Cosmic Supreme is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Mark McMillan, released on April 4, 2025, through Anotherland. It was issued in both a standard ten-track edition and an expanded version titled Cosmic Supreme: SUPREME, featuring live, acoustic, and instrumental versions of several songs.[1]
McMillan described the origins of Cosmic Supreme as emerging from what he called a period of personal and artistic deconstruction. In an interview with RELEVANT magazine, he reflected that he "slowly veered away" from traditional worship music because of a growing disconnect between his internal questions and his public role.[2]
During the pandemic, McMillan stepped away from touring and spent time caring for family, eventually writing new praise songs privately, which later formed the basis of the album.[3] Producer Gabriel Wilson described the record as "a return to wonder and to worship," aiming to "transcend the genre of worship music itself."[4]
The album's core tracking occurred live at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina, with the band performing together for a week. Additional recording took place at Aevum Studio (East Tennessee) and Bright Abyss/Old House Studio (Charlotte, NC).[4]
Cosmic Supreme reflects McMillan's re-engagement with worship music but retains his characteristic poetic, introspective lyricism. McMillan explained that the album examines "belief that's messy, hopeful, and maybe even a little fun.”[2] Lyrically, the record explores the tension between doubt and devotion, confronting religious fatigue while rediscovering sincerity and joy in worship.[3] Musically, it blends elements of alternative rock, gospel, and modern worship, balancing introspective verses with soaring, communal choruses.[2][3]
Release and promotion
The album was released worldwide on April 4, 2025, via McMillan's imprint Anotherland.[1] Press coverage described it as McMillan's first overtly worship-focused project in over eight years.[5]
Ahead of the release, McMillan issued several singles — "Ancient Love", "All My Life", and "Heart's Delight" — each accompanied by lyric or performance videos. The album's visual presentation intentionally drew on nostalgic 1990s church aesthetics. McMillan told Relevant: "I wanted it to feel like it might be a joke—but it's not. We're just owning the cringe."[3]
Tour
To promote the album, McMillan announced a spring–summer 2025 U.S. tour with the band Citizens. The tour featured a mix of intimate venues and mid-sized theaters, emphasizing participatory worship experiences rather than performance spectacle.[6]
Critical reception
Cosmic Supreme received generally positive reviews from Christian and independent music outlets. Jesus Freak Hideout called it "a heartfelt homecoming, brimming with sweet praise choruses that feel both intimate and expansive," praising its vulnerability and production quality.[7]SALT Magazine commended McMillan's sincerity, writing that the album's power lies in its "personal honesty and lyrical transparency."[8]Relevant positioned it as a creative milestone, "a worship record for people who aren't sure they like worship music anymore."[3]
While reviews were largely favorable, Jesus Freak Hideout noted that the album's introspective tone and genre-bending nature might make it "better suited for reflection than congregational use."[7]
↑ "Cosmic Supreme". SALT Magazine. April 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
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