When Darrell Evans sings, "You could never be praised enough/For who you are and your great love" he really means it.  Evans has been singing the Lord's praises since he was a teenager in Olympia, WA.  Over the years, he has had been a worship pastor in churches in Washington, California, Oklahoma and Texas.  But it was during his tenure at Open Bible Fellowship Church in 1997, he was invited to record a worship project for Integrity Music's Hosanna! Worship series.   Joining the ranks of Don Moen, Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong team, Paul Baloche and Ron Kenoly, Evans' Integrity Music debut "Let the River Flow" solidified him as one of the defining worship leaders.  "Let the River Flow" and his predecessors such as "You Are I Am" and "Freedom" were later recipients of Dove Award nominations.  In fact, the album "Freedom" sold over 250,000 copies, an unprecedented fleet for a worship record.  And his songs like "Trading my Sorrows", "Let the River Flow", "Your Love is Extravagant" and "Freedom" have been widely circulated among the worship repertoire of countless churches.  Five years after his last effort "Nothing Less than Everything," Evans is back his worship studio "Awesome God is He."

Recorded at Crystal Village Studios in Colorado Springs, CO, this album is helmed by producer Michael Rossback (Gungor and Paul Baloche).  "Awesome God is He" is Evan's ninth full length album and his first for DREAM Records.  Predictable certainly is not a descriptor of this record.  Through Evans does utilize the big guitar riff that has earmarked today's worship music, he does bring with him his brand of Americana and folksy-pop giving individuality to the project.  Album opener "A Mighty Fortress is our God" isn't a reprise of the old Martin Luther hymn.  Rather, it's a brand new Evans' composition that finds Evans blasting in high energy singing:  "Those who know Your Name, and Your authority/Look to You for strength, and trust Your sovereignty." "Alive" which has a playing time of a tad less than three minutes shows that a good worship song need not be repetitive to make its impact.  This ode of praise to Christ's resurrecting power etches its way to our hearts and memories through its use of punchy hooks and lines. 

Bagging a congregational worship favorite to be is the current single "Unto the King." With a Tim Hughes type of a balladry build up before giving us a blast of the bombastic, "Unto the King" has that anticipatory joy of journeying to meet the King of kings.  One could easily see congregations by the hundreds and the thousands raising their hands singing gloriously to the King with this paean as the soundtrack.  Taking a recess from the big sound is the cathartic "Nothing Else Matters."  Simple in its melodic construction yet enriched with heartfelt words, "Nothing Else Matters" allows us some moments to pause to enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ.  Featuring a Celtic ersatz intro, "Clean" is a powerful ministry tool to those of us wrestling with unforgiveness and guilt.  The title cut "Awesome God is He," on the other hand, has a John Mellencamp Americana cum soft rock vibe with the song's prominent use of folksy guitar and Evans' bluesy-soaked vocals.

More front porch than big stadium is "Oh What a Wonder."  Opting for an acoustic guitar to lead the way, this song has that workmanlike country blues feel as Evans takes his time to croon with hymnlike profundity:   "Your sacred head with radiant glories crowned/Your voice in everlasting Word resounds/Glorious Savior, O what a wonder You are." Despite the platitudes Evans has had reached over the last couple of decades, he has never been one to be stymied as far as worship is considered.  Rather, he is fluid enough to incorporate new sounds into his style of contemporary worship.  But most importantly, Evans' message has never changed; it is always God at the center of his songs.  And "Awesome God is He" gives us spades of opportunities to soak in His awesomeness.