New Christian Music

Every week brings a fresh batch of Christian music into the world—new albums, EPs, and songs from artists we know and artists we’re just discovering. New This Week is our chance to explore some of the music that has just been released, learn a little about the artists and their new music, and perhaps discover something that deserves a place in your playlist. So let’s take a look at what’s New This Week in Christian music!

🎙️ BONUS SECTION: As a bonus for those who make it all the way through our list, we’ve added a new section featuring new songs of faith from artists outside our usual Christian music family—including some familiar names you might not expect to see here, like KID ROCK!

💿New Albums & EPs

Brian Doerksen – Breathing

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Brian Doerksen — Breathing: The final album from beloved worship songwriter Brian Doerksen arrives as a deeply meaningful gift to the Church. Released posthumously following Doerksen’s passing in July, Breathing brings together 13 songs he had written and recorded before his death, offering one more collection from the man whose songs—including “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” “Refiner’s Fire,” “Faithful One,” and “Hope of the Nations”—have been sung by Christians around the world. While the circumstances surrounding its release inevitably give the album an added poignancy, Breathing stands on its own as a final expression of Doerksen’s lifelong calling to write songs of worship, faith, hope, and honest dependence upon God.

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Charles Billingsley – Replay

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Charles Billingsley — Replay: With Replay, Charles Billingsley revisits ten songs that have played a significant role in Christian music history, giving each one a fresh arrangement while preserving the message that made these songs timeless. The album includes beloved selections such as “It Is Well,” “Midnight Cry,” “His Strength Is Perfect,” “People Need the Lord,” and a “Grave Robber / Ain’t No Grave” medley, along with special appearances from Russ Taff, Steve Green, and TaRanda Greene. Billingsley describes the project as both “nostalgic and fresh,” with the goal of keeping the songs he grew up singing alive for a new generation.

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Tauren Wells – Here Comes The Church (Live)

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Tauren Wells — Here Comes The Church (Live): Tauren Wells brings his first live worship album to life with Here Comes The Church (Live), a 17-song celebration of the Church and its calling to point people toward Jesus. Recorded before a sold-out crowd at Austin City Limits Moody Theater, the album brings together an extraordinary collection of voices from across Christian music, Gospel, worship, and Christian hip-hop, including Naomi Raine, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Israel Houghton, Hulvey, Abbie Gamboa, Tiffany Hudson, Todd Galberth, and Pastor Mike Jr. From “Thank You For The Cross” and “Let The Church Sing” to “Here Comes The Church” and “The Invitation,” Wells uses the live setting to celebrate the diversity of Christ’s Church while emphasizing its shared identity in Jesus. As Wells puts it, the album is his expression of love for the Church—the one thing Jesus said He would build.

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Todd Dulaney – Back To The Book II

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Todd Dulaney — Back To The Book II: Gospel artist and worship leader Todd Dulaney returns to the concept that has been central to his ministry with Back To The Book II, an 11-track project built around Scripture and worship. The album includes songs drawn directly from the Psalms, including “Psalm 24” and “Psalm 23,” alongside worship songs such as “Mighty One,” “The Only One,” “All Of The Glory,” “We Say Yes,” and “Love You Lord.” Dulaney has described his approach to this series as creating music directly from the Bible, grounding the songs in God’s Word rather than simply personal emotion. Released October 2 on Fair Trade Services, Back To The Book II continues Dulaney’s long-running mission of turning Scripture into powerful contemporary Gospel and worship music.

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Kim Walker-Smith – Known and Loved

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Kim Walker-Smith — Known and Loved: Worship leader Kim Walker-Smith turns her attention toward a younger generation with Known and Loved, an 11-song children’s worship album created in partnership with TruPlay. Built around the simple but powerful truth that every child is fully known and fully loved by God, the album explores themes of faith, courage, identity, fear, and God’s presence through songs written for characters from TruPlay’s Bible-based games. Several songs had already been introduced as singles, including “Armor On (Benjamin’s Song),” which draws from Ephesians 6, and “Friends with the Fire (Isabella’s Song),” inspired by Jesus’ declaration that He is the Light of the World. Released October 2, Known and Loved offers children worship music that is intentionally written for the experiences and questions they face while keeping its focus firmly on the love of God.

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The Light Superior – Dayspring

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The Light Superior — Dayspring: Amarillo, Texas metalcore band The Light Superior makes its full-length debut with Dayspring, a seven-song album that brings an unmistakably Christian perspective into a sound built on crushing guitars, breakdowns, screamed vocals, and soaring melodies. Released October 2 through Rottweiler Records, the album moves from the atmospheric opening of “Genesis” through previously released songs such as “Ghost” and “Dark Moon” to the title track, “Solid Ground,” “Revelation,” and a reimagined version of “Dark Moon.” The album’s journey from darkness toward light is reflected not only in its titles but in its underlying message of faith, hope, stability, and redemption, making Dayspring an intriguing addition to the Christian metalcore landscape.

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Lakewood Music – House Of Worship (Deluxe)

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Lakewood Music — House Of Worship (Deluxe): Lakewood Music expands its 2026 worship album with House Of Worship (Deluxe), an 18-track collection that combines the original recordings with new live performances, Worship Together sessions, and fresh collaborations. Among the additions are live versions of “Thank The Lord,” “Rejoice Again,” and “Abundance of Rain,” along with “Inhabit” featuring Leeland and “Made You Well” featuring Tauren Wells. The project continues Lakewood Music’s stated mission of creating music that turns listeners’ attention toward Jesus and gives them language to worship Him, while the new recordings capture more of the atmosphere in which these songs are sung at Lakewood Church.

