Review

When I first received this album and realized it was a collaboration between Hillsong and Delirious, I was initially a bit skeptical. Individually, each of these two groups have had a tremendous impact on the worshipping community over the last ten years. They have each contributed some dynamic musical vehicles (i.e. - songs) through which tens of thousands of people have found a fresh expression of personal love and praise for God. Yet, their styles are distinct. What would be the result of mixing them together?

That question was soundly answered for me on my first listen-through of Unified Praise. It was an electric experience, charged from beginning to end with spiritual wattage! Rather than a joint worship band, it proved to be each of the groups doing a separate worship set back to back at the Sydney SuperDome in Sydney, Australia (though Martin Smith joins Hillsong vocally on one of the tunes and the Hillsong vocalists jump in on Delirious' last number).

For the review, I was also given a copy of a DVD of the event. WOW! I kid you not the atmosphere was charged with the presence of God as 20,000 plus worshippers abandoned themselves to God. The DVD is now available, and I encourage you to make sure you get your hands on a copy. You won't regret it.

The album is full of favorites. Hillsong's Everyday, I Give You My Heart, and Delirious' History Maker, Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble, and I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, just to name a few. I love "live" recordings, and this one goes right up near the top of my list. Technically, I thought the mix was great. Plenty of crowd noise to make me feel like I was there. No muddy or washed out vocals or instrumentals. In a word, it was just awesome!

But if you buy this album, the quality of the recording won't be the best thing you receive. The spiritual dynamics are far and above the treasure this album has to offer. You won't be enter - tained you will enter in to a powerful worship experience. Thank you Hillsong and Delirious for linking arms and gifting us with Unified Praise.

Review by Danny Mullins