Darlene Zschech “Testament (EP1)” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Shout to the Lord, You Are Great, Testament

Overall Grade: 5/5

Since Darlene Zschech left Hillsong Church in 2012, she has diversified her ministry focus. Instead of partnering with her team to release the yearly live albums, she helped her husband set up HopeUC, which now has campuses in Australia, the US, and India. Also, her success with cancer had taken a chunk of her time. In the interim years, she has released one studio solo project, two live worship albums, one Christmas record, one instrumental effort, one compilation collection, and a handful of singles. Seven years after her last live worship record, she is back with "Testament."

"Testament" is a mammoth album with 30 tracks, created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Zschech's signature tune, "Shout to the Lord." The entire 30-song album, which comprises five new songs and a re-imagination of 25 of Zschech's most famous songs, will be released in October. In the meantime, Integrity Music has released a 5-song preview EP.  EP 1 opens with Zschech's iconic "Shout to the Lord." The reimagined version has a majestic feel featuring the backing of the Australian Christian Orchestra. The only setback is that Zschech has enlisted her youngest daughter, Zoe Cameron, to sing the second verse. Zoe, unfortunately, has not inherited her mother's musical genes. She comes across as sounding flat without displaying much emotion. Fortunately, she only appears for a short while before getting overshadowed (thankfully) by her mother.

Speaking of Zschech's daughters, her other daughter, Amy Hood, and son-in-law Andrew, partner with Zschech to write the title cut "Testament." A tuneful and danceable endeavor that speaks of God's faithfulness, the song boasts the memorable line: You're with me like David and Goliath/Just like Daniel and the lion/Oh God, You are the one who'll never change. Zschech then delivers a rousing version of her 2017 worship anthem, "You Are Great." Written during Zschech's cancer struggles, the song is a moving testimony of her belief that God is still great despite our weaknesses. Listening to this gorgeous power ballad within the context of her cancer recovery is humbling and faith-filling.

"Cry of the Broken" is a sleeper song tucked away at the end of Hillsong's "God is Able" album. Other than the over-repetition of the title at the end of the ballad, it is a tender exposition of Christ's compassion. The line You're the mender of the broken/To every outcast/A friend and comforter is particularly moving. I'm not sure what SVRCINA's vocals add to the classic "Worthy is the Lamb," but the re-cut version is far too safe and slow. Nevertheless, these are only five entries out of the 30 songs. And overall, they don't disappoint; they only whet our appetite for what is yet to come.

 

 

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