- More Now
- Really Free
- This Time
- Waiting for You
- Over the Rooftops
- Big Top
- Fall Apart
- Track 7
- Love You Forever
- Ever Be Enough
Preachers' kids Fred Butson (vocals) and Gabe Johannes (drums) met at Indiana Wesleyan University and formed Sevenglory with other musicians before adding Gabe's brother Caleb (bass) to the lineup (the band relies on a touring guitarist to fill in). Their debut was released independently in 2004, but
The two-year gap partly explains why Sevenglory doesn't sound so cutting edge. Enjoyable though unremarkable, the album splits time equally between pop/rock and adult contemporary, not too dissimilar from Building 429, Exit East, MercyMe, and Big Daddy Weave. Butson's strong but almost-too-pristine vocals recall '90s CCM artists like Tony Vincent and Eric Champion. Sure,
However, this band deserves some leeway. Content to perform for youth groups and churches, Sevenglory is focused on connecting with kids after shows, claiming no ambition to "arrive" as the next big thing. They won't with music like this, but most other young indie Christian rock bands don't sound this good offering meaningful songs about leaving hurt behind ("Really Free"), remembering mountaintop experiences with God ("More Now"), and simply trusting in the Lord (the generically titled "Track 7"). Keeping everything in perspective, this album rates only fair compared to far better releases available, but if Building 429 is too busy or expensive to book for your church, Sevenglory would make a fine alternative.