Formed in 2001 in Wendell, North Carolina, Gospel group New Covenant has been bringing their uplifting, faithful message to the masses for decades. Consisting of Jeremy Gamble, Larry Johnson, Joanna King, and Angela Millenbaugh, each member brings their own unique vocals to the table resulting in a diverse and complex musical experience for listeners. This tenured group of performers brings a refreshingly contemporary sound to Christian music, and their recently released album Breakthrough stands as a testament to their skills.
Opening strongly with the up tempo number Eyes of Faith, we get a good sense of New Covenant’s high points early on – and their vocal harmonies are no doubt a big one. Rich, layered, and beautifully blended, each individual band member’s voice works well against the others, creating a cohesive and inviting vessel to share the track’s spiritual message.
A little slower and heavier, What I Know features delicate, ethereal backing vocals and a driving rhythm section that indicates some clear modern pop-rock influence. The band members trade off taking the lead, allowing soaring female harmonies to shine in the chorus, while full-bodied male tones create the foundation for the verses. Together, the strong production choices and compelling songwriting create an anthemic feel in this track.
Where I Am brings deep, expressive strings and a pop-forward melody to the project, further proving that Christian music can be created under the umbrella of nearly any genre with the right group of talented musicians at the helm. This track allows each band member to shine in turn through the verses before coming together for a unified chorus that is just as catchy as it is well-composed.
We also love the cover of This Little Light of Mine found at the conclusion of the album. The cover is truly classic in nature, fueled by ragtime-esque piano and traditional vocal harmony pairings. This little piece of tradition amidst a very modern album is a welcome, grounding inclusion.
Our favorite track on this project is no doubt Believe. Gentle, acoustic, and a touch haunting, this track showcases the vulnerable side of this group. The vocal harmonies are just as complex and layered as they are in other tracks on this album, but here they are delivered with a bit more softness and authenticity. It’s a moving, emotional number that will no doubt resonate with spiritual music fans looking for ballads that touch the soul.
You don’t need to be religious yourself to appreciate the stellar harmonies and textured sonic tapestries that are on display in this album. That said, fans of a modern sound in faith music will find so much more to enjoy about the work of New Covenant. The tracks on Breakthrough are as rich and musical as they are uplifting and inspiring. Stream this bona fide example of contemporary Christian music for yourself below.
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BELOW: Listen to Breakthrough and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support New Covenant by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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