The Mission Bell signals Delirious?'s intent. It's a call to prayer, a cry out to God, a warning that nothing can ever be the same again.
With The Mission Bell it's all about finding yourself ready to move on with God, seizing the day and taking the time.
From the war cry of Paint The Town Red to the tears at the feet of The Miracle Maker, from the abandon of Here I Am Send Me to the brokenness of Stronger, The Mission Bell rings with an urgency and a passion like no other Delirious? album before.
Musically the album's twelve tracks cast a net over the previous years, moulds, shifts and shapes them. Guitars are bold, melodies inspired, ambiance unavoidable. What has shifted even further are the lyrics. There's an honesty and fragility about them, seen in tracks like All This Time: 'so how can I serve God and wealth? I can captivate an army but I can't control myself.'
Take Off My Shoes takes things a step further, pleading with God to 'hold me, blow all the pride from my bones with your fire, breathe on this heart made of stone, keep it pure.'