| Kingdom of Comfort | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 April 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||
| Studio | Chapel Lane Studios (Hereford, UK); Street Studios (Rustington, UK). | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, Christian rock | |||
| Length | 59:23 | |||
| Label | Sparrow/Furious? | |||
| Producer | Delirious?, Sam Gibson | |||
| Delirious? chronology | ||||
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Kingdom of Comfort is the ninth and final studio album by the British Christian rock band Delirious?, released in the United States on 1 April 2008 and in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2008. [1]
Inspired by visits to India with Joyce Meyer Ministries, Delirious? decided to place the focus of the album on inequality and justice around the world. Guitarist Stu G. said,
Seeing children looking for scraps on the rubbish dump they call homes in Cambodia and the education and feeding projects in the slums of Mumbai India really had an impact on us. It wasn't possible to simply proceed with business as usual. We had to ask ourselves, 'What am I building? A kingdom of comfort? Or a kingdom of heaven?' [2]
He also stated later that the title of the album was inspired from a sermon by Rob Bell, author and pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church. [2]
When the band returned to the studio, they began the process of writing and recording the record. An improvised section, often played during the band's song "History Maker", was adapted to form "God Is Smiling". [3] "Wonder" was written by Martin Smith about a child whom his family came close to adopting. [3] "We Give You Praise" was written in collaboration with Hillsong worship leader Marty Sampson. [3] "Break the Silence" was also written with ex-Snow Patrol musician Iain Archer. [3] Fifteen songs were recorded in total, and twelve were selected for the final album. The band released the second track, "God Is Smiling", as an MP3 download from their official website on 1 November 2007; it had been downloaded over 10,000 times by January 2008. [4] Another free download from the album, "We Give You Praise", was released on 1 February 2008. [5] Upon the release of the album, two more tracks were also made available for free download from the band's official website—"Hallelujah" and "Mothers of the Night". One song, "Fill My Cup", has not been released by Delirious?, but appears on the Compassionart album and features vocals by Delirious? lead vocalist Martin Smith.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| The Album Project |  [7] |
| Christian Music Today | [8] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [9] |
| Cross Rhythms |  [10] |
| Patrol Magazine | (6.9/10) [11] |
Christian magazine Christian Today stated that the album "questions everything, from cancer to consumerism, 'five star' dreams to slums and poverty. It is an album that calls for sacrifice, social justice and love." [12] It has also stated that "Kingdom of Comfort is yet another homerun (sic) for Delirious, with amped up modern rock production, some challenging lyrics meant to inspired by social action, and more stirring songs of worship." [13] Cross Rhythms gave the album ten out of ten, stating that it was "one of the most raw, passionate albums that these Christian rock titans have ever released". [14]
Delirious?
Additional musicians
Delirious? were an English contemporary Christian band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion. Paul Evans took over as drummer for the band's final two years.
Audio Lessonover? is the fourth studio album by the Christian rock band Delirious?, released in August 2001. It gathered considerably less critical acclaim than previous Delirious? albums, both musically and in its lack of overtly Christian lyrics. The sole single released from the album, Waiting for the Summer, reached number 26 in the UK Singles Charts; "Take Me Away", originally planned to be the second single, was released to MP3.com as a free download.
World Service is the fifth studio album by English Christian rock band Delirious?. It was released in 2003. Although it is more of a worship-oriented album as was Glo, Delirious? released two singles to the German market: "Inside Outside" and "Every Little Thing". The former sold over twelve thousand copies, was number one in German radio station SWR3's chart, and spent seven weeks in the German singles charts peaking at number seventy-two. Delirious? also released two free MP3 downloads on mp3.com, both topping the Guitar Rock charts. The first MP3, "Majesty ", hit number fifteen on the worldwide charts; the second, "Rain Down", reached number twenty-eight. The two together had amassed over 500,000 listens/downloads after fifty days. The band's American single "Rain Down" has become its biggest multi-format hit since "Deeper."
Touch is an album released by Delirious? in 2002. It is essentially a clone of album Audio Lessonover? released in North America. In fact, only the first song, "Touch", is new. "Love is the Compass" and "Waiting for the Summer" are different versions from the UK release, and four songs present on Audio Lessonover were removed from Touch.
