Kutless has continued to make massive impacts in the last several years being awarded RIAA Gold Certification for their worship-based album Strong Tower in addition to Gold Certification for Long-Form video Live From Portland. Their most recent album, It Is Well, has made an impact with the hit song “What Faith Can Do.” This single topped the 2010 Mediabase Christian AC Song of the Year, and in addition to Mediabase, “What Faith Can Do” was the No. 2 Billboard Hot Christian Song of the Year. Kutless was also named the No. 7 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year, and It Is Well was the No. 10 Billboard Christian Album of the Year.
February 2012 brings the bands new album Believer and continues to press this band further into the AC/CHR market and growing their consumer reach with songs that transcend listeners. This album was produced by Dave Lubben (producer of It Is Well) and Christopher Stevens/ David Garcia (Mandisa, Sanctus Real, TobyMac).
The first single "Carry Me To The Cross" is a worshipful cry and reminder about God's never-ending faithfulness and grace.
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Kutless [Believer]| Posted March 09, 2012
Just like that, Kutless has transformed from that new rock band from Oregon to the one new bands look up to, the band whose music is all over the radio in multiple formats, the band that’s sold millions of records. Ten years after their debut self-titled album, Kutless is returning with their newest album Believer. I remember the first time I heard their debut hit single “Run” in 2002. I was a new believer and the band won me over with the emotional and prayerful lyrics from God’s perspective: “Why do you run, why do you hide, oh don’t you know I just, want to be with you, why do you run, why do you hide, oh don’t you know I just, just want to be with you. Be with you.” I can’t listen to the last stanza without getting emotional: “Find a place of solitude, and I'll speak to you, As you pray to Me, Don't you know I'm waiting here, waiting for you to read and hear My Words, I'm waiting here missing the time the times we shared, well, please come to Me.” From that point until now, I’ve been a major fan of the band. According to lead singer Jon Micah Sumrall: “We wanted our name to represent the impact of what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ took our beating and paid the wages of our sin (Romans 6:23). He took our cuts for us, leaving us "Kutless." Amen. That sentiment has been displayed in each of the band’s solid albums.
The rockers on Believer are opening track “If It Ends Today,” “All Yours,” “Need” and “Gravity.” Since guitarist Nick DePartee joined the band they have really found their niche musically and lyrically and seven of these new tracks and all four rockers were co-written by Nick. He also co-wrote their previous hit songs “Amazed,” “You Save Me” and “Remember Me” from It Is Well. They are all instantly engaging and hook-filled songs that are filled with biblical Truth. I love the chorus “Raise your hands if you're with me, Raise your hands if you're ready, Say hey! hey! I'm not afraid, Hey! hey! hey! If it ends today” in the opener. As Christians, we need to remember we’re not made for this world and we need to live as though today is our last day, unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “All Yours” has already become my rock worship anthem with the vertical lyrics: “It's all Yours anyway, You gave Your life to save me, So take my life.” Amen to that! Rock single “Need” is a great rock anthem with sincere and confessional lyrics: “Help me God I do believe, But I feel lost and it’s killing me, I need You right now.” The urgency of the message fits the tempo of the song perfectly. “Need” is a great song for workout sessions.
I’ve seen Kutless in concert many times, and the crowd response to their worship ballads has been moving and appeals to all musical preferences from my parents to my three young daughters. The worship ballads “What Faith Can Do,” “Everything I Need” and “I’m Still Yours” were all hit songs from It Is Well. If you are a newer Kutless fan looking for that musical style, then you’ll absolutely love the remaining songs which are all in that vein. “Carry On,” “Even If,” “Hero,” “Identity,” “Come Back Home,” “This Is Love,” “I’m With You” and “Believer” are all radio-friendly and potential hit songs that will resonate with all Kutless fans. “Carry On” features the biblical Truth from John 14:6: “You are the Way, You are the light, You are the voice calling me through the night.”“Even If” has biblical lyrics proclaiming truth from Isaiah 55: “Lord we know Your ways are not our ways, So we set our faith in who You are” and Romans 8: “We trust You always, You’re working all things for our good, We’ll sing Your praise, Even if the healing doesn’t come.” Amen. This is a very enjoyable album and I identify with the messages of every song. The closing tracks are certainly highlights. Title track “Believer” was co-written by lead singer Sumrall and is a bold statement of faith, ”There’s not a greater love that you’ll find in this life, I’m a believer in Christ.” Closing track “Carry Me To The Cross” is a great song for the Church, with the catchy and worshipful chorus:”Hallelujah! You carry me every day, You carry me all the way, Hallelujah! You carry me to the, You carry me to the cross.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS Believeris the band’s crowning achievement featuring thirteen excellent rock worship songs. The album has a perfectly balanced mix of rockers and ballads and Jon Micah’s vocals have never sounded better. This is their most complete overall album loaded with quality songs that all draw me closer to Christ. If you’re looking for the best of Kutless, this is their top album surpassing all of their previous excellent work. For sure, Believer is among the top albums of the year.
