Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls

Artist: Hillsong United
Label: Integrity
Genre: Praise & Worship

By Debra Akins, contributing editor, GospelMusicChannel.com

Hillsong United return with their first live CD recording since 2006. Featuring 12 songs (11 new tracks), Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls is another massive hit for this team of musicians that has become the biggest youth worship band around the globe. Sporting Hillsong United's signature power-pop/rock worship melodies, this live recording perfectly illustrates the band's appeal to the crowds that continue to pack arenas worldwide to take part in a true worship experience.

Complete with driving guitars, pulsing drum beats and melodic keys, Across the Earth mixes energetic, fist-pumping crowd-pleasers with huge, anthemic ballads that are destined to become worship favorites in congregations around the world. Standout numbers include the opening "Freedom Is Here," "Tear Down The Walls" and "Your Name High," written by group leader Joel Houston.

Almost on a separate plane, however, are two stunning songs from singer/songwriter Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood. Her contributions this time around are a new recording of "Desert Song" and the beautiful "Soon," a tender ballad that points us toward the coming Kingdom. They fit well in an overall collection of inspirational worship at its best, which is exactly why this band continues to amass huge audiences of worshipers no matter where they perform.