Much like Family Force 5's Dance or Die EP last year, (which was meant to whet fans' appetites for the album that was on the horizon), The Glorious Unseen is pulling the same trick. In preparation for their sophomore album with the label, The Hope That Lies In You, TGU is delivering a three-song EP, entitled How He Loves. With three songs that will also be available on the full-length, it's a great treat for those who simply cannot wait for its August 25th release date to come.

"All Around" starts us off, bearing a sound somewhat similar to Mat Kearney's "Fire & Rain," with possibly even a little bit of Coldplay thrown in as well. The song focuses on God always being there even when things are just going wrong everywhere else ("When all around is crashing down, I find myself alive in You, Holy One renew, when all around is crashing down, I find my spirit crying out, Holy One consume"). The EP's title track is next, a song that's not so much praise & worship as it is a song recognizing God's love for us at all times. Musically, it's up there with some of the best we've heard thus far from The Glorious Unseen. "Heavyhearted" is similar - not so much a praise & worship song, rather it speaks of every believer's struggle with feeling sad and weary at times, and the inevitability of God's grace fixing things in such a beautiful way. Singer Ben Crist says, "When You take me as I am, it's like the sunlight gracing the land, and when I feel heavy-hearted, please come and take my hand." It's hard to focus on Jesus when we're down, but this song makes for a good melody to keep in our hearts during those times.

Some say that an EP like this is a rip off because it's too short. But, really, EP's like this are designed for one purpose only: To get a band's fans excited about their next project. And so for fans of The Glorious Unseen who are excited about their forthcoming album, the How He Loves EP is perfect. It's enough to tide you over for a few more weeks, but without giving away the entire album (there are actually twelve songs total to enjoy on the full-length). If you're planning on getting The Hope That Lies In You, you could save a couple bucks and get the whole thing (which does include the three songs on this EP). Or if you really want to, you can double dip on these three tracks and support one of the better praise & worship bands of today.

- Review date: 8/5/09, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com