Prime Cuts: "Psalm 8 (Halle)," "Flowers," "What an Awesome God"
Overall Grade: 4.5/5
With Song of the Saints (Deluxe), Phil Wickham expands one of the most successful worship releases of the past year into a sweeping, collaborative celebration of modern congregational music. Rather than simply padding the original record with filler, the deluxe edition thoughtfully reimagines many of the album's most beloved moments through live recordings, guest collaborations, and remixes that breathe new life into songs already resonating in churches worldwide. The result is both a retrospective and a renewed invitation into the worshipful atmosphere that made Song of the Saints such a defining project for Wickham's career.
The album's core strength remains Wickham's gift for crafting worship anthems that feel simultaneously intimate and cinematic. Songs like "What an Awesome God," a bold reinterpretation of the classic by Rich Mullins, soar with massive arrangements and choir-driven crescendos that feel designed for arenas as much as sanctuaries. The new collaboration with Michael W. Smith adds an additional layer of legacy to the track, bridging generations of worship music while amplifying the song's already powerful sense of reverence and celebration.
The deluxe version's collaborative spirit is one of its most appealing elements. Appearances from artists such as Lauren Daigle, Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, Crowder, Jamie MacDonald, Chris Tomlin, and CAIN give familiar songs fresh textures and new emotional dynamics. "Flowers," now featuring Jamie MacDonald, stands out as one of the album's most reflective moments, offering a gentle reminder of God's faithfulness through simple yet poetic imagery. Meanwhile, the live version of "So So Good" with Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship captures the electrifying communal energy that defines modern worship gatherings.
Where the deluxe edition truly distinguishes itself, however, is in its handful of new additions. "Psalm 8 (Halle)" emerges as one of the project's most compelling highlights, translating the ancient psalm's awe-filled reflection on God's majesty into a modern worship declaration. The song's structure gradually builds from quiet reverence to sweeping praise, mirroring the psalm's own movement from contemplation to exaltation. It's a reminder of Wickham's ability to transform biblical text into songs that feel timeless yet accessible for today's worship settings.
The two versions of "Everyday Hallelujah" provide a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of Wickham's songwriting process. The stripped-down "Voice Memo" version feels almost like an intimate devotional moment, capturing the raw spark of an idea before it becomes a fully produced worship anthem. In contrast, the hidden track expands the concept into a fuller musical statement, turning a simple melody into a joyful declaration of daily praise. Together, these tracks highlight the organic beginnings of songs that often end up echoing through packed arenas and church sanctuaries alike.
Elsewhere, the project maintains the polished sonic scale that has become Wickham's trademark. Songs like "The King Is in the Room" and "Homesick for Heaven" continue to deliver the soaring melodies and stadium-sized production fans have come to expect, while the remixes offer a modern twist that may resonate with younger listeners discovering worship music through streaming playlists.
If there is a minor critique, it is that the album's expansive length occasionally leans toward familiarity. The core sonic palette-sweeping synths, layered guitars, and towering choruses-rarely strays far from Wickham's established formula. Yet the consistent emotional sincerity and the album's renewed collaborative energy keep the experience engaging from beginning to end.
Ultimately, Song of the Saints (Deluxe) succeeds not merely as an expanded edition but as a reaffirmation of Phil Wickham's role at the forefront of contemporary worship music. By blending massive anthems, intimate devotional moments, and fresh new songs rooted in Scripture, the album offers a listening experience that feels both celebratory and spiritually reflective. For longtime fans and worship leaders alike, this deluxe edition is less a simple extension of the original record and more a vibrant second life for songs that continue to shape the sound of modern worship.
