The Perfect Ending To An Incredible Year
Posted January 02, 2017
By CaitlinLassiter_NRT, Staff Reviewer
It's been a huge year full of milestone accomplishments for newcomer Zach Williams: a record deal with a major label, a hit single, debut EP and GRAMMY nomination, just to name a few. The grungy vocal behind "Chain Breaker" launched onto CCM radio this summer and hasn't slowed down since with his southern rock style and worship-focused tracks. His EP dropped late in September and introduced listeners to the rest of the sound Williams offers with his music.
With a full-length album originally set to release next spring, Zach pulled out a Christmas surprise last month at a hometown show with the announcement that the album was now available on iTunes due to high consumer demand. Featuring five new tracks in addition to the previous five from the EP, the full-length Chain Breaker project will hit shelves in physical form January 27th.
What You've Already Heard:
As for the songs you'll be familiar with if you've heard the EP, the breakout title track opens the album with its bold invitation to know Christ: "If you got pain, He's a pain taker / if you feel lost, He's a way maker / if you need freedom, saving, He's a prison shaking Savior / if you got chains, He's a chain breaker." Southern rock highlights "Old Church Choir" and "Song Of Deliverance" display the country grit that seems to come naturally in Zach's sound, while worshipful "Revival" and "To The Table" hold powerful lyric moments that show the depth of his songwriting skills.
What's New:
On the new side of this album, "Survivor" automatically stands out as a favorite with its stirring testimony of redemption and salvation. Lively "My Liberty" continues the album's theme of freedom from Christ: "There's revival stirring in my heart since Your love unlocked these prison bars / I'm a slave no longer to the dark / forever changed, forever Yours." Slower "Fear Is A Liar" is an emotionally compelling moment that calls out the lies of the enemy. Another track that talks of the transformation that follows meeting Christ, "Everything Changed" plays on Zach's gravelly voice backed by a gospel choir to craft a powerful song before closing out the album with praise-centered "So Good To Me."
The Bottom Line:
In my review of Zach's EP, I said that he had proven himself the artist to watch going into 2017. I still absolutely agree with that, maybe even more after hearing this full-length project. He gracefully flows between worship and southern rock, navigating both genres well and proving his level of artistry is far above that of the average newcomer. A great addition to the collection of standout debut albums we've seen in CCM this year, Chain Breaker is sure to hit its mark with fans. As we come to the end of what's been an incredible year for Zach Williams and to the beginning of a new year, music like this makes me positive that it's only the beginning.
Song To Download Now:
"Chain Breaker" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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