Hillsong United album drops today

Best-selling modern worship band Hillsong UNITED offers its highly anticipated, 11th full-length album and second ever studio recording, AFTERMATH, today on Sparrow Records. Having its pulse consistently in tune with the heart cry of congregations across the globe and a fresh, forward-thinking soundtrack to match, Hillsong UNITED has been the veritable gold standard of modern worship music for the past decade and counting. The new album continues this journey, releasing amidst wide acclaim, immediate sales success, a radio single being heard by millions and a major market North American tour that has already sold out five venues even before the tour is set to begin.

Traversing six continents of the world into 42 nations just since 2006 in a cross-cultural journey, Hillsong UNITED returns to North America Feb. 23 for the 12-city “Aftermath” tour. With tickets for the tour selling quickly in all markets, sellouts have already been logged in San Francisco (The Warfied Theatre, 2/26), Los Angeles (Staples Center, 3/1 – 12,310 tickets sold), Dallas (Music Hall, 3/5), New York City (Hammerstein Ballroom, 3/10) and Boston (Orpheum Theatre, 3/11).  Adding an encore event in Boston at 10 pm, the full Hillsong UNITED Aftermath tour itinerary can be found on the band’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, which has more than 1.5 million friends. (All tour dates are also listed below.)

The band is also poised to gather a strong debut in its first week at retail as AFTERMATH has already climbed to the iTunes Top 5 on its overall U.S., No. 1 on Overall Australia, and No. 1 Christian/Gospel album sales charts.

The band is futher gathering momentum from radio for its first single from AFTERMATH, “Search My Heart,” a pulsing, urgent cry to be used by God for His – not simply our own – purposes.  The song is on track to become the band’s most successful radio single ever, having already been heard by millions of people nationwide though K-LOVE and Air 1 networks, as well as other stations throughout the US that have added it to rotation.

The first new album from Hillsong UNITED in over two years, AFTERMATH is also reaping high marks from critics as the album offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds:

“Most bands would consider an album like this to be their magnum opus, but that would connote an apex and Hillsong shows no indication that they are going anywhere but up…AFTERMATH shows that Hillsong continues to set the bar high and blur the lines between studio albums and live worship…listening to AFTERMATH is truly an experience – an event as real and engaging as the worship team’s well-documented stage show that has been seen by the masses on six continents.” – All Music Guide

“The beats are great, the music is interesting…Hillsong has raised the bar yet again.” – www.ultimate-guitar.com

“…the Australian Worship tour de force is back and arguably better than ever…This is the artistic statement many of us have been waiting for…a fantastic worship album.” – CCM

“I’m impressed by the consistent quality and fresh worshipful songs that come from Hillsong UNITED. AFTERMATH is no exception. … AFTERMATH is a must-have for your praise and worship collection. – www.newreleasetuesday.com

“It is great to see Hillsong UNITED growing and providing consistently excellent albums that serve both corporately and devotionally. Make some space to revel in the Aftermath.” – Foursquare Leader (www.foursquare.org)

As Hillsong UNITED’s team of songwriters penned and recorded the tracks for AFTERMATH, the theme of genuine, paradoxical hope in the wake of the apparent tragedy of the Cross emerged in track after track.

“Normally ‘aftermath’ has a negative, even traumatic, connotation,” says Hillsong UNITED member Joel Houston. “At the same time, when I look at the Crucifixion as an event, it paints an extraordinarily negative and horrific picture. But the aftermath of the Cross is hope for all mankind. It’s grace, freedom, peace, life and everything that is good about God. I absolutely love that picture.”

Creative, diverse and not limited to any one demographic, the heart of Hillsong UNITED is to create music that reveals the truth of who Jesus is. Fronted by worship leaders Joel Houston, Jad Gillies and Jonathon “JD” Douglass, the UNITED team is also an evolving collaboration of pastors, worship leaders, musicians and songwriters – all intentional about giving voice to a generation passionate about God.

Hillsong UNITED was born out of the Youth Movement of Hillsong Church, where the Youth group meets weekly and now has over 3,000 attendees. Young people are encouraged and empowered to use their creativity in music, arts and film to serve in ministry. In 1999, UNITED recorded its first album Everyday, which featured original songs written by the young people, and has since built a very large brand image and following all around the world.  Its 2007 album, All Of The Above, and 2009 album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down The Walls, launched to No.1 on U.S. Billboard Christian charts, and the latter and most recent album also grabbed the No. 2 position on the iTunes mainstream chart, just behind Eminem.

Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City. Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world.

For more information, please visit: www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited.

The full Hillsong UNITED 2011 Aftermath North American tour itinerary follows:

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Doug Van Pelt

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