John Van Deusen’s Joyful Noise Pt. 2: worship without the poster

The record, not the poster

John Van Deusen does not wait for a five-year cycle. After the rock record Anthem Sprinter (2024) he turned into a worship writer — not a costume change so much as a second language. Last year’s Pt. 1 was eighteen songs. As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise Pt. 2 is twenty, out August 28, 2026 on Anotherland. He is writing praise for Jesus first and not negotiating the rest.

What the cut does

The songs sit closer to the congregation than his older catalogues. “Joyful Noise” (with Citizens) bounces like it could survive a radio clock. “Mountain Mover” is the quiet one that still belongs on a Sunday. “A Call To Worship” invites you in — come let Him hold you — then throws a noise-rock ending that some will skip. The invitation is the point; the scrape at the end is a taste, not a thesis.

“The Lord Our God, The Lord Is One” is scripture in the room, built for people to sing together. Ten of the twenty tracks bring guests, and they are not cameos for the press sheet: Tenielle Neda on “With Everything We Praise The Lord,” Jon Guerra, Tyson Motsenbocker, Andy Squyres, Sandra McCracken on the long “This Is Love,” Taylor Armstrong, Chris Renzema. “Jesus Abide In Me,” sung by Blake Clawson’s choir, is the outlier that still earns its four minutes.

Mixed genre, same confession

This is folk-rock worship with indie nerves. It is more straight-ahead than Van Deusen’s earlier work, which is a choice, not a dilution. Pt. 1 still sits a half-step above for some ears. Pt. 2 is the longer sit — almost too long in one pass — and the spoken closer with his son is a family document more than a replay track. If you wanted honest worship that still sounds like songs, this is the stack.

Play it

Do not treat it as background CCM. Finish a handful. Then another handful. The record rewards return listens more than a single heroic stream.

Christian music journalism. Mixed genres. Gospel in every story.