CXMMXNS “Live in Manila” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Praise You Anywhere, Still, Lord I Give You My Heart 

Overall Grade: 5/5

CXMMXNS, the worship collective founded by GRAMMY Award-winning songwriters Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, release their debut live project Live in Manila on October 10, 2025, via Sony Provident. Captured across two sold-out nights in June, the recording gathers thousands of voices in the heart of Manila and marks a milestone moment as the original writers of some of the church's most enduring songs lead them afresh in a live setting. The release arrives on the same day as Hillsong Worship unveils their first EP in three years, placing Live in Manila in direct conversation with the legacy of the movement Fielding and Morgan once helped to shape. Where Hillsong's offering signals a return after a period of silence, CXMMXNS's live album testifies to continuity and growth, showing that the voices behind many of Hillsong's greatest songs are moving forward with a new expression of worship.

The album immediately stands out as a go-to worship record because of the familiarity of its repertoire. Songs such as What a Beautiful Name, Goodness of God, Cornerstone, Mighty to Save, and Who You Say I Am have already shaped congregations around the world, and here they are presented with renewed passion and authenticity. Interwoven with these classics are newer selections from CXMMXNS's recent Chapter 2 EP, and the seamless blending of old and new makes the listening experience both comforting and invigorating. Longtime favorites gain new resonance in the Manila atmosphere, while fresh songs receive a live context that allows them to breathe and connect.

A particular highlight is Praise You Anywhere, first recorded by Brandon Lake and co-written by Ben Fielding. In the context of Live in Manila, the song is reprised as a congregational focus, inviting worshippers to participate fully in its themes of God's omnipresence and faithfulness. The live rendition of Doorkeeper transforms the studio track into an expansive, communal experience, with the Manila crowd amplifying its message through unified singing and spontaneous worship interludes. The album also includes the enduring Still, a Hillsong classic whose evergreen power continues to calm hearts even amid life's storms. Reuben Morgan's early classic Lord I Give You My Heart is given a reflective, ethereal treatment, highlighting its timeless devotion in a fresh live context.

More than a retrospective, Live in Manila is both a celebration of legacy and a bold step into the future. With its combination of familiarity, freshness, and the undeniable power of live worship, CXMMXNS have delivered a record that is set to become a staple for churches and listeners alike.

 

 

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