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Keith & Kristyn Getty – My Love Is Love Unknown – EP

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Keith & Kristyn Getty — My Song Is Love Unknown – EP: Keith and Kristyn Getty return to the timeless language of hymnody with this four-song EP, released October 2 through Getty Music. The project brings together four beloved hymns in new recordings featuring a remarkable collection of voices: Joanne Hogg joins the Gettys on the title track, Sonya Isaacs Yeary appears on “Give Me Jesus,” Fernando Ortega joins them for “Breathe On Me, Breath of God,” and the Getty Girls contribute to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The title hymn, “My Song Is Love Unknown,” reflects on Christ’s incarnation, suffering, death, and sacrificial love, making the EP a particularly fitting collection for worship, reflection, and remembering the gospel at the heart of these enduring songs.

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Vineyard Worship – Reign Forevermore – EP

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Vineyard Worship — Reign Forevermore – EP: Vineyard Worship returns with a four-song collection recorded live at Riverside Vineyard in London, bringing together songs written by members of Vineyard churches across the UK and Ireland and friends from other church networks. Released October 2, Reign Forevermore is centered on the eternal reign of Jesus, with the title track declaring His holiness, worthiness, and kingship while looking forward to the restoration of creation and the day when all that is broken will be made new. The EP was created with local churches in mind, giving congregations new songs to incorporate into worship while capturing the energy and communal nature of a live Vineyard gathering.

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K-LOVE Kids – K-Love Kids, Vol. 02

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K-LOVE Kids — K-LOVE Kids, Vol. 02: K-LOVE Kids returns with a second collection of kid-friendly versions of songs from some of today’s favorite Christian artists. Released October 2, the 15-song album brings the message of Christian music to a younger audience with songs including “Honestly, We Just Need Jesus,” “Dusty Bibles,” “Washed,” “Heaven on My Mind,” and “World On Fire.” K-LOVE describes the project as part of its mission to help children grow closer to Jesus through music and other faith-centered content created specifically for them. With familiar Christian themes presented in an accessible format for kids, K-LOVE Kids, Vol. 02 is a natural addition to this week’s new releases for families looking for music that points children toward faith.

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Welker Family Music Group – Love Gets The Victory

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Welker Family Music Group — Love Gets The Victory: Led by Pastors William and Katie Welker, Welker Family Music Group delivers a ten-song Gospel collection centered on faith, hope, perseverance, and the victory believers have through Jesus Christ. The album includes songs such as “You Are The God Who Guides Us Through,” “The Bible Is My Road Map,” “The Battle Is Not Mine,” and “Honoring His Name,” with the title track establishing the project’s central message that God’s love ultimately triumphs over whatever challenges we face. Released through Faith Wave Record Company, Love Gets The Victory is described as a collection of original songs written to encourage people who are hurting and remind them that “love gets the victory.”

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🎶New Songs

Amber Lynn feat. Chris Blue – “And It Changes Everything”

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Amber Lynn feat. Chris Blue — “And It Changes Everything”: Amber Lynn joins forces with Gospel vocalist Chris Blue for a bright, soulful new single about the transforming power of God’s love, hope, and grace. Released October 2, the song blends modern CCM with pop-gospel and Southern Gospel influences as the two vocalists trade verses and come together in rich harmonies. At its heart is a simple but powerful message: God’s love can change everything, bringing hope and giving us reason to look toward a brighter day. Lynn, a longtime Southern Gospel artist and member of 11th Hour, says her prayer is that everyone who hears the song will be reminded that God’s love is still changing lives.

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Francesca Battistelli – “Won’t Miss A Moment”

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Francesca Battistelli — “Won’t Miss A Moment”: Francesca Battistelli returns with a heartfelt reminder to slow down and treasure the moments that matter most in “Won’t Miss A Moment,” her second new original song following an eight-year break from releasing new music. Released October 2, the piano-and-strings-driven pop song reflects on the tension between life’s responsibilities and the fleeting nature of time, encouraging us to recognize the blessings unfolding right in front of us rather than allowing them to pass unnoticed. The song follows Battistelli’s return with “He Will,” a worshipful declaration of God’s faithfulness, and continues the deeply personal direction of her new music as she draws from her experiences of family, motherhood, and faith.

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Mack Brock – “Praise Upon Praise (Live at The River)”

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Mack Brock — “Praise Upon Praise (Live at The River)”: Worship leader Mack Brock returns with a powerful live declaration of God’s worthiness in “Praise Upon Praise (Live at The River),” released October 2 as the first single from his upcoming live album. Recorded during a July worship gathering at The River in Toronto, the song was written by Brock with David Leonard, Chris Davenport, and Jesse Reeves and builds around a simple, unmistakable purpose: giving all glory to God. Brock says he wanted the song to focus not on what we need from God, but simply on the truth that “You’re worthy of praise,” and the lyrics echo the worship described in Revelation, bringing together the voices of every generation, tribe, and tongue in praise of Jesus, the King of kings.

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Kaleb Carson – “I Know A Name”

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Kaleb Carson — “I Know A Name”: Kaleb Carson steps into the spotlight with his debut solo single, a soulful rendition of the Elevation Worship anthem “I Know A Name.” Released October 2, the song is a straightforward declaration of faith in the power, hope, and peace found in the name of Jesus, a message that Carson says is especially personal after the difficult circumstances he has faced throughout his life. Carson’s gospel roots and contemporary R&B style give the worship song a distinctive vocal character, while his own testimony brings added weight to its message of trusting the One who has the answers even when we do not. Apple Music classifies the new single as Christian, and the release is Carson’s first solo recording following his collaboration with Anthony Evans on “You’re Not Finished.”

