Grace Graber: “Punk x Praise, Vol. 1” Album Review
Ever wonder what your favorite worship songs would sound like if they were given a pop-punk makeover? Grace Graber, who gained internet fame from viral clips of worship covers, recently released her first punk worship album. Videos containing clips from songs like “Dusty Bibles,” “That’s Who I Praise,” “Lemonade and others garnered millions of views. Now Grace has crafted an eight song album called Punk X Praise, Vol. 1. The album features seven covers, as well as a brand new original, and was produced by Josiah Prince of Disciple.
Punk x Praise, Vol. 1 Album Review
Tracks: 8
Length: 26:01
Release Date: April 10, 2026
Label: Wings Music Group
The album kicks off with “Dusty Bibles,” originally recorded by Josiah Queen. The song starts with simple guitar work before launching into the punk rock mindset. The syncopation between the instruments and vocals is a little clashing on the verses, but she really locks it in on the chorus. To me, the music has strong influential ties to Hawk Nelson. She offers her clear, sincere vocals and her take on the classic pop-punk sound. We shake the dust off our bibles and go into Brandon Lake’s “That’s Who I Praise.” I like the catchy guitar riffs in the verses and feel that they’re used well for emphasis throughout all aspects of the song. The soaring vocal glide on the word “praise” shows her incredible vocal range and ability. It’s fun to hear these songs in a different style to give some variety to the Christian music landscape. Her voice is energetic and it sounds like she’s having a blast!
Forrest Frank’s 2025 summer hit, “Lemonade,” is up next and it is on repeat in our household, both the original and this version. Believe it or not, this song has three different versions. There’s the original version, a folk version by The Figs, and now a punk version. Grace’s version opens with a strong tom groove on the drums. Her spin on the hit song just oozes of attitude. The vocal squeal after “Life gave me some lemons, but my Jesus, he be makin’ lemonade!” is iconic and fun. She sprinkles some falsetto on the pre-chorus before the drums kick into double-time during the guitar solo. You can hear the dominant bassline throughout the song that gives the song some musical depth.
One of her viral highlights was a public invitation from Rend Collective to cover their music, with a guest feature from lead singer, Chris Llewellyn. Grace accepted the challenge and the punk version of “Build Your Kingdom Here” was born. It’s a witty, energetic collaboration between the two that gives us something to dance along with.She didn’t stray too far from the original in the verses, but gave it an overall light pop-punk filter. From the guitars to the violin addition, it fuses punk and Irish folk together, with the overlapping bridge vocals as a highlight.
We go from the fun collaboration with Rend Collective right into Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude.” This one has an emotional tug, as the vocals convey a feeling of appreciation and adoration towards God. If you know her story, you know that at one point she had considered taking her life. To hear this cover, it’s a sound that comes from an appreciative soul. While the guitar solo felt a bit short-lived and could have been extended, the driving rhythm successfully keeps the song moving without sacrificing its sincere, worshipful posture. The bridge gets down to business, shifting the focus entirely toward intentional worship.
Next, we go into Bethel’s “Oceans.” I sensed some Sugarcult inspiration with the guitar work. When compared with the original, it is faster and that’s what I like about rock/punk artists covering worship songs. It doesn’t stray too far from the original, but does give it an edge. From the double time drums between verses to the guitar work offering a punk influence. Her vocals give this beautiful, pure sound in the bridge with some falsetto touches. From there, we transition from “Oceans” straight into Lauren Daigle’s number one smash hit “You Say.” This is the second cover of Oceans that we’ve reviewed in the last month (the other is Seventh Day Slumber). The opening guitar strumming provides a grounded start to the track, with the drums tagging in shortly after to drive the temp forward. The drums are really the highlight of this song. Her vocals have a spunky attitude. There are electronic elements used in the song that made me think of the old Nintendo 8-bit sounds. It is one of the better all-around covers of this song.
We finish the album with an original from her, “Why I Still Believe.” The summer-esque intro of the guitars gets you thinking of listening to this song with the windows down and the wind blowing in your hair. It has a Hawk Nelson/Stellar Kart influence as both bands have had a positive impact on Grace’s life and musical career. This song is focused on the journey that God has led her on and how she can’t believe where God has taken her through her gift of music. She shared about this song and how she has seen God move and how she wants to share that with others who think that maybe God forgot about them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this album and thought that she gave her own spin on the covers. For some, she gave an upbeat and energetic tempo and for others, she gave an injection of punk rock attitude. While some of the songs tended to blend together musically, a few notable tracks managed to stand out. She is a star on the rise. Between the viral clips and this release, people are going to be introduced to her message, her story and her previous works. Punk x Praise, Vol 1 is a must-have if you like a little extra pep in your worship songs.
