Personnel: Steve Fee (vocals, guitar, piano); Matthew Adkins (vocals, electric guitar); Heath Balltzglier (vocals, bass guitar); Brandon Coker (vocals, drums); Brandon Conn, Samantha Shea, Kalliope Hilliard, Stephen Pendleton, Kate Welch, Riley Hubatka, Greatly To Be Praised Childrens Choir, Madeline Hancock, Noah Culver, John Raymond, Hector Cervantes, Chris Huffman (vocals); Jason Hoard (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, programming); Matt Adkins (electric guitar); Chris Carmichael (strings); Scott Brickell (tambourine); Jeff Chandler, Jeff Chandler (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: David Zaffiro.
Photographer: Josh Hailey.
Unknown Contributor Role: Christy Nockels.
With their hit single "All Because of Jesus" and its attendant album WE SHINE, Steve Fee and his band Fee delivered a powerful slice of praise and worship music heavily influenced by superstar alt-rockers U2. The group's sophomore effort HOPE RISING is equally passionate, but expands the unit's sound while still retaining a solid grounding in energetic guitar rock. "Everything Falls" accents its driving, powerful choruses with electronica-inspired drum and synth loops, while "Arms That Hold the Universe" takes a moody, slow-building ethereal approach reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's "Secret World." Throughout, Fee stays on message, matching the ebullient music with direct, joyful lyrics that glorify God in plainspoken, accessible language.