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Eighteen Mile – “Tears On the Altar”

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Eighteen Mile — “Tears On the Altar”: South Carolina bluegrass gospel group Eighteen Mile draws from a powerful real-life experience for “Tears On the Altar,” a new song about praying for loved ones who don’t yet know Jesus. Released October 2, the song was written by guitarist Carson Aaron after the group played at a church in Florida where an old-fashioned altar call followed a message encouraging people to pray for their unsaved loved ones; afterward, Aaron noticed that the stairs at the altar were wet with the tears of those who had been praying. That moment became the inspiration for a song about surrender, prayer, and trusting in the power and mercy of God. With its gentle, traditional bluegrass arrangement and tight three-part harmonies, “Tears On the Altar” sounds like a song that could have been part of the bluegrass gospel tradition for generations.

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Steven Perez & Freddrick HalleluYAH & J Payne
“Back At It”

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Steven Perez & Freddrick HalleluYAH!!! & J Payne — “Back At It”: Three voices from the Christian hip-hop world come together for “Back At It,” a hard-hitting new collaboration built around resilience, faith, and returning to the mission after facing adversity. Released October 2, the track combines heavy drums, deep bass, modern trap elements, and a dark cinematic backdrop as Steven Perez, Freddrick HalleluYAH!!!, and J Payne each bring their own perspective to the song’s message of refusing to stay down and continuing forward in faith. The result is an energetic Christian rap anthem for anyone who has been tested, challenged, or counted out but remains determined to pick up the mission again.

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Olivia Lane – “Mother’s Eyes”

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Olivia Lane — “Mother’s Eyes”: Olivia Lane brings a deeply personal perspective to “Mother’s Eyes,” a new Christian single released October 2 through BEC Recordings. The song reflects on the influence of a mother’s faith and the way the spiritual legacy passed from one generation to another can shape the person we become. Lane, whose music has increasingly centered on faith and Scripture—including songs such as “Songs About Jesus,” “The Gospel,” and “Who God Says You Are”—uses this new release to celebrate the enduring impact of a mother’s example and the faith she passes on. Apple Music classifies “Mother’s Eyes” as Christian, confirming it as a natural fit for this week’s New This Week collection.

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m1L – “Life Changes”

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m1L — “Life Changes”: Christian rap artist m1L looks back on the experiences that ultimately led him to a life in Christ in “Life Changes,” a new single released October 2 through Polished Arrow Music and Headnod Music Group. Built on classic boom-bap drums and a sample-driven production from fellow Polished Arrow artist Elan Brio, the song uses m1L’s personal story to explore the transformation that comes through faith in Jesus. The song’s message is rooted in Romans 12:2, which calls believers to be transformed through the renewing of their minds, making “Life Changes” both a personal testimony and a declaration of the life-changing power of Christ.

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Beach Chapel – “VCR”

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Beach Chapel — “VCR”: Beach Chapel brings a worshipful indie-pop sound to this week’s new music with “VCR,” a new single released October 2. The song comes from the Encinitas, California-based Christian music project associated with Beach Chapel church, whose ministry centers on encountering Jesus and carrying His hope into everyday life. (beachchapel.org) “VCR” is also being picked up by multiple Christian-music playlists and release guides, including NewReleaseToday, which categorizes the new single specifically as Worship. (newreleasetoday.com) With its contemporary alternative sound and place within Beach Chapel’s broader worship catalog, “VCR” offers a different musical texture from many of the more traditional worship and Gospel releases arriving this week. (music.amazon.com)

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Matthew Plante – “GOD FEARING!”

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Matthew Plante — “GOD FEARING!”: Canadian Christian hip-hop artist Matthew Plante brings an uncompromising declaration of faith to “GOD FEARING!,” a high-energy new single released October 2 through DREAM Records. Following recent releases including “GOD FIRST!” and “LOST SOULS!,” Plante combines hard-hitting hip-hop production with lyrics centered on living boldly for God and refusing to compromise his faith. The track continues the young artist’s growing catalog of music built around his testimony and his desire to point listeners toward Christ, while its forceful production gives the message an energetic, modern edge.

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🎙️Faith Beyond the Christian Scene

Sometimes a song of faith comes from an artist outside the Christian music scene, and when that happens, we think it’s worth taking a moment to listen.

Kid Rock – “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)”

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Kid Rock steps into explicitly Christian music with “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King),” a passionate new single built around the New Testament declaration that every good and perfect gift comes from God. Released October 1, the song draws directly from Rock’s own account of his spiritual journey, moving from reflections on his past and mistakes toward a bold proclamation of faith in Jesus Christ. The hand-clapping, rock-driven chorus repeatedly declares that “Jesus is King,” while the song’s title carries additional personal significance for Rock because his middle name is James and January 17 is his birthday. The single is the first release from Halfway 2 Jesus, a forthcoming faith-focused album that Rock says grew out of his desire to make music celebrating Jesus through his own blend of rock, country, and hip-hop.

