Music|December 08, 2014 01:55 EST
Newsboys' 'God's Not Dead' Reaches Gold Certification; Band Celebrates Over 500,000 Records Sold
Legendary Christian pop rock group the Newsboys just achieved a big milestone with the certification of their God's Not Dead record going Gold.
The album, released in 2011, has sold over 500,000 copies, and was given an additional boost thanks in part to the smash success of the movie with the same name. This marks the band's sixth career Gold album.
Aside from the hit title track, the record also includes the songs "Mighty to Save," "Forever Reign," and "Your Love Never Fails."
"God's Not Dead is a project that helped launch a movement, and Inpop Records is honored to have released this landmark recording," said Mark Lusk, president, Inpop Records in a press release. "We congratulate the Newsboys and celebrate a milestone of utmost significance in the landscape of today's music industry."
The Newsboys just released their first hymns album Hallelujah For the Cross, and lead singer Michael Tait and drummer Duncan Phillips spoke about why they made the record.
"I grew up in a baptist church. My dad was a pastor in D.C. As kids we sang hymns like 'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus', 'I Surrender All'..." Tait said to NewReleaseTuesday, "Hymns are such a powerful songs and stories and struggles of people in the desperate throws of life."
In order to give them the "Newsboys twist" the band updated the sound, and even experimented with an a cappella track.
"The depth of lyrical content, ok the music might not be what kids listen to today, but what we wanted to do was bring that feeling of legacy of this faith to this generation. That's what those lyrics do, they go deep," Phillips shared.
Some of the album's other tracks are: "Jesus Paid It All," "Holy, Holy, Holy," "It Is Well," and "All Creatures Of Our God And King." The album also features a new arrangement of classic Newsboys songs "Where You Belong" with "Turn Your Eyes."