King of Fools is a studio album by British Christian rock band Delirious?, initially released in June 1997. The full-length project showcased a new mainstream sound, whilst retaining many of the core themes found in their Cutting Edge EPs. Stylistically, the album epitomises the band's similarity to U2, an influence which was highlighted by several critics on its release. King of Fools reached No. 13 on the UK album chart, a career-high for the band, and produced four singles. The second, "Deeper", peaked at No. 20 on the UK singles chart on 11 May 1997. It also includes what is possibly the best known Delirious? song, "History Maker", which the band regularly played live throughout their whole career. The album was listed at No. 85 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was nominated for a Grammy.
UP: Unified Praise is a live praise and worship album of Praise & worship by the Australian Hillsong Church and English band Delirious?. The album reached No. 24 on the Top Christian Albums Chart.
Martin W "Marty" Sampson is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician and former worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney. From the late 1990s until 2019 he featured on the United Live albums and was one of the original Hillsong United band's worship leaders. Sampson's main instrument is the guitar although he also plays the piano, flute and drums. Aside from work for Youth Alive and Hillsong United, Sampson has issued solo albums.
Mezzamorphis is the second studio album by Christian rock band Delirious?. Released in 1999, it represented a large step towards a more electronic sound for the band and received a huge critical acclaim.
Martin James Smith is an English vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, best known as the frontman of the Christian rock and worship band Delirious?. He has been a solo artist since Delirious?' disbandment in 2009.
The Mission Bell is the sixth studio album by Delirious?. It was released in the UK on 7 November 2005 and in the US on 27 December 2005.
Glo is the third full studio album by the band Delirious?. It was released in 2000, just over a year after their previous album Mezzamorphis.
Access:d is a live album by the band Delirious?.
d:tour 1997 Live at Southampton, or simply d:tour, is a live album by the English band Delirious?.
Stuart David Garrard better known by the stage name Stu G, is an English vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. He is one third of US-based Christian contemporary music band One Sonic Society, and is writing and recording as a solo artist.
Cutting Edge is a series of recordings made by the British rock band Delirious?. The songs were originally written for a regular youth event, Cutting Edge, in the band's home town of Littlehampton. Through this, the band gained its first name, The Cutting Edge Band, which was later changed to Delirious? when the band went full-time in 1996.
Now Is the Time is the fourth full live album by the band Delirious?. In June 2006, Delirious? attended Willow Creek Community Church to record a live concert DVD. The DVD is accompanied with a CD, and it was released in the UK on 9 October and in the USA on 17 October.
"Rain Down" is the second track on the Christian rock band Delirious?'s fifth album, World Service, released in 2002. Written by the band's lead vocalist, Martin Smith and lead guitarist, Stuart Garrard, "Rain Down" reached number 5 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.
CompassionArt is a studio album by the songwriters' charity of the same name. It features the entire CompassionArt song writing team, Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, Michael W. Smith, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu Garrard and charity co-founder Martin Smith, along with several other collaborators. All proceeds from the recording directly benefited charities of the songwriters' choosing.
My Soul Sings is a live album by the band Delirious?. The album was released on 16 March 2009. It was the band's last new recording before their farewell tour at the end of 2009. It takes its name from the song, My Soul Sings, which was included on Kingdom of Comfort. Generación 12, a Colombian worship band sang part of some songs in Spanish. A special Colombian Edition has been released in South America, to cater for the Colombian market, where Delirious? has a large following.
One Sonic Society is a contemporary worship music collective from around the globe. That collective is composed of songwriter Jason Ingram on vocals, guitar and piano, Delirious? lead guitarist Stuart Garrard on guitar and vocals, Hillsong UNITED drummer Paul Mabury on drums and programming, Jonathan Thatcher bass guitarist from Delirious? on bass and synths. The Christian music collective released their debut studio album under the Essential Records label on 28 February 2012 called Forever Reign. Their single "Forever Reign" was put in rotation during 2011 by many US radio stations.