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The Oak Ridge Boys – “How Great Thou Art”

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The Oak Ridge Boys return to one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian faith with a stripped-down new recording of “How Great Thou Art,” released October 2 as the latest preview of their forthcoming album Buried Treasures. The new version has a particularly meaningful origin: tenor Ben James sang the hymn a cappella inside an old church along the Mississippi River, and after Duane Allen saw a video of the performance, the group began incorporating it into their live shows before deciding it belonged on the new album. The Oaks first recorded “How Great Thou Art” in 1967 and have returned to it several times over the decades, but this intimate new arrangement connects the group’s enduring Gospel roots with the voice of its newest member.

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Every week brings a fresh batch of Christian music into the world—new albums, EPs, and songs from artists we know and artists we’re just discovering. New This Week is our chance to explore some of the music that has just been released, learn a little about the artists and their new music, and perhaps discover something that deserves a place in your playlist. So let’s take a look at what’s New This Week in Christian music!

💿New Albums & EPs

Altarheart – Prone To Wander

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Prone To Wander is the latest release from Altarheart, and the title itself gives us a pretty good idea of where this album is headed. Drawing its inspiration from the familiar hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” the album explores that very human tendency to wander—and the grace of God that continually calls us back.

There’s something especially fitting about that theme for a Christian album. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we never struggle, doubt, drift, or find ourselves distracted by everything happening around us. Prone To Wander gives those realities a musical voice while keeping its focus on the faithfulness of God. The songs feel like an honest conversation between our tendency to wander and the God who remains faithful.

For New This Week, Prone To Wander is a particularly good reminder that new Christian music doesn’t have to reinvent worship to say something meaningful. Sometimes the most familiar truths are the ones we need to hear again—and Altarheart offers those truths through a collection of songs centered on grace, faith, surrender, and finding our way back to God.

ANTHNY – Worship Leader’s Diary

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Worship Leader’s Diary is the debut studio album from ANTHNY, and it takes listeners somewhere we don’t always get to go with a worship album: behind the microphone. The 13-song collection asks what happens when Sunday morning is over, the stage is empty, and the worship leader is left to wrestle with his own faith. Written and produced entirely by ANTHNY, the album is deeply personal while still pointing toward a relationship with God built on honesty, reconnection, and intimacy.

Musically, ANTHNY brings contemporary Christian music together with the warmth and feel of R&B. He also reaches back into the gospel music that helped shape him, reimagining familiar musical ideas along the way. “prepare me,” featuring Naomi Raine, draws from the familiar melody of “Sanctuary,” while “show up,” featuring Kierra Sheard-Kelly, incorporates the influence of John P. Kee’s “Show Up!” “imposter syndrome,” meanwhile, takes inspiration from Donald Lawrence’s “Spiritual” as ANTHNY explores the tension between the person people see onstage and the person he knows himself to be.

There are some terrific collaborations here as well, including BJ The Chicago Kid on “pass me by,” along with Naomi Raine, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Ahjah Walls. But even with those familiar voices joining him, the album remains centered on ANTHNY’s own story. Worship Leader’s Diary feels less like a collection of songs written for a platform and more like a collection of songs written from a private journal—an honest look at faith when there is no audience watching.

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Elan Brio – Sound Waves

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If Christian music always sounded the same, we’d miss out on a whole lot of good music. Elan Brio’s Sound Waves is a great example of that. The 13-track project brings together Christian faith and boom-bap hip-hop, with Brio putting the message front and center while giving the music a relaxed, old-school hip-hop feel.

Brio is a rapper, producer, and engineer who has spent more than 20 years working in music, and Sound Waves gives him plenty of room to put all three of those skills to work. He self-produced and mixed the project, with a lineup of fellow Christian hip-hop artists joining him along the way. Among the guests are MotionPlus, iNTELLECT, m1L, Illustrate, J. Solo, and HIS Hypeman Stract.

What makes Sound Waves particularly interesting is the variety of ways Brio approaches its faith message. Songs like “The Way of the Servant,” “Armor Up,” and “Made for More” point directly toward the Christian message, while the overall project reflects Brio’s desire to use hip-hop as a way of sharing the Gospel. If Christian hip-hop isn’t normally part of your playlist, Sound Waves might be a good place to start exploring the genre.

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gio. / Dell Mac – Promise Land

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Promise Land brings together Christian artists gio. and Dell Mac for a 10-song project that blends hip-hop, rap, and contemporary production with a distinctly faith-centered message. The album follows several earlier collaborations between the two artists, including “TAKE ME HOME” and “MOVE LIKE THIS,” and gives them an entire project to explore their musical chemistry.

There is a youthful, modern energy running through Promise Land, but the album’s title points toward something deeper than simply having a good time with the music. gio. has described his desire to create Christian music without putting unnecessary boundaries around the art, while helping listeners recognize that they aren’t alone in their walk with God. That combination of faith and creativity is very much at home in today’s Christian hip-hop scene.

For listeners who enjoy Christian rap but don’t necessarily want every song to sound like traditional worship music, Promise Land offers another avenue into the genre. It’s contemporary, collaborative, and energetic, while keeping its Christian identity firmly in view. And with gio. and Dell Mac already having a history of working together, this feels like a natural next step for the two artists.

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Matthew West – Jesus Is King

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With Jesus Is King, Matthew West takes a simple statement and spends an entire album exploring everything it means: Jesus is King. The 12-song collection begins with the title track and eventually returns to it in a reprise, while the songs in between explore faith, failure, forgiveness, surrender, shame, hope, and the grace of finding our way back to God.

West approached the album by starting with the question, “Jesus is ___,” and allowing each song to provide another answer. “Don’t Give Up On Me” speaks to His faithfulness, “Good” points to His goodness, “Back To Jesus” offers a reminder that we can always find our way home, and “Shame Is Not My Story” looks at the freedom found in Christ. It’s a very Matthew West approach—taking everyday struggles and turning them into songs that point toward a larger truth.

