Matthew West’s Into the Light stays true to the Christian singer/songwriter’s penchant for combining intimate storytelling with grand spiritual themes. The Illinois-raised artist doesn’t skimp on his craft's fundamentals; his latest songs are lyrically incisive and melodically polished, probing topics of shame, sin, and redemption in direct yet poetically tinged language. West builds on this with a diverse production approach that takes him from the title track's modern pop to the string-accented country of “Waitin’ on a Miracle” and the aggressive guitar-centered rock of “We Are the Broken.” The lyrics illuminate the struggles of the abused and imperfect, with “Unchangeable,” “Moved by Mercy," and “Hello, My Name Is” offering particularly vivid expressions of divine love amid the cruelties of the everyday world. The anthemic “Forgiveness” is an album centerpiece, with uplifting words and an ascending melody. West’s vocals are clear and forceful, avoiding histrionics in favor of down-to-earth warmth and compassion. In both sound and substance, Into the Light offers a beacon of faith that burns with hope.