What happens when two of the biggest forces in modern praise and worship get together for one CD? Hillsongs, lead by Darlene Zschech, and best known for songs such as "Shout to the Lord" and "Power of Your Love," has been one of the landmark groups in modern praise and worship. Delirious? is another group that has been a huge factor in the popularity of this movement, releasing songs such as "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever," "The Happy Song," and "Shout to the North." There is quite possibly no two bigger names in the modern praise and worship movement than these two.
So what happens when these two groups collaborate on one praise and worship event which is then recorded for a CD? Unfortunately, a disappointing release. The energy that was no doubt at the live event is not on this album. There is very little collaboration on the various tracks, with only a few featuring the two groups together. Even when Martin Smith of Delirious? and Darlene Zschech of Hillsongs sing a duet on a song, it is really only one artist performing guest vocals, and usually the guest vocals are hard to hear.
So what does this project feature? New songs? Not exactly. The event where this album was originally recorded occurred a year and a half ago, so even songs that were new at the time such as Delirious? hits, "Rain Down" and "Majesty," are now familiar songs. The best songs from both groups? No, there are some outstanding hits from both, but some of the songs are definitely not the best known songs from the groups--many of those hits aren't on this project. One group performing some of the hits of the others? We do get Zschech performing "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever," but that's about it. Maybe the two groups are going to alternate songs. The first song is by Hillsongs, and the second is by Delirious? but the trend ends there as Hillsongs performs a few more songs and Delirious? performs the entire second half of the album. This project feels like a concert where Hillsongs performs, the two perform together for a short time and Delirious? performs the rest of the album.
With two huge groups, expectations were high for this release. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to those expectations and is a project that only die-hard fans will enjoy.
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Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Kevin MathewsRecorded during the Hillsong Conference 2003, delirious? combined with the Hillsong worship team to record this live event where 20,000 worshippers packed the Sydney Superdome. Whilst I am certain that it was an awesome time of praise and worship to God on the night itself, none of it comes through this recording. In fact, despite the participation of delirious?, who are no slouches, this album…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithI don't know if Hillsong started the modern worship concept, if it has simply evolved as an outgrowth of the Vineyard Church, but Hillsong has certainly been largely responsible for its growth in the last ten years. Led by Darlene Zschech ("Shout to the Lord"), Unified:Praise captures a praise service during a Hillsong conference in Sydney, Australia two years ago. Zschech and company are joined…
