EMI Christian Music Group's compilation of "worship with an edge" capped a period of breakout growth for gospel's modern rock subgenre. A handsome cross-section of artists contributed tracks including standard-bearer
Switchfoot (although it's disappointing that the group didn't release anything newer than "Spirit," which appeared seven years prior on Sparrow Records'
Listen: Louder sampler). The sounds on
X Worship 2006 target the 21-and-under crowd, leaning heavily toward variances of post-punk, nu-metal and emo. Only three ballads infiltrate the ranks -- the aforementioned "Spirit,"
Thousand Foot Krutch's "Breath You In,"
Showbread's "Matthias Replaces Judas" -- leaving the album with a high pace and an impacting energy. Think
Angels and Airwaves,
Linkin Park, and
Foo Fighters with uplifting lyrics -- a result for the most part rather enchanting. Tracks by
Underoath and the Showdown try a little too hard to push the boundaries of worship music with sudden mid-song breaks into incessant
Pantera-esque screaming. Regardless,
X Worship 2006 is the pride of every Tony Hawk-era believer who has no intentions of "selling out" with lighter alternatives. ~ Jared Johnson