If you’re the kind of person who’s been to a Hillsong United concert and thought, “I wish they’d just amp up the emotion a little bit,” boy, are you going to love Bethel Live. But I’ll come clean. I think some modern worship sacrifices theological substance on the altar of emotion.

But here’s what you’ll get with Be Lifted High: epic guitars featuring lots of delay and reverb, and big, tom-heavy drums, all used to build and build musical intensity in order to imbue simple, affirming lyrics like “Your love never runs out on me” with added emotive weight.

Occasionally the worship leader will yell a lyric out over the congregational singing. Occasionally the music will drop out and the congregational singing will get really meaningful. It’s all professionally done but it’s also the kind of worship music that – after a decade of this kind of thing – seems like it was written and led on autopilot.

The truth is, if this style of music helps you connect with God, then don’t let a music critic put you off. But in terms of songwriting and lyrical substance, there just isn’t anything decent going on here.

One and a half star out of five.

– Rhett Snell
www.drone.co.nz