Not that he minds, but Alvin Slaughter is the epitome of a worship leader who has yet to become a bona fide household name despite spending a lifetime toiling tirelessly for the Lord. His first stint in ministry dates back to the 1970s, when Slaughter began attending Brooklyn Tabernacle, eventually becoming a featured soloist in some of the church's early recordings. Slaughter launched his solo career in the early '90s, and by mid-decade he already had a deal with Integrity's Hosanna! imprint.

Like labelmate Ron Kenoly, Slaughter's Hosanna! years saw him gaining a stronger footing in CCM than in contemporary gospel, even though his soulful, throaty tenor was comparable to those of Commissioned alums Fred Hammond and Marvin Sapp. As Integrity gained more credence in gospel circles, so did Slaughter's music, which became more and more gospelized in sound, eventually exploding on 2003's delightfully urban On the Inside.

Which brings up 2008's Overcomer, the next natural step in Slaughter's progression as a worship leader and gospel singer. Produced by longtime Israel & New Breed collaborator Aaron Lindsey, the album is unlike anything Slaughter has recorded before. He sounds more reassured, more comfortable in his own skin, almost as if he has finally found his niche. Lindsey is a gospel head with a heart for praise and worship, so he complements Slaughter in every way, resulting in some of the pair's most memorable work to date.

Recorded in the studio, Overcomer somehow feels like it was cut live, as Slaughter flows from track to track as if this were a church service, at least for the rock-solid first half of the album, which is corporate, rhythmic, classic, and reverent all at once. "Loving Kindness," the album's stunning centerpiece, serves as the transition point for the rest of the disc, where things take a more meditative, thoughtful tone and Slaughter is given a chance to entertain his contemporary gospel side. These two movements offer a better glimpse of Slaughter's music and ministry over the years than has been previously caught on record, making Overcomer his most natural, complete work to date.

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