Adrian Ewings & The Steps of Praise garnered their first significant attention by way of the Nu Nation Tour, where they joined up with Kirk Franklin for some high-energy stage performances (also caught on video: see video review)

These San Diego-based artists are Gospel steppers: a youthful and motivated urban crew that pour out their enthusiasm for the Good News by way of co-ordinated foot thumping and synchronized bursts of yelled vocals.

So how come steppers have a CD?

It’s a valid question that deserves a serious answer. And that answer is all over the music. There are a myriad of ways of raising the praise, and by the time you’ve heard this project, there’s no doubt that stepping is one of them.

From start to finish —cuts one through fifteen —there’s an unspoken but very real invitation to dance unto God, in any way that you are comfortable with. Banging tracks, frequent hip-hop sounds, ultra-urban grooves and all, it’s conducive to lots of holy movement.

It takes a few minutes to get used to a vocal crew that yell and stomps to their lyrics, instead of singing them. But let their be no doubt, the yelling is tight, and highly infectious.

Being from the same geographic region as Tonéx, perhaps it’s not surprising that there’s that heavy Nureau influence throughout the album. Add in those heavy boot-stomping sounds and you’ve got yourself one of Gospel’s most innovative projects.

Songs such as “High Prayze”, “Changed Partners”, the self-defining “S.O.P.” and the warrior-sounds-influenced fighting cut “Watcha Here 4” bring their bouncy stomp sounds to the front.

But Puppet Master is not just about bangin' boots. Other winning cuts detour from the power of the step to rely more on new millenial, urban octane for fuel. The title track is an obvious such example.

Adrian Ewings Explains

Adrian Ewings talks about The Steps of Praise, their history and the Puppet Master album. Adrian Ewings Interview

Referencing the fact that ‘God is pulling our strings’, “Puppet Master” features Keite Young on vocals with Ryan Akers flowing quick rap shots over a smattering of loops, samples and studio effects. The remix brings Steps of Praise’s Ghia Bates in on rap.

Then there’s “Sanctified” which starts acappella and doesn’t end up straying far from that organic vibe with stripped-down instrumentals and a jazzed vibe on the vocal side, with several sharing the mic.

“Heaven” is another cut steeped in jazz. Muted brass and softer synth tones support Ewings’ relaxed and stylized vocals. The song is sung from Jesus’ point of view and hits the key points of His resurrection victory.

Fascinating in its diversity of sound, and edifying in message, by the time the hyper-step bonus cut “Peace” hits the beam, you may just find that you’ll be stomping and stepping the praise that Puppet Master delivers too.