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The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is the 14th studio release, and 13th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on May 15, 2012, although prior to that date, a rough mix of "The Forest" was made available to those who pre-ordered the album via the band's official website.

The Loudest Sound Ever Heard
Studio album by The Choir
Released	May 15, 2012
Recorded	2012
Studio	Neverland Studios and The Brown Owl, Franklin, TN and Berry Hill, TN,
Genre	Christian alternative rock
Length	44:37
Label	Galaxy21
Producer	Derri Daugherty, Steve Hindalong
The Choir chronology
de-plumed (2010) The Loudest Sound Ever Heard (2012) Peace, Love & Light (2013)

As with Shadow Weaver, the band released a companion CD with band commentary for each track,[1] as well as a DVD of mix stems for listeners to create their own remixes that the Choir would later feature on their Facebook page.[2] In addition, the song "Shadow of the Cross" was recorded after the main studio sessions on July 22, 2012, and later released on August 8, 2012 as a digital single.[3]

To publicize their Circle Slide 25th Anniversary Tour in 2015, the Choir briefly offered The Loudest Sound Ever Heard as a free download via NoiseTrade.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Christianity Today	[5]
CCM Magazine	[6]
Apple Music	Favorable [7]
Cross Rhythms	[8]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[9]
The Phantom Tollbooth	[10]
Indie Vision Music	Mixed [11]
Louder Than The Music	[12]

Critical reception for The Loudest Sound Ever Heard was mostly favorable. John Wilson from Christianity Today praised the album for recalling "the dark, Euro six-string vibe of latter '80s underground rock [...] a very good thing made even better by hooky melodies, crackling musicianship, and Steve Hindalong's better-than-ever lyrics."[5] The editorial review from Apple Music was also highly positive, saying that the Choir "delves into matters of faith, friendship, and mortality with clear-eyed compassion," and "displays an honesty and humanity in its music that makes cosmic-scale themes seem like personal confessions."[7] Tincan Caldwell at Jesus Freak Hideout called The Loudest Sound Ever Heard "a thinking-person's pop album. Psychedelia for the spirit, pop-angst, a twelve-step inspired sighing of the spirit with a little rambunctiousness on the side." At the same time, Caldwell pointed out that the album was "a more introspective experience than the [...] title might suggest. As a matter of fact, it's not 'til half-way through the project [...] that we get to hear more typical pop tempos and hooks."[9]

This aspect of the album fueled the more critical review from Josh Hamm at Indie Vision Music, where he wrote that "the album never really takes off. While every song is solid, there are none which truly take the album to the next level."[11] Bert Saraco's otherwise positive review at The Phantom Tollbooth included a similar caveat: "Taken as the third piece of an excellent series of recent albums, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is a masterful third movement of theme and subject matter, with music that reflects the somber thoughts laid out. It is, perhaps, not the place to start for new listeners."[10] However, Jono Davies from Louder Than The Music, who admitted being new to the band's music, still praised the album, particularly the final track, "After All": "the sheer simplicity of the orchestral work and the guitars overlaid with the brilliant vocals make this one song you must get."[12] Tim Goodall at Cross Rhythms agreed, calling "After All" "gloriously haunting," and added that Derri Daugherty "has found his perfect partner in Leigh Nash."[8]

Track listing

All lyrics by Steve Hindalong. All music by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong, unless otherwise specified.

Musicians

The Choir

• Derri Daugherty - guitars, vocals
• Steve Hindalong - drums, glockenspiel, tambourine, shaker
• Tim Chandler - bass
• Dan Michaels - lyricon, saxophones
• Marc Byrd - guitar

Additional musicians

• Christine Glass Byrd - background vocals
• Leigh Nash - vocals, "After All"
• Matt Slocum - cello

Production

• The Choir - producers
• Derri Daugherty, Stephen Leiweke, Andrew Thompson, Matt Slocum - recording
• Mark "Z" Zellmer - recording assistance
• Derri Daugherty - mixing
• Jim DeMain - mastering
• Andrew Thompson - layout and design
• Chris Knight - photography

References

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