Worth Dying For [Live Riot]
Posted January 29, 2012
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
With a mission to be not just a band, but a youth movement that can shake generations, rock-infused worshipers Worth Dying For returns with their third national release, Live Riot, recorded live at the Ammunition Conference in California. The band has been part of Ammunition Movement, the youth ministry of Calvary Temple of Modesto, CA. Now the band is poised to let their songs resonate in the hearts of the young people across this nation. Fans of Hillsong United, Skillet and Evanescence will be drawn to the guitar-driven rock sound and the fresh lead vocals of Christy Johnson and Sean Loche. Maintaining their aggressive rock sound with big guitars and driving loops, the band manages to capture worship like has never been captured on any previous album of Worth Dying For. "We have never stepped into the live worship recording before," says Worth Dying For's Christy Johnson. "For the first time, we get to interact with our fans and listeners and share what our worship to our Creator is like in its most organic and raw form."
The cohesiveness of this album is one of the highlights for me as the songs run in a track order that flows seamlessly from one song to the next similar to award winning Church Music by David Crowder*Band. "Rebuild" is a spoken word sermon/song that kicks off the album. I really like how the energy builds as Pastor Jeremy Johnson passionately proclaims: "His Word their Ammunition…Freedom was rising, the darkness makes attempts to attack the Light, but I have news for the darkness, it should have killed you when it had the chance!! It’s His Word, It’s time to finish the race, let’s run with endurance the race that’s marked out before us, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the Champion of the World, Can you hear it, Freedom is Rising!!” I knew I was in for a treat with that explosive beginning. The energy of the crowd and the rock intro leads into the anthem “Arise” with worship leader Rochelle Leguern proclaiming “Stir up Your Fire, Stir up Your Power, Let it Rise with me, Let It Rise, Arise, Arise from darkness into the Light, Arise, Arise, revival’s burning inside.” Amen to that! Worship leader Sean Loche keeps the flow going with “Never Look Back,” which has a Hillsong UNITED rock feel like “Break Free” both musically and lyrically.
"Love Riot" has a rock dance beat and Sean's lead vocals really grab me. I especially love the lyrics: "Love riot, turn the city upside down. Love riot, for the Name of Jesus." Christy sounds off with a catchy bridge and the song has one of the best musical beats I've heard in a while. "World Can’t Take It Away" and "Closer" keep the energy gushing with cool edgy rock beats and great guitar riffs. Some other highlights for me are "One Love,” “Higher," "Power of Your Love," and "Light A Fire" which all feature Christy's stellar lead vocals and are high energy rock worship songs. Sean leads “Taking Back,” which is a great message for the Church. Christy knocks it out of the park with her stellar lead vocals on the powerful closing song "Savior" which is a stand-out worship rock anthem and has a very catchy and convicting declaration: "We stand, we rise, we give our lives," which leads to the chorus “Savior, Savior...so come and release Your fire again."
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I've long enjoyed the female rock vocal style of Evanescence and Flyleaf. Christy Johnson and Rochelle Leguern really displays a similar vocal style along with Sean Loche on the stand-out songs for me on this solid album: "Arise,” “Never Look Back,” "One Love,” "Love Riot," "Higher," "Power Of Your Love," "Light A Fire" and one of my top worship songs of the year, “Savior.” I love listening to this album during my commuting time when I want a pick me up album that glorifies God and gets me pumped about my faith. Live Riot is loaded with great rock beats, catchy melodies, and solid lyrics reflecting unashamed faith in Jesus. The live crowd response really engages me from start to finish on this very solid live worship album. If you like Hillsong UNITED, Skillet and Flyleaf, then you need to hear Live Riot by Worth Dying For. View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinDavis_NRT | View KevinDavis_NRT's Profile
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