What makes Jesus Is King especially fitting for this week’s feature is how personal the message becomes. West has said that making the album reminded him that he doesn’t make a very good king of his own life—and that he doesn’t have to be. After nearly three decades of writing and recording Christian music, Jesus Is King feels like a return to a foundational truth: surrendering our lives to Jesus isn’t about losing freedom, but discovering where our hope and freedom truly come from.

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PFR – Target and the Arrow

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It’s hard to talk about Target and the Arrow without mentioning just how long we’ve been waiting for it. PFR’s new 11-song album is their first full collection of original material in more than two decades, bringing Joel Hanson, Patrick Andrew, and Mark Nash back together for a brand-new chapter in the story of one of Christian music’s memorable alternative-rock bands.

And this isn’t simply a nostalgia trip. PFR’s return grew out of the three longtime friends finding their way back to one another after years apart. That history gives Target and the Arrow an interesting perspective, with songs that touch on relationships, uncertainty, change, dependence, and the realities of life. Even the opening song, “Find Our Way,” seems like an appropriate place to begin a record born out of finding their way back to each other.

Musically, the album sounds like PFR—melodic, guitar-driven pop rock with the vocal harmonies that helped define the band’s sound in the 1990s. There is also a wonderful bit of continuity in the guest appearance from Leigh Nash on “I Won’t Ask.” For longtime PFR fans, Target and the Arrow offers a chance to hear a familiar band with more than 30 years of life experience behind the music.

Perhaps that’s what makes this comeback particularly interesting. PFR isn’t simply revisiting where they’ve been; they’re making new music from where they are now. After 25 years, Target and the Arrow gives us the opportunity to hear what happens when an old friendship is restored, three musicians get back in the studio, and the songs start flowing again.

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Pomegranate – More To Find (EP)

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Pomegranate is a six-piece Nashville band that describes itself as an art-rock project, and More To Find is their seven-song debut EP. There’s quite a bit of musical variety packed into its 23 minutes, moving between alternative rock, pop, folk, and even a little hip-hop influence. The result is an eclectic collection that doesn’t seem particularly interested in staying inside one musical box.

But beneath the musical experimentation is a distinctly Christian perspective. “In the Process” wrestles with our reluctance to leave the comfort of what we know and follow the path God is calling us toward, while “Fractal” explores the inexhaustible nature of God. The title of the EP itself comes from that idea: the more we look, the more there is to discover. As the song puts it, there’s “always more of You to find.”

There’s also a wonderful sense of rediscovering something simpler running through More To Find. The closing track, “Analog,” looks back at life before everything became digital and connected, longing for a slower pace and a greater awareness of the world around us. It’s a fitting ending to an EP that ultimately seems to be about paying attention—looking past the noise, stepping outside our comfortable bubbles, and discovering that there is still more to find.

For a debut release, More To Find is an intriguing introduction to Pomegranate. Their sound is adventurous enough to appeal to listeners who enjoy alternative and indie rock, while their faith gives the songs something deeper to explore. This is one of those new releases that reminds us that Christian music can take a lot of different musical shapes.

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Red Worship – Witness

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WITNESS is the new live worship album from Red Worship, the worship collective of Redemption Church in San Jose, California. Recorded live in their home church, the 14-song project captures the sound of a congregation worshiping together, with contemporary worship, gospel, urban influences, hymns, and spontaneous moments of praise all finding their place in the collection.

The title WITNESS is more than just a name for the album. Red Worship describes these songs as a testimony to the ways they have personally seen God move, with the hope that the music will encourage listeners to share their own stories of God’s faithfulness. Songs such as “Yeshua,” “Christ Our King,” “The Name of Jesus,” and “Redeemed (Set Free)” make the focus of the album pretty clear, while “Memories” looks back at God’s faithfulness and “We Lift Your Name” expresses the simple reason the collective gathers to worship in the first place.

There’s also something special about hearing worship music recorded in the environment for which it was created. Rather than simply presenting polished studio recordings, WITNESS captures the energy of a church worship experience, including spontaneous moments that allow the music to breathe. For anyone who enjoys contemporary worship but appreciates a little gospel and urban influence mixed into the sound, Red Worship’s latest release offers a compelling new collection to explore.

And perhaps the best description of WITNESS is found in its title: these songs aren’t simply about singing to God, but about telling others what we have seen Him do. That’s a fitting theme for a live worship album built around testimony, praise, and the faithfulness of God.

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Scott Riggan – Shepherds & Wolves (Deluxe)

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Shepherds & Wolves (Deluxe) finds Scott Riggan looking at some of the harder realities of faith through the familiar biblical imagery of shepherds and sheep. The project explores what it means to follow the Good Shepherd while also acknowledging that human shepherds—and the church itself—can sometimes cause deep wounds. Betrayal, grief, fear, abuse, forgiveness, healing, and redemption all find their way into these songs.

That makes this a very different kind of Christian album. Rather than avoiding difficult questions or pretending that faith eliminates pain, Riggan allows the songs to wrestle with the messy parts of the journey. “You’re Forgiven Now,” for example, focuses on choosing forgiveness even when reconciliation may not be possible. Throughout the project, the emphasis keeps returning to the hope that comes from knowing the Shepherd hasn’t abandoned His people.

