Bruce Von Stiers

There is a record label that features Messianic Jew music and artists. This label is called Galilee of the Nations. Their albums are distributed by the Provident Music Distribution group. One of the latest releases from Galilee of the Nations is from the Ted Pearce Project. The title of this album is Zealous Over Zion. This group consists of singer/musician Ted Pearce and backup artists. The album is a combination of soft rock and traditional Middle Eastern style praise songs.

There are 12 songs on this album. The last three songs are Hebrew versions of earlier songs on the album. The album is being released at the end of October 2002 to retail outlets.

This is Ted’s debut album on the Galilee label. He previously enjoyed limited popularity with the band Big Methuselah! He had been around the rock music scene for quite some time before becoming involved in the Messianic movement. He put together a couple solo projects before this current album came about. Ted has indeed come a long way from his rock band days.

The first song on the album is Zealous Over Zion, the title track. It begins with a Middle Eastern mysterious instrumental piece and then picks up with a lot of drums and other instruments. It has a definite flavor of the Middle East. It is a praise song about what God has said about his people and how they will “dwell in Jerusalem.”

The second song is Bless The Name Yeshua. It is a smoother song than the previous one. The music in it reminds me a little of My Sweet Lord. Rejoice is the third song. It also is a slower song. It’s a song that let’s the people know that God will be coming soon.

Congregation of the Righteous is another fast paced Middle Eastern flavored praise song. “Praise the lord, sing to the Lord a new song” is one of the lyrics.

Sons of Abraham has a nice acoustic guitar in the background to start it out. It moves on into some harder guitar that is reminiscent of late ‘70’s soft rock songs. Babylon is a song that is about the judgment of God over the people and for the good ones to flee.

Refuge and Strength is yet another Middle Eastern flavored song that gives praise to God for being there in a time of need. Let There Be Love is a slow song that tells people to open up their hearts to love for everyone. Arise is almost like a lullaby to little children in the beginning, only to speed up to a fairly fast paced praise song.

Isaiah 44 is a slow song that follows the chapter of the Bible.

Kineti is the Hebrew version of Zealous Over Zion. It is the 11th song on the album. GIli Meod is the Hebrew version of Rejoice and Miflati is the Hebrew version of Refuge and Strength.

Zealous Over Zion is a great Praise album. Its songs speak of the love of God for us and that he will protect and nurture us until the End Days. Most of the songs are fast moving soft rock type of songs. The others have that smoky Middle Eastern style that I really like.

Look for Zealous Over Zion at your local Christian retailer at the end of October.

For additional information, visit the Galilee of the Nations web site at www.galileeofthenations.com.