Louder Than The Music

The Ember Days - Emergency

Artist:

The Ember Days

Title:

Emergency

Type:

Album

Released:

30 Aug 2011

LTTM Rating:

Your Rating:

Review

We've been crying out for an album like this. An album with a singular vibe, passion at full throttle throughout, crammed full of songs which work both in corporate and personal worship settings, and with production values high enough to make a dent in the moribund monolith of Nashville 'performance worship', 'Emergency', the new full length from The Ember Days is, without question the most exciting and important worship album to be released this year. The Nashville-via-New Zealand indie rockers released the quite brilliant 'Finger Painting' EP last year, but if anything, this record surpasses the beauty and brilliance of...
Read More We've been crying out for an album like this. An album with a singular vibe, passion at full throttle throughout, crammed full of songs which work both in corporate and personal worship settings, and with production values high enough to make a dent in the moribund monolith of Nashville 'performance worship', 'Emergency', the new full length from The Ember Days is, without question the most exciting and important worship album to be released this year. The Nashville-via-New Zealand indie rockers released the quite brilliant 'Finger Painting' EP last year, but if anything, this record surpasses the beauty and brilliance of that offering.

Everything here is spot on. The vocals of Jason and Janelle Belcher are a centre-piece of the album, particularly on the soon-to-be-classics 'Run To You', 'Make Us One' and 'Yeshua', whilst the rhythm section of Jordan Mackenzie and Jedidiah Lachmann is rock solid and creative throughout. Some of the groove-based interplay the band indulges in is spellbinding. If you add in swathes of guitars from Jase and Logan Mackenzie, you have one special mix. This is intricately crafted indie rock of the highest order, from start to finish the songs are given space to breathe and develop, with fine production from Kevin Bruchert and Brandon Perdue, with a cinematic mix from Jared Fox completing the job.

However great it is to hear a musically adventurous and enticing album emerging from Nashville (it is, exceedingly great), what's even more exciting is the passion, exuberance and sincerity on show in these songs. This is a band who mean every word they sing, for whom every note matters. The palpable sense of tension and release on the instrumental title track (another brave move, this) are evidence enough of that.

I've been in Churches where some of these songs have been played, and I can tell you that they are powerful for Churches to sing together. More than that, God is, well, just present in this album. It's hard to describe, and I'm sure some people will find that sentiment clumsy, perhaps theologically but, try as you might, there's no denying that, if you give this album a chance, it will almost certainly lead you into His presence. Surely the mark of a special and important recording.

The Ember Days are a special band, who have it in them to do great things. Head over to Comeandlive.com today, and get in on the ground floor of something very special.

Review by Haydon Spenceley

LTTM Rating 5 Out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Run To You
Yeshua
How Great Thou Art

Articles

News

The Ember Days Release New Full Length Album 'Emergency'

New Zealand natives The Ember Days will release their newest full length album 'Emergency' tomorrow, 30th August 2011. The band recorded the album while they were in the studio in 2010 working on their previous release 'Finger…

Get 'Emergency'

Track Listing

The Ember Days - Emergency

Review

Articles

The Ember Days Release New Full Length Album 'Emergency'

Other The Ember Days Releases

Live

More Than You Think

Finger Painting EP