Faith Without Compromise | Posted January-19-2012 With so many up-and-coming talented artists in the Christian music industry, it can be very hard to choose who to support. However, there will always be an artist that will come along and captivate your heart with their talent and genuine love for God. That is exactly the case with BENBORI, an aggressive pop/modern rock duo with a vision to share the love and life changing power of God through their music. On their debut album, Not Bowing Down, Ben Clark and Bori Afolabi deliver ten action-packed tracks that encourage Christians to stay true to their faith and live completely for God.
The upbeat and rocking "Wanted" kicks off Not Bowing Down, as it speaks about the world's desperate need for God's love, and reminds us of our responsibility as Christians to show His love towards them. "...No more hiding out with your head in the sand/It's time to take a stand." The encouraging reminder of our duty as Christians was very welcoming in this song, as well as the dynamic guitar work and infectious melody. The passionate title track follows, encouraging the listener not to fall into worldly temptations, and to serve God only. When listening to this song, the passionate chorus compelled me to pump my fists and praise the Lord. "I'm not bowing down, I serve the Lord/I don't care if that's not popular." This song is an incredible statement of faith from BENBORI, and possesses a truly inspiring message. "Devil To The Door" leans on the quicker side of things, and speaks of dismissing the devil and his evil ways from your life; as Ben and Bori sing in unison "Shout it out loud....from the bottom of your soul/Giving up praise...show the devil to the door."
"Compromise" is a seismic referendum on wishy washy Christianity, encouraging the listener to live their life for God without compromise, and mirror Jesus wherever they go. The lyrics in this song are extremely convicting, especially during Ben Clark's verse; "You can't love Him, if you don't despise the world/You can't serve Him, if you still love the world." This song was easily my favourite from Not Bowing Down, because of its thought provoking lyrics and hip hop drum beat. "My Love" is a slow moving, piano based track that eventually builds up with a blues guitar solo and almost haunting harmonies. If I had to pick a least favourite track for the album, it would be this one. It is not a bad effort by any means, but I felt that because of the song's length and slow pace, it struggled to hold my attention.
"My Heart" is a laid back and comical collaboration between Ben and Bori, as the two sing about their hearts being on fire for God. "My heart is still beating but I'm not alive/Oh my heart's on fire....for you." The fun, upbeat vibe and clever trading of the vocals between the two secures this song as a highlight from the album. The following track, "The Mountatin" retells the story of a person's struggle to get past the mountain of sin that they have created between themselves and God. It describes how there are many distractions in this world that can lead us away from following Jesus, and I think this is something that all listeners will be able to relate to.
"The Blood" is a fast paced, rocking track that talks about the power of Jesus' blood through his sacrifice on the cross, and its ability to renew and redeem us. "What can wash away my sin?/Nothing but the blood of Jesus/What can make me whole again?/Nothing but the blood of Jesus." "Jesus Said" is an acoustic guitar driven track that reminds us what Christians must endure in this life. While it says that we will be persecuted and hated, it also states that we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus will never leave us through these difficult times. The introduction of strings during the final chorus contributes a beautiful element to the song. The final track "Time And A Reason" seems to be based on Ecclesiastes 3, as it talks about how there Jesus has a specific plan for everything that takes place in our lives.
Overall, BENBORI's debut project Not Bowing Down was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. I was certainly treated to a brilliant set of polished lyrics, moving melodies and Ben Clark and Bori Afolabi's heartwarming sense of energy and passion in sharing the love of God. BENBORI's modern rock sound infused with aggressive pop influences was very appealing. The band's focus on The Music, The Message and The Movement is a challenge for all Christians around the globe to step out in faith and live their lives for God without compromise. Ben Clark and Bori Afolabi are two extremely talented musicians, and I am truly blessed to have discovered their music!
You may know Matt Hammitt as the lead singer of successful rock band Sanctus Real, but with Every Falling Tear he goes solo as he shares the story of the struggles he and his wife Sarah had to endure during the birth of their song Bowen. Bowen, whose name means "small victorious one" was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which meant that only half of his heart had developed. Doctors were not even sure that Bowen would be even born. After months of prayer, Bowen was successfully delivered into the world in September 2010. Bowen had defied the odds, and God had performed a miracle. Every Falling Tear (released exactly one year after Bowen's miraculous heart surgery) is a collection of poignant songs that follow the struggles of the Hammitt family during this time, and the growth in Matt's faith as he learned to completely trust in God throughout these struggles.
Every Falling Tear opens up with the first single "All of Me", beginning with haunting piano and featuring guitar work that resembles U2, a track that reflects Matt's decision to give up his fear of losing his son in order to recklessly love him. "You're gonna know all my love/even if it's not enough/enough to mend our broken hearts/but giving you all of me /is where I'll start." The following songs "Holding You" and "Let Go" are written about surrender. The latter of these two songs follows the story of wife Sarah's struggles during the time before Bowen's birth, offering an encouraging reminder to the listener that"In these hard times/it's not in what you hold onto/it's in the one who's holding you tonight." Co-written with Joy Williams, "Let Go" features beautiful piano, as it speaks of letting go of our troubles and handing them over to God, and trusting that he is in control of everything.
The acoustic guitar driven "Trust" was written during the time of Bowen's heart surgery, when Matt struggled to believe that any good could come out of the situation. This song offers an encouraging reminder that God has always been faithful to us in the past, and we need to continually place our trust in him. Lyrically, "You Are My Treasure" is a beautiful worship ballad that encourages the listener to make Jesus their treasure. "Without You" speaks of our need for God in our lives, saying that life without Him would be meaningless and incomplete.
Lyrically, "Let It Bring You Praise" is the strongest track on the record. This song is an emotional prayer from Matt, as it reflects his heartfelt desire to let everything he does bring glory to God. "Before I was born/You numbered my days /the story is yours /I'm just a page /with every word /I want to proclaim /let my life proclaim." "Little Light", featuring incredible guest vocals from Audrey Assad, is another one of the highlights from the album. It is a peaceful lullaby dedicated to Matt's children, giving a sweet reminder that God is always watching over them. "I Couldn't Love You More" follows in much the same manner, a comforting reminder that Jesus loves us more than we can ever imagine. Every Falling Tear comes to a close with "This Is Grace", a song that re-centres around the album's theme, saying that the reason for our suffering is so God can be enabled to move in and work freely in our lives.
There's no doubt that Every Falling Tear is certainly an emotional record! I was thoroughly pleased with this album, because not only does Matt emphasise the difficult times he faced during Bowen's condition, he also shares how much he grew in faith in spite of this tough situation. Be sure to keep some tissues nearby as you listen to a truly inspiring project filled with songs of comfort, hope and redemption, and a strong reminder that God has the power to make good out of any circumstance!
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