nuclear disasters, wars or riots.

This is exemplified in the track “With Us”: “There’s no end to Your love … You’re with us, You’re with us / There’s nothing in this world that could take you away / You’re with us, You’re with us.”

The 11 tracks are classic Hillsong, with many layers and memorable melodies. There are great guitar riffs all over the album, in contrast to last year’s atmospheric and keyboard-rich A Beautiful Exchange. Lyrically, the songs cover the love of God, the work of Christ in saving, the change He brings in His people, and the journey of following Jesus under His care.

There are songs of adoration (“You Are More”) alongside upbeat anthems that Hillsong is so good at creating (“God Is Able,” “Rise” and “Alive in Us” particularly stand out). Guitars shimmer and slice, drums pound and swell, bass lines lay down a solid but interesting foundation, and vocals are well-captured. Through it all is the sound of the church worshiping, because this is a live album, after all!

All of the songs are eminently singable, grounded in Scripture and created for glorifying God while building up the church with encouragement. For those who have faced tough seasons, or need a vocabulary for trust, hope and exaltation, grab a copy of God Is Able and spend some time reveling in the goodness, majesty and power of God.

Reviewed by: Jonathan Griffiths, assistant pastor at Cornerstone Worship Center, a Foursquare church in Nampa, Idaho.