Musically, Riggan describes his sound as cinematic Christian pop, and that description fits the project well. Atmospheric production, intimate storytelling, and worshipful moments give the songs room to breathe, while Riggan’s songwriting keeps the focus on the stories behind the music.

For a deluxe edition, Shepherds & Wolves (Deluxe) also gives us an opportunity to discover an artist who may not yet be familiar to every FishWorship reader. Scott Riggan has been making Christian music for years, but this project feels particularly personal—an honest collection of songs about wounded faith, difficult seasons, and ultimately finding hope in the Good Shepherd.

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Stryper – Throne of Thorns

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There are some albums that arrive as new releases, and then there are albums that arrive carrying a little bit of history with them. Throne Of Thorns is definitely the latter. Stryper’s 18th studio album arrives more than four decades after the band first began making its very distinctive brand of Christian metal—and somehow, those yellow-and-black stripes are still flying.

The title track makes the band’s message pretty clear. Michael Sweet describes “Throne of Thorns” as a song about Christ on the throne and our redemption through the crown of thorns He endured. That theme carries throughout the album, with songs such as “Here In Your Heart,” “Carry The Flame,” “Beautifully Broken,” and “Ashes To Roses” pointing toward faith, perseverance, redemption, and the presence of God in the middle of life’s struggles.

Musically, Throne Of Thorns is unmistakably Stryper. Big guitar riffs, soaring harmonies, melodic vocals, and plenty of classic-metal firepower are all over these 11 tracks. The band has certainly evolved since the days when they were tossing Bibles into concert audiences, but they haven’t abandoned the musical identity—or the Christian message—that made them so recognizable in the first place.

And speaking of those early days, hearing a new Stryper album in 2026 is a pretty remarkable thing. For those of us who remember when their music was new—and perhaps even played a few of their songs ourselves—Throne Of Thorns is a reminder that some bands don’t simply become part of Christian music history. They keep making music, keep playing their instruments, and keep carrying the message forward.

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The Wood Drake Sessions – East to West

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East to West is the first full-length album in four years from The Wood Drake Sessions, the Nashville-based worship collaboration of Paul Ranheim and Kirk Sauers. The 11-song collection is centered on a wonderfully simple but profound idea: the boundless love of God. Rather than limiting that idea to Sunday morning worship, the duo explores what God’s love looks like in the middle of everyday life.

That makes East to West an album with plenty of room for honest questions. The songs consider fear, anxiety, work, relationships, finances, failure, and even death, while continually returning to the hope found in Christ. “Surely As the Morning” celebrates God’s steadfast love, “Doxology Creed” offers a fresh expression of corporate worship, and “Working for Good,” featuring Skye Peterson, considers God’s presence in the ordinary circumstances of life.

The title track may be the heart of the album. Inspired by Psalm 103, “East to West” begins with the kind of questions many believers have asked at some point: Could our failures finally push us beyond God’s mercy? Could His grace run out? The song ultimately answers those fears with the assurance that God’s love never ends. That’s a beautiful foundation for an entire album.

The Wood Drake Sessions also bring some wonderful voices along for the journey, including Skye Peterson, Andrew Osenga, Caroline Cobb, and Mission House. The result is an album that works both as music for personal listening and as a collection of songs intended for the church to sing together. East to West is ultimately an invitation to stop and recognize the love of God—not just in the big moments of faith, but in all the ordinary places where we live our lives.

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We Are Messengers – Halfway Home

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Halfway Home is the fifth studio album from We Are Messengers, and it finds the band exploring what it means to live somewhere between where we’ve been and where we’re ultimately going. Across 13 songs, frontman Darren Mulligan and the band wrestle with the tension between the “now” and the “not yet”—the reality of living an earthly life while carrying the hope of eternity.

That theme comes through particularly well in the title track. Mulligan describes “Halfway Home” as an honest look at the loneliness that can sometimes accompany the Christian journey, along with the recognition that we weren’t meant to make that journey alone. Other songs such as “Faith Hope Love,” “Heaven and Earth,” “A Thought in the Heart of God,” and “Real King” continue to explore faith, identity, eternity, and our relationship with God.

Musically, We Are Messengers continues to lean into the expansive arena-rock sound that has become part of the band’s identity. Driving melodies, atmospheric production, and big hooks give these songs plenty of room to grow, while Mulligan’s lyrics keep the focus on the questions and struggles underneath the music.

There’s something fitting about the album’s title, too. None of us are quite where we started, but we’re not home yet either. Halfway Home takes that in-between place seriously, finding both the uncertainty and the hope in the journey—and ultimately pointing toward the One who makes the journey worthwhile.

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Whitlee Casey – Jesus Be The Center (EP)

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Jesus Be The Center is the first original worship EP from Texas singer and songwriter Whitlee Casey, and the title tells us exactly where these five songs are pointing. Written with congregational worship in mind, the EP is designed for churches, youth groups, small groups, and personal worship, with each song returning to the central theme of keeping Jesus at the center of our lives.

The five-song collection moves through some familiar but important truths of the Christian faith. “Powerful” and “King Is Near” point toward the greatness and presence of God, while the title track puts the album’s central message right in front of us. “Free & Forgiven” celebrates the freedom found through Christ, and “Don’t Let Go” offers an encouragement to hold firmly to faith when life becomes difficult.

Casey has been making Contemporary Christian music for years, but this EP represents a particularly natural extension of his work as a singer, songwriter, and worship leader. His own faith story began as a teenager, and he has described his calling as writing songs for God and using music to minister to others.