Lyrically Sound Musically Brilliant| Posted February 27, 2012
This is another of the amazing additions to the catalog of not just Kutless album but CCM music. "Even If" "Hero" and "This Is Love" are tracks that are not just speaking musically but calling spiritually and that is the real beauty of CCM. "I'm With You" sounds fresh all the way. Not to forget "Gravity" and "If It Ends Today" which is no doubt taking the musical style of Kutless forward. Add into it song like "Believer" which makes the album varied in its musical style which is the best part of it all. You never get bored listening to same style of composition throughout the album. Kutless have proved it everytime and they take forward their sound of worship pop/rock blend.
Not Believin' It| Posted March 31, 2012
Long-time christian hard rock group Kutless has been wowing us with their undeniably powerful sound for almost 10 years now. They have amazed us both with their catchy, riff-influenced hard rock sound and also with their radio-ready, silky smooth worship sound. However, their latest effort, Believer, does not continue their imaginative, creative blend. Instead, they have hooked together many uncreative, flat ballads with a couple awkwardly odd "rock" songs. While I believe they have a lovely sound, this is NOT the Kutless that many have come to know and love.
I'm sure anyone reading this review can tell that I am not a fan of this album. However, I am a fan of a couple of these songs--if they were spread out into a couple other albums. For example, the title track is a very inspiring and well-written song about the tough times in life. As storms approach, as a Christian we are ready to tackle them because we have Christ in our hearts. This song, "If It Ends Today", and "Carry Me to the Cross" are probably what make up for this dissappointment of an album. I really expected a rougher, more open-sounding Kutless instead of this soft, quiet Kutless. Hopefully their next album will erase this review and keep my love for Kutless alive. You can do it, boys!
2.5/5| Posted March 08, 2012
I guess I'm just not into CCM becuase I found Kutless's latest album a bit of a disappointment. Aside from the few good rock songs, the album just sounded really generic. Jon Micah vocals are the real highlight of the album and give it a little more credability. I just hope that Kutless can go back to the sound that was present on Hearts of the Innocent for there next album. As it stands now, it's a fine album if you are into this kind of music but as for me, it's a bit too generic and a bit disappointing.
Tough Act to Follow| Posted February 28, 2012 This is about standing bold--If it Ends Today. This is about realzing that when we can't Carry On we lean on the strength of Jesus to do so. This is about realizing that nothing we have is ours, all we have is a gift from God; we bow and proclaim: It's All Yours, God.This about never wavering in your faith Even If time are hard or if God tosses you a curve ball. This is about not letting the world define us and not allowing them to tear us down because we could quite possibly be a Hero. This is about finding our Identity in Christ. This is about coming to terms with the fact that God is all that we Need. This about knowing the truth that regardless of how much we screw up we can still Come Back Home. This is Love shown in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who followed God's Will all the way to the cross. This is the truth that God's awesomness is like Gravity that continually pulls us to Him. This is about coming to terms with our doubts to boldy proclaim I'm With You! This is about being a Believer and believing that God is who He says He is and that He is always their for us in our trials; then taking this truth and sharing it with the hurting world. This is a testiment to faith in boldly asking Jesus to Carry [you] to the Cross, knowning that you are not alone in your trials. This is Kutless, and this album takes every one of their previous works, intertwines them, and creates a beautiful masterpiece of music. This album will be a tough act to follow as it is both vertical and horizontal (as in it touches the lives), and dynamic. Both rock and worship, and definitely worth five stars.
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