Kutless brings a fresh perspective to the familiar praise music genre with It Is Well (2009). This deeply reverent work surpasses the band’s earlier worship offering Strong Tower with its stately arrangements and astute choice of songs. The emphasis on acoustic guitars and atmospheric percussion in no way diminishes the inherent power of the band; likewise, Jon-Micah Sumrall’s vocals benefit from the finely honed intensity he brings to his performances. It Is Well mixes band-composed tunes with traditional and contemporary worship standards to pleasing effect. The quintet brings some rock dynamics to its interpretations of “God of Wonders” and “Give Us Clean Hands,” and band originals like the reflective, question-filled “I’m Still Yours” compliment the outside material nicely. Small touches – like the marching tempo of “Amazed” and the misty strings underscoring “Taken By Love” – help make It Is Well an album of unusual subtlety and resonance. Kutless raises the bar for rock-based worship with this outstanding release.