Empires
Hillsong United · 2015
71 min · 12 tracks · indie pop
A soaring blend of worshipful anthems and introspective melodies, setting a reflective tone for spiritual exploration.
Top tracks — play these first
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Touch the Sky — This track illustrates the album’s uplifting spirit with its anthemic chorus that encourages surrender and reliance on divine grace, resonating widely in worship settings.
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Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) — This song addresses themes of perseverance through pain while maintaining faith, offering a raw emotional honesty that stands out in worship music.
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Prince of Peace — With its haunting melody and poignant lyrics, this track captures a moment of reflection on the peace found in faith amidst chaos, making it a poignant centerpiece of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong anthems and introspective moments, with effective layering and vocal harmonies throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a dynamic track that builds intensity, followed by a series of anthemic choruses that emphasize vocal harmonies.
- Several tracks feature a gradual layering of instrumentation, creating a rich soundscape that evolves throughout the songs.
- The last three tracks shift towards a more contemplative tone, utilizing softer instrumentation and reflective lyrics to conclude the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- introspective reflection in quiet moments
- cathartic anthems for group worship
- uplifting energy for communal settings
- spiritual exploration through varied tempos
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek standalone radio hits
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2015, 'Empires' marked Hillsong United's fifth studio album and followed their critically acclaimed 'Zion' from 2013. At this point, the band was solidifying its status as a leader in contemporary worship music, with a growing global influence and fanbase stemming from their innovative sound and engaging live performances.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bethel Music· Elevation Worship· Maverick City Music
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Here Now (Madness) 7:22
- 2 Say the Word 4:24
- 3 Heart Like Heaven 6:30
- 4 Touch the Sky 4:22
- 5 Street Called Mercy 4:22
- 6 When I Lost My Heart to You (Hallelujah) 4:45
- 7 Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) 6:18
- 8 Prince of Peace 5:57
- 9 Empires 8:14
- 10 Rule 4:12
- 11 Captain 5:31
- 12 Closer Than You Know 9:31
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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