Casting Crowns

By Debra Akins, contributing writer, GospelMusicChannel.com

In the six years since Casting Crowns released their self-titled debut, the group has raked in 23 Dove Awards, eight chart-topping radio singles, a GRAMMY Award and an American Music Award. They’ve already amassed a total of nearly 4.5 million albums sold as they release their fourth studio recording, Until the Whole World Hears.

With producer Mark Miller once again at the helm, Until the Whole World Hears follows successfully in the footsteps of its predecessors with a collection of 12 message-centered tracks that have become the calling card for this ministry-focused band, who each serve in student ministry at their local churches in the Atlanta area. Lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall admits to crafting songs that begin as messages to the 400 teens and families he leads on a weekly basis at his home church.

“Our songs have always come from our ministry in the church,” Hall says. “They start as messages on Wednesday night, things we’re teaching our teenagers and their families.”

Encouraging listeners to know Jesus better and love as he loved is a key theme here, with songs steeped in scripture and a direct, intentional lyrical poetry. Songs such as “To Know You,” “If We Ever Needed You” and “Always Enough” are prime examples, along with the title track which took its own inspiration from an e-mail signature line. One of Hall’s mentors in student ministry always closed his e-mails with the phrase, “Until the whole world hears.” Hall explains, “Those simple words are a challenge to be intentional with the way we live our lives.”

Other album highlights include reinventions of classic hymns Hall grew up with, such as “Joyful, Joyful” (a modern take on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”), “Blessed Redeemer” (featuring vocals by violinist Melodee DeVevo) and “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me),” from the long-time Baptist hymn “One Day.”

Until the Whole World Hears should further solidify Casting Crowns as a staple artist for Christian music fans everywhere. It’s a direct message set to a signature sound – a winning formula that has continued to make Casting Crowns one of the biggest names in Christian music today.