Album: The Rock Won’t Move
Artist: Vertical Church Band
Label: Provident Label Group
Release: October 29, 2013
Vertical Church Band’s second full-length live album is full of songs focused on God being our sufficiency, protector, and strength. In keeping with the title track, the lyrics focus on God being a solid rock which His people should rely on at all times.
Vertical Church Band isn’t actually a band per se but a group of worship leaders and musicians who serve every week throughout the Chicagoland area as part of Harvest Bible Chapel. This group of writers is quite prolific, and this album is just a slice of the 100+ songs they’ve written in the last few years.
Remember, reviews on The Church Collective are written for worship leaders in the local church, so songs will be discussed in terms of how they work in a congregational setting.
Found in You // Their worship set kicks off with one of the most upbeat songs on the album, with a Celtic rock feel. This is an excellent kick-off song as it invites God to come and change us as we worship Him. “Give us a greater glimpse of a never-changing God, ’til all we want and all we need is found in You.” These lyrics speak to the kind of “spiritually formative” worship Glenn Packiam of Desperation Band is such a fan of. Be encouraged, worship leaders: the songs we sing aren’t only expressive–they contain Biblical truths that change lives.
Sidenote: the group vocals, melody, and drum groove give this and several other tunes on this album a Hillsong United feel. And while I’m not a fan of the current fad of singing long sections with no words (the Coldplay “Ohhhhhh” thing) I appreciate that when it happens on this album, it’s not an integral part of the song which can’t be removed.
I’m Going Free (Jailbreak) // My favorite song on the album. If you’ve ever seen them lead this live you will appreciate that the live version has so much more energy and conviction than the studio version on their recent EP. This song actually breaks from the album’s theme a bit, but that’s alright because it rocks. A rambunctious and joy-filled tune, with an ending that is just stuffed full of gladness. The song typically ends on the third verse (which is a nicely offbeat way to end a song), but they count into one last barn-burner chorus which also works. I actually introduced this at a retreat recently and it was very well-received (and we had a stripped down band of keyboard, acoustic guitar, kick drum and voices).
The Rock Won’t Move // My second-favorite song, and the cornerstone of this album. A catchy melody, but more importantly a very strong yet poetic message. Throw in bridge lyrics from the classic hymn “My Hope Is Built (The Solid Rock)” and you’ve got me hooked! “The Rock won’t move and His word is strong, the Rock won’t move and His love can’t be undone.” The live version is long and rightly so–this is the type of song you can just keep singing.
Worthy, Worthy // A medium-speed song with a simple, powerful chorus and quiet, more contemplative verses. This is a rare three-verse song, and I really like the last verse which speaks of Christ’s return and our standing and singing His glory forevermore. Giving our congregations a glimpse of heavenly worship is a good thing, and this song does that.
I Will Follow // The spare instrumentation on this acoustic tune is nice, showing that this song works without a full band. A good song to wrap up a set, since it’s really a song of commitment. “Even in the good I’ll follow You… even in the storms I’ll follow You… I believe and I will follow You.”
Strong to Save // “The Lord our God is mighty in battle.” We don’t get a lot of lyrics like this in today’s worship music, and that’s too bad because we need to be reminded that God isn’t powerless or removed from us: He is mighty in the battles we face. Another powerful song for those in the midst of trials.
Call on the Name // This song would work well at the end of a set, since it’s a commitment to call on God’s name, to find our strength in His name. This should touch the hearts of those in the midst of trials (some of us) and those who will have trials in the future (the rest of us).
Strong God // My third-favorite song on this album. You may have already heard this anthem from Desperation Band (since it was co-written by their lead singer Jon Egan). The simple, singable chorus emphasizes the strength and might of God. Listening to the live version it’s easy to picture millions of saints gathered around His throne singing this very song.
Only Jesus Can // A “response song” for sure, re-affirming that Jesus can do it. The stripped-down instrumentation works great, building the song into a Celtic rock feel. This tune might be the trickiest of the whole set to pick up vocally, and that says a lot because it is still quite singable. This is one of those upbeats songs that you can’t help but smile as you sing. “He can do it, yes He can!”
He Has Won // The most rocking song on the album in terms of speed and a straightforward groove. This tune could work for your Easter services, “The grave has lost its sting and its grip over me, ’cause He has won.”
Overall this album is quite congregation and band-friendly. While every song on the album may not work in every church, they are all simple enough for your Sunday congregations and volunteer bands to pick up. And while the songs remain accessible, the lyrics are still poetic and strong. So thank-you, Vertical Church Band, for being focused on writing vertically-oriented tunes for our congregations. We appreciate you!
God Bless,
Eric Schlange
Worship Review // Paul Baloche // Christmas Worship