Matt Redman returns with yet another passionate worship album full of all-original material, entitled Where Angels Fear to Tread. He wrote all the songs on this album with help from wife Beth, and friends Chris Tomlin and Tom Lane. Redman's style is infallible and successful, thus he carries it from album to album with wonderful melodies and in-your-face worship lyrics. This guy loves Jesus and his music reflects that.

Suffice it to say, you've probably sung many of these songs in church on Sunday morning, or the edgier ones at a Sunday night worship service. The most popular selection on the album is undoubtedly "Blessed Be Your Name," which has become an anthem for Christians everywhere as we learn to praise our Heavenly Father in times of darkness as well as in light. "Befriended" is an intimate offering that tells of God's desire to be in relationship with His children ("Befriended by the King above all Kings, invited deep into this mystery"). Most of the songs on the album were inspired by Scripture and include those verses as references.

Overall, it's a pleasing album, exactly what one would expect from this stellar worship leader. And then, it hits you. The hidden track. It's unexpected (well, yeah, it's a hidden track!) and even strangely out of place, as it's very different from anything you've ever heard on any of his previous albums. It almost sounds like the guys are jamming one night after practice and they recorded it and just let it fly. The wailing guitar solo pierces your speakers and just when you open your mouth to say, "Huh?", it stops. It's almost like they suddenly realized, "Hey this is a worship album! Cut it!" Whatever it was - it was fun for a few seconds, and it caps off a another fine Matt Redman record.

- Review date: 3/20/07, written by Karen M.