(Photo : 11th Hour)

It isn't fortuitous that 11^th Hour's debut album for Crossroads Music is entitled "Steppin' Out."  Whether it is lyrically or musically, "Steppin' Out" finds the trio bidding adieu to predictability, monotony and safety.  Lyrically, the majority of the songs here rallied around the Biblical image of Jesus challenged Peter to step out of the boat to walk on water.  In short, these ten cuts are more than just songs.  Rather, they are 11^th Hour's ways of trying to push us out of the safety of our boats to walk on the water.  Sonically, the 11^th Hour have sonically stepped from tried and true quartet  sound that has become synonymous with Southern Gospel to a more progressive country harmony-layered sound with a tinge of bluegrass.  The songs here consist of covers from the great Southern Gospel songbook (including the Hinsons' "I Like the Promise), new songs and two originals from member Amber Eppinette.  Unlike many of their peers, 11^th Hour is not a quartet but a trio consisting of Amber Eppinette (lead/alto), Candice Jordan (soprano) and Justin Morphis (lead/baritone).  Just like the message they are advancing on this record, their titular "11^th Hour" speaks of a Godly persistent risk where they want to continue to forge the way of the Cross until their 12^th and final hour.

The buzz is definitely around lead single and the title cut "Steppin' Out."   Although Matthew 14:28ff is the animus behind the song where Peter was challenged to walk on water, the trio has contextualized it with such finesse that it feels like it is Jesus speaking directly to us.  When we turn our fears to faith, God takes our worries and turn them to worship.  This is the underlying message of the spirited "I Like the Promise," a track made popular previously by the Hinsons.  Justin Morphis takes on the lead of the oft-covered "It's a Wonderful Life."  Though the song charts no new precedence, the frisky banjo and feisty fiddle provide amicable company as Morphis rejoices in a life of faith in Jesus.  "Wake the Land," on the other hand, takes a recess from the spit-fire romps of the other aforementioned tracks with a bluesy bassline that adds diversity to the up-tempo cuts.

The ballads are where 11^th Hour makes a home run for the heart.  Current single "Room with a View" is an epic ballad of sorts that longs for heaven with Jesus' image of heaven as a mansion with many rooms as the controlling image (John 14:2). Amber Eppinette is particularly effective on Spiritual-warfare themed "Bloodlines."   Here she warmly assures us that Satan no longer has a hold of us who are covered by the bloodlines of Jesus.  "He Sees What We Don't," a 11^th Hour original, is sure going to light up the lights of copious hearts as it is the nerve center of this record.  Starting with a fragile start before building to a soaring climax, Eppinette assures us that even when we are cornered with hopelessness, God can never be checkmated.  Though not as arresting, "Tomb to the Table" is a homily set as a ballad on the raising of Lazarus with a second verse application to us.

To put it bluntly, "Steppin' Out" needs to come with warning label.  This is a dangerous record.  It is a Gospel-centered record where Christ calls us to follow Him.  And following Him is indeed costly.  It demands us to say no to our self-reliance and our self-efforts by steppin' out in faith.  Such a message doesn't sit well in our self-sufficient way.  But the 11^th Hour keeps us glued to the speakers in anointed ways through these ten cuts.  But be careful, listening repeatedly to this disc will lead us to step out in faith and we might even end up walking on water.