With Jesus Be The Center, Casey keeps things focused and uncomplicated: five original worship songs built around the person of Jesus and written with the local church in mind. For anyone looking for some new music to bring into a personal worship time—or perhaps a new song for a congregation to discover—this is a release worth checking out.

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🎵Essential New Songs

Bella Santander – “Here + Now”

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Bella Santander brings a soulful gospel sound to “here + now,” a new single released this week through Throne Room Music. At just over three minutes, the song doesn’t need a lot of time to make its point: sometimes the most important thing we can do is stop, pay attention, and recognize God’s presence right where we are.

There’s something especially appealing about that idea in a world that seems to constantly pull our attention somewhere else. We’re often thinking about what happened yesterday or worrying about what might happen tomorrow, while the moment we’re actually living in passes us by. “here + now” brings the focus back to the present and toward God, giving the song a reflective quality that makes it easy to imagine settling into for a quiet moment.

It’s also a nice introduction to Bella Santander for those of us who may not have encountered her music before. With its gospel foundation and contemporary feel, “here + now” is the kind of single that makes New This Week fun—not just because we’ve found a new song, but because we’ve found another artist worth keeping an ear on.

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Bloodlines – “So Much To Lose”

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If you like your Christian music on the heavier side, Bloodlines has something for you this week. “So Much To Lose” is the brand-new single from the Texas Christian metalcore band, and it gives us a pretty dramatic change of pace from some of the more worshipful and contemporary songs we’ve featured in Essential New Songs.

The song is also our introduction to Bloodlines’ upcoming full-length album, To A Thousand Generations, which is scheduled for release in December through Facedown Records. “So Much To Lose” opens the album’s 11-song tracklist, with the previously released “Revivalist,” featuring Mattie Montgomery of For Today, also appearing later in the collection.

For New This Week, I like having a song like this in the mix. Christian music isn’t one sound, and Bloodlines reminds us just how far that spectrum extends. “So Much To Lose” brings the intensity, aggression, and sheer volume of metalcore while coming from an unmistakably Christian band—and it gives us another artist to keep an eye on as we look ahead to To A Thousand Generations.

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Hanna Noel – “Good Gifts”

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Hanna Noel‘s “Good Gifts” takes a familiar passage from Matthew 7 and turns it into a beautiful reminder of what it means to approach God as our Father. Inspired by Jesus’ words about a father giving good gifts to his children, the song encourages us to come to God with the simple, trusting faith of a child—asking boldly and trusting that He is good.

But there’s an especially meaningful turn in the song’s message. It’s easy to think of God’s blessings, answered prayers, and provision as the “good gifts” we’re looking for, but Hanna Noel and her co-writers kept coming back to something greater: the greatest gift isn’t what God gives us—it’s God Himself. That shifts the song from simply being about what we hope to receive from God to being about the joy of knowing Him.

There’s something wonderfully simple about that idea. We can certainly bring our needs and desires to our heavenly Father, but the ultimate blessing isn’t found in getting everything we’ve asked for. It’s found in His presence. “Good Gifts” is a gentle reminder to seek not only God’s hand, but His face—and that’s a message that makes this new song a fitting addition to Essential New Songs this week.

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Jamie MacDonald – “Used To Be”

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Jamie MacDonald has had quite a year, and “Used To Be” gives us another glimpse into the story behind her rapidly growing career. Released September 25, the new single is part of the upcoming Jamie MacDonald (The Deluxe Album) and finds MacDonald reflecting on the person she once was and the person she has become.

There’s a powerful Christian message underneath that idea. MacDonald describes the song as a reminder of the freedom we have in being made new in Christ—and that we’re not defined by our past. That’s something many of us need to remember. Our history may explain where we’ve been, but it doesn’t have to determine who we are today.

Musically, “Used To Be” takes a slightly smoky, soulful approach, with warm guitar supporting MacDonald’s vocals and giving the song a very natural, conversational feel. It’s a little different from simply singing about leaving the past behind; there’s a confidence in the way MacDonald essentially says, that’s who I was, but that’s not who I am anymore.

And that makes “Used To Be” an especially fitting addition to Essential New Songs. Jamie MacDonald is still a relatively new name to many Christian music listeners, but she’s already giving us plenty of reasons to pay attention. This latest song is another reminder that one of the beautiful things about following Christ is that our past doesn’t get the final word.

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Jenn Chenoweth – “Still Small Voice”

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Jenn Chenoweth makes her return with “Still Small Voice,” an uplifting new single that reminds us that God doesn’t always meet us in the dramatic moments of life. The song draws directly from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, where the Lord wasn’t found in the mighty wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the quiet voice that followed.

What I really like about this song is that Chenoweth doesn’t leave the story of Elijah in the Bible. She brings it right into the places where we find ourselves today. The opening pictures someone hiding in a cave, afraid and exhausted, wondering whether to keep running. Then God meets that person with mercy—not necessarily by changing everything around them, but by speaking into the noise with His quiet presence.

There’s also a beautiful progression in the song. What begins in fear and isolation eventually becomes a declaration of freedom and hope. The storms haven’t necessarily disappeared, but the perspective has changed because God has met us in the middle of them. That’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes we don’t need God to shout louder; we need to become quiet enough to hear Him.

“Still Small Voice” is also our introduction to a relatively new artist who has an interesting story of her own. Chenoweth’s 2025 debut album Out To Get Me followed a difficult season in which chronic pain threatened her ability to sing, making this new song about God’s faithful presence feel particularly personal.

