Look, I’m an atheist. Always have been, always will be. But I’m the first in line when the new Stryper albums are being handed out, so when I heard that Southern Rock legends Danny Van Zant (.38 Special) and his brother Johnny (Lynyrd Skynyrd) were putting out a new album together – their first in aeons – and that it was going to be a Christian rock album, I thought sure, why not?

And after repeated listens to Always Look Up I have to say my lack of faith remains unshaken – especially by maudlin nonsense like Why God Brought Me Here; But there is enough decent music on show on Always Look Up to make it worth investigation if you like the Van Zant brothers in any of their previous, um, incarnations.

Indeed closing track (called, naturally enough, Jesus Christ) is the best thing either man has put his name to in years, and Warrior and Speak His Name aren’t too shabby either. These three tracks stand out because they actually have the ability to speak to non com observers like me without feeling like too much of a sermon. Jesus Christ (the track) is a drama-laden, compelling epic of a track,  ebbing and flowing, building to a spectacular climax on the back of some marvellous drumming from Shawn Fichter and, dare I say it, genuinely inspiring, especially when Johnny is bolstered by some magnificent female backing vocals… It’s like Skynyrd on steroids and it’s an absolute ripper…

It’s the exception proving the rule, of course, and the rule is gently soporific (if well put together) homily for the most part, but as noted, it’s worth a listen if only to reinforce your already-held prejudices about this stuff. But there’s no arguing with honestly-held conviction, and there’s plenty of that here. Worthy of investigation.

Always Look Up releases on November 22nd.