Chain Breaker
Studio album by
Zach Williams
ReleasedDecember 14, 2016
Recorded2016
StudioBlackbird Studios[1]
Genre
Length36:48
LabelEssential
ProducerJonathan Smith
Zach Williams chronology
Chain Breaker
(2016) 		Rescue Story
(2019)
Singles from Chain Breaker
  1. "Chain Breaker"
    Released: May 24, 2016[2]
  2. "Old Church Choir"
    Released: September 23, 2016[3]
  3. "Fear Is a Liar"
    Released: January 19, 2018[4]
  4. "Survivor"
    Released: September 14, 2018[5]

Chain Breaker is the debut studio album by Zach Williams, released on December 14, 2016, by Essential.[6] The album peaked at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. The album includes writing from Williams, Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes, Ethan Hulse, Colby Wedgeworth, Bryan Fowler, Tony Wood, Matthew Armstrong, Parker Nohe, Jason Ingram, Jeff Pardo, Parker Welling, Hank Bentley, and Jordan Frye.

The album was supported by four singles: "Chain Breaker", "Old Church Choir" "Fear Is a Liar", and "Survivor". The first three singles were all Hot Christian Songs top tens, with the former two being No. 1s.

It was nominated for Top Christian Album at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.[7]

Singles

On May 24, 2016, "Chain Breaker" was released as the debut single from Zach Williams, along with a lyric video.[8] The song debuted on the Hot Christian Songs chart on July 2, 2016, at No. 45.[9] A music video for the song was released on October 24, 2016.[10] On November 12, 2016, the song went to number one on the Christian Airplay chart.[11] The following week, it went to number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his first song to reach the mark.[12] It stayed at the position for nine weeks.

On September 23, 2016, "Old Church Choir" was chosen as the second single for his debut album, Chain Breaker. Shortly after being released to radio, a music video was uploaded on May 1, 2017.[13] The song's lyric video was released on June 9, 2017.[14] It reached number one on the Christian Airplay chart, becoming his second leader.[15] "Old" became William's second number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart, holding the position for one week.[16] "Old Church Choir" clocked its nineteenth week on the Christian Airplay chart, tying Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes" from 2008.[17] The song failed to break the record, being dethroned the following week by Tenth Avenue North's Control (Somehow You Want Me).

On October 20, 2017, "Fear Is A Liar" was released as the third single, accompanied by a lyric video.[18] The official music video was released on January 19, 2018, with the support of the suicide hotline number.[19] The song broke into the Hot Christian Songs top 10, peaking at No. 3.

"Survivor" was released as the fourth single on September 14, 2018, accompanied by a lyric video.[20] A live extended-play was released of the song and several others live from Harding Prison.[21] The song peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Airplay chart but failed to break the Christian Songs Top 10.

Release

Chain Breaker was released on December 14, 2016, for purchase on iTunes[6] and Google Play,[22] and for streaming on Spotify,[23] Deezer,[24] Google Play[25] and Tidal.[26]

The deluxe edition of the album was released on September 15, 2017, and included five bonus tracks: "Promised Land", "Home", "Midnight Rider", "Freedom" and "Washed Clean (Live)".[27]

Track listing

Chain Breaker standard edition[28]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chain Breaker"
3:16
2."Old Church Choir"
  • Zach Williams
  • Ethan Hulse
  • Colby Wedgeworth
2:56
3."Survivor"
  • Zach Williams
  • Bryan Fowler
  • Jonathan Smith
3:52
4."To the Table"
4:00
5."My Liberty"
  • Zach Williams
  • Matthew Armstrong
  • Jonathan Smith
3:03
6."Song of Deliverance"
  • Zach Williams
  • Parker Welling Nohe
  • Jonathan Smith
3:28
7."Fear Is a Liar"
4:25
8."Everything Changed"
3:22
9."Revival"
  • Zach Williams
  • Parker Welling Nohe
  • Jonathan Smith
3:24
10."So Good to Me"
  • Zach Williams
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Parker Welling Nohe
5:02
Total length:36:48
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."So Good to Me"
  • Zach Williams
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Parker Welling Nohe
5:00
12."Home"
  • Zach Williams
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Hank Bentley
3:34
13."Midnight Rider"
  • Gregg Allman
  • Robert K. Payne
3:58
14."Freedom"
  • Zach Williams
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Jordan Frye
3:12
15."Washed Clean" (Live)Zach Williams5:31
Total length:54:05

Charts

References

  1. ^ "Zach Williams - Chain Breaker AllMusic". AllMusic. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Zach Williams - Chain Breaker". May 24, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "Zach Williams - Old Church Choir". September 23, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Zach Williams - Fear Is A Liar NEW". ThisIsPower. January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Zach Williams Releases Heartfelt New EP 'Survivor: Live From Harding Prison'". Breathecast. September 15, 2018. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Chain Breaker by Zach Williams". iTunes. December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Warner, Denise. "Cardi B Leads 2019 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 21". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "Zach Williams - Chain Breaker (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. May 24, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "Hot Christian Songs 6/2/16". Billboard. July 2, 2016. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Zach Williams - Chain Breaker (Official Music Video)". YouTube. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  11. ^ "Christian Airplay 11/12/16". Billboard. November 12, 2016. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. ^ "Hot Christian Songs 11/19/16". Billboard. November 19, 2016. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Zach Williams - Old Church Choir (Official Music Video)". YouTube. May 1, 2017. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. ^ "Zach Williams - Old Church Choir (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. June 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 9, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "Christian Airplay 08/26/17". Billboard. August 26, 2017. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  16. ^ "Hot Christian Songs 11/25/17". Billboard. November 25, 2017. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ^ "Zach Williams "Old Church Choir" Ties Record On Billboard's Christian Airplay". TheChristianBeat. January 7, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  18. ^ "Zach Williams - Fear Is a Liar (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Zach Williams - Fear Is a Liar (Official Music Video)". YouTube. January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  20. ^ "Zach Williams - Survivor (Lyric Video)". YouTube. April 18, 2018. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "Survivor: Live From Harding Prison - EP". iTunes. September 14, 2018. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "Zach Williams: Chain Breaker – Music on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  23. ^ "Chain Breaker (Deluxe Edition)". Spotify. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  24. ^ "Discover Chain Breaker by Zach Williams on Deezer". Deezer. 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  25. ^ "Zach Williams: Chain Breaker (Deluxe Edition)". Google Play. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  26. ^ "Chain Breaker (Deluxe Edition)". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  27. ^ "Zach Williams Releases Chain Breaker: Deluxe Edition, Available Today". JFHNews. September 15, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  28. ^ "Chain Breaker by Zach Williams". iTunes. December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  29. ^ Chain Breaker (liner notes). Zach Williams. Essential. 2016.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  31. ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  32. ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  33. ^ "Zach Williams Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  34. ^ "Christian Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  35. ^ "Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
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