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Presence Music – “Fight or Flight”

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Sometimes a worship song begins with a beautiful declaration of faith. “Fight or Flight” begins somewhere much more vulnerable: I’m not fine. Presence Music’s new single gives voice to the exhaustion, racing thoughts, sleepless nights, and pressure that can come when we’re trying to keep everything together—and turns that very honest struggle into a prayer.

The song was written by Leah Monson after reaching a breaking point while traveling, raising two young children, supporting her husband, and trying to keep up with all the responsibilities of everyday life. Instead of trying to turn that moment into a polished, picture-perfect prayer, she brought the exhaustion directly to God. That honesty is really what gives the song its power.

I think that’s an important part of the Christian message here. Faith doesn’t require us to pretend we’re never overwhelmed. Sometimes the most genuine prayer we can offer is simply an admission that we can’t do it all ourselves. “Fight or Flight” leaves room for that honesty while reminding us that God is present even before everything gets sorted out.

Presence Music is a husband-and-wife-led Christian pop-worship band from Duluth, Minnesota, and this song gives us another introduction to an artist who is using contemporary pop music to meet people in some very real places. “Fight or Flight” may not be the kind of song you put on because everything is going perfectly—but it might be exactly the song you need when it isn’t.

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Rachael Lampa – “Permission”

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After stepping away from the Christian music spotlight for a number of years, Rachael Lampa is beginning a new chapter with “Permission,” her first single with Centricity Music. Released this week, the soulful song finds Lampa singing from the perspective of God to His children, inviting us to come to Him honestly—with our questions, our weaknesses, our doubts, and even the moments when we simply fall apart.

There’s something especially beautiful about the message behind the song. Lampa describes God’s voice as gentle, accepting, and inviting, and “Permission” carries that idea throughout. Rather than presenting God as someone we have to impress or approach only after we’ve gotten ourselves together, the song reminds us that we can come exactly as we are. There’s no need to hide, and God’s love isn’t dependent on our ability to perform.

That message also reflects something Lampa has experienced personally. Looking back on her earlier career, she has talked about how easily her identity became wrapped up in expectations, performance, and perfectionism. In this new season, she says she’s embracing being more flawed, human, and honest in her music—and finding freedom in remembering that her identity is ultimately found as a child of God.

For those of us who remember Rachael Lampa from the early days of her career, “Permission” makes this more than simply another new single. It’s a chance to hear what happens when an artist returns to music with years of life experience behind her and a different perspective on why she’s making music in the first place. And for listeners discovering her for the first time, it’s a pretty wonderful introduction.

For those of us who spent this week getting reacquainted with Rachael Lampa through our Artist of the Week feature, “Permission” is a wonderful way to hear where she’s headed next. And if you came to Rachael’s music for the first time through this week’s Artist of the Week, this new single gives you another reason to keep listening. After all, sometimes the best way to finish an introduction is with a brand-new song.

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Stryper – “Shadowbreaker”

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Okay, it’s time to turn the amps up. Stryper’s “Shadowbreaker” is the closing track on Throne Of Thorns, the band’s brand-new 18th studio album, and it’s every bit as heavy as you might expect from a band that has been flying the Christian-metal flag for more than four decades. Stryper released the song as a new single alongside the album this week, and Michael Sweet describes it as a “full throttle banger” that represents the band’s heavier side.

And this isn’t simply a metal song with a Christian band behind it. “Shadowbreaker” is explicitly about Jesus Christ, making the song’s message every bit as direct as its guitar-driven sound. As the final track on the album, it provides a fitting exclamation point to Throne Of Thorns, an album that carries Stryper’s Christian message throughout its 11 songs.

Musically, this is Stryper doing what Stryper does so well: thunderous drums, screaming guitars, soaring vocals, and enough melodic hooks to keep the song from becoming nothing more than a wall of noise. A review of the album specifically calls “Shadowbreaker” a strong closer and notes its faster opening, mid-song guitar work, and catchy finish.

And honestly, how could we put together an Essential New Songs list this week without making room for Stryper? We’ve already featured Throne Of Thorns among this week’s new albums, but “Shadowbreaker” deserves its own spotlight. For those of us who remember when Stryper was new—and maybe even played some of their songs ourselves—there’s something pretty cool about hearing these guys still cranking out Christian metal in 2026. The stripes are still flying.

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Will & Jacinta Ellis – “What A Savior”

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There’s something wonderfully timeless about “What A Savior” from Will & Jacinta Ellis and Crossing Life Worship. Released this week, the new single has the feel of a modern hymn, building its message around the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It’s a song that looks at the familiar story of the Gospel and asks us not to become so accustomed to it that we forget just how remarkable it really is.

The song moves from the cleansing found through Christ’s sacrifice to the freedom that comes from knowing our sin and guilt have been dealt with. And then comes the reminder that the grave wasn’t the end. Jesus rose again. It’s a very straightforward Christian message, but that’s part of what makes the song work—the writers aren’t trying to make the Gospel complicated. They’re simply stopping to marvel at what Jesus has done.

I especially like the idea behind the song: never becoming numb to grace. We can hear the story of the cross so often that the words can become familiar, but “What A Savior” encourages us to look at that story again with fresh eyes. Whether life is going well or we’re walking through a difficult season, the song points us back to Jesus and the reason Christians have hope in the first place.

For Essential New Songs, this gives us another nice change of pace. It’s worshipful without sounding like every other contemporary worship single, and its almost hymn-like approach makes “What A Savior” feel like the kind of song that could stay with us long after this week’s new releases have moved on.

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