''Zion'' is the third studio album by Australian contemporary worship music band Hillsong United. It was released on 22 February 2013 for Australia, and was released by 26 February 2013 internationally, under

Hillsong Music Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London, and Hillsong Kiev. Hillsong albums are released and distributed by Hillsong Music. The main groups are Hillsong ...

and

Sparrow Records Sparrow Records is a Christian music record label and a division of Universal Music Group. History Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then artists and repertoire (A&R) director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by Thorn EMI in ...

. Production for the album began in March 2011 in Sydney, Australia.

Michael Guy Chislett Michael Guy Chislett (born 6 April 1982) is an Australian musician and producer. He is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Christian worship band Hillsong United and was the lead guitarist of the rock band the Academy Is... Car ...

and band member

Joel Houston Joel Timothy Houston (born 19 September 1979) is an Australian musician, songwriter, pastor, and leader in the Sydney-based band Hillsong United, a worship band of Hillsong Church. He was co-pastor at Hillsong NYC between 2010 and 2017. He i ...

oversaw production of the album, with the latter serving as executive producer. Two singles were released to promote the album: "Scandal of Grace" on 5 February 2013, and "

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" is a song by Australian worship group Hillsong United. It was released on 23 August 2013 as the second and final single from their third studio album, ''Zion'' (2013). The song is led by Taya Smith, and was written ...

" on 10 September 2013.

Background

Hillsong United gave an interview to ''

CCM Magazine ''CCM Magazine'' is a twice-monthly online magazine focusing on contemporary Christian music, published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. History ''CCM'' was first published in July 1978, as a printed magazine. It has be ...

s Grace Cartwright Aspinwall about the album.

Critical reception

''Zion'' garnered praise from the ratings and reviews of

music critics Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...

. At

Christian Broadcasting Network The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is an American Christian media production and distribution organization. Founded in 1960 by Pat Robertson, it produces the long-running TV series '' The 700 Club'', co-produces the ongoing ''Superbook'' ...

, Hannah Goodwyn rated the album four-and-a-half spins, writing that "The music, the lyrics, the movement, it all comes together in ''Zion''." Matt Conner of ''

'' rated the album four stars, stating that this is yet "Another strong United release." Andrea Hunter of ''Worship Leader'' rated the album four-and-a-half stars, writing that listeners will "find songs across generations and traditions to honor God and transform hearts." At Cross Rhythms, Tony Cummings rated the album a perfect ten squares, saying that the band "have released a peach of an album". In addition, Cross Rhythms' Stephen Curry rated the album a perfect ten squares, indicating how the release contains "a variety of sounds and moments of creativity", and the band "should be applauded for their subtle but brave changes in musical direction." Ryan Barbee of Jesus Freak Hideout rated the album four-and-a-half stars, stating that he takes his hat off due "to your art." According to Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout, who rated the album four stars, says that this is "the best album United has ever released". Jonathan Andre of Indie Vision Music rated the album four stars, writing that the release "is full of lyrically rich themes and messages against the backdrop of electronic music that presents a unique way of creating worship music". At New Release Today, Mary Burklin rated the album four-and-a-half stars, stating that "a richly textured release that manages to achieve an intimate, organic feel despite the band's massive international reach." David Jeffries of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

rated the album three-and-a-half stars, writing that the release is "just a touch overstuffed." At Louder Than the Music, Jono Davies rated the album a perfect five stars, remarking how the release is "Epic, Brilliant and Original." Emily Kjonaas of Christian Music Zine rated the album three-and-a-half stars, saying that "this is a great worship album that will help you keep your focus on Christ."

Commercial performance

''Zion'' is Hillsong United's most successful album to date, with 34,100 units being sold in its first week. It sold 25% more than ''Aftermath'', allowing it to debut at number five on the US ''Billboard'' 200. The album was also their seventh No.1 on the US Christian Albums chart. The album has sold 169,000 copies in the US as of May 2015. The album debuted at No. 1 on the

Australian Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

and has since been certified gold by the

Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing ...

for sales exceeding 35,000 copies.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from

and ''Zion'' booklet. Hillsong United *Matt Crocker – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, keyboard, synthesizer *Adam Crosariol – bass *Jonathon Douglass – vocals, electric piano, percussion *Jad Gillies – vocals, electric guitar, percussion *

– vocals, electric guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, bass *Peter James – piano, keyboard, synthesizer *Timon Klein – electric guitar *Simon Kobler – drums, percussion *Dylan Thomas – electric guitar Additional musicians *

– acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, percussion, strings arrangement, synthesizer *Jay Cook – backing vocals *Evie Gallardo – violin *Joel Hingston – electric guitar *Carli Marino – vocals *Steven Robertson – acoustic guitar on "Arise" *James Rudder – percussion *Taya Smith – vocals *Ryan Taubert – strings arrangement *Ben Tennikoff – piano, organ,

piano accordion A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more that of an organ than a piano, as they are both aerophones, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro ...

, keyboard, synthesizer *Matt Tennikoff – bass *Laura Toggs – backing vocals *David Ware – vocals on "Mountain" *Michaeli Whitney – cello Production *Jay Argaet – art direction *Jonathon Baker – engineer *Nathan Cahyadi –

art design Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of what ...

*Michael Guy Chislett – producer, mixing,

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limit ...

, programming *Adam Dodson – project manager *Sam Gibson – mixing *

Bobbie Houston Roberta Lee Houston (born 16 January 1957), better known as Bobbie Houston, is a New Zealand-born Australian of Tongan descent and a Pentecostal pastor in the Australian Christian Churches. Houston and her husband, Brian were the Senior Past ...

– senior pastor *

Brian Houston Brian Charles Houston ( ; born 17 February 1954) is a New Zealand-Australian former pastor and evangelist. He was the founder and senior pastor at Hillsong Church, based in Sydney with locations around the world. He was the national president ...

– senior pastor *Joel Houston – executive producer, producer *Peter James – programming *Matt Johnson – photography *Simon Kobler – programming *

Stephen Marcussen Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California, United States. He has been mastering music since 1979. Biography Marcussen's introduction to music recording happened in 1976 when, at ...

– mastering *Jim Monk – engineer *James Rudder – mixing,

*Ben Tennikoff – programming *Ben Whincop – engineer *Stewart Whitmore – digital editor

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

''Worship Leader'' magazine interview and performance
{{Authority control 2013 albums Hillsong United albums