Alvin Slaughter

by Debra Akins

Internationally-renowned worship leader Alvin Slaughter has been inspiring listeners since his very first solo recording in the early 1990s, but his newest (and sixth) album, Overcomer, truly echoes his own personal testimony and is sure to strike a chord with audiences worldwide. Slaughter has spent much of his career over the past decade or two as an inspirational performer and speaker, ministering at national evangelistic crusades, Christian conferences and concerts around the world, but his new album is a reflection of what he gleaned prior to that time, when he spent several years living life as a “defeated Christian” who was dealing with the effects of bankruptcy, foreclosure, welfare, low self-esteem and a troubled marriage. The lessons he took from that difficult time resonate loud and clear in the songs he shares on Overcomer.

The album kicks off with the enthusiastic O Give Thanks and Mighty Praise, which both have a contagious energy and set the tone for a recurring theme of gratefulness in the midst of redemption. Album producer and long-time collaborator Aaron Lindsey (Israel and New Breed) lends his soulful voice to We’re Destined to Win, one of the project’s strongest tracks and one that GRAMMY-winner Lindsey also co-penned with Derick Thomas.

Slaughter brings a real power and conviction to his signature-smooth vocals on classic praise and worship numbers like He Loved Me to the End, Power In the Name of Jesus, and I Receive Your Love for Me, the latter of which was written by Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey and Martha Munizzi. This grouping makes up the album’s mid-section and each song flows as if Slaughter was performing them in a live church setting.

But it might actually be the fact that this project was recorded in the studio that allows Slaughter to venture into slightly different territory than before. Beginning with the mid-tempo Loving Kindness, Slaughter begins to step ever-so-slightly away from his standard praise and worship fare and explore a more contemporary gospel style that suits him very well. Songs like Tell Me Again (Lest I Forget), penned by Michael Olson and James Thiele, or Our First Love, penned again by Olson and Jason Ingram, seem to be a perfect fit for Slaughter’s strong tenor voice. It’s these songs and others on the album’s second half that are likely to earn Slaughter some new fans this time around – and rightfully so.

alvinslaughter.com
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