Add eight members, dress them all in boiler suits, and disguise their identities with horrifically gruesome caricature masks of the twelve disciples, and Eso-Charis could be on to a winning formula. Of all the Solid State bands, they are the first to sound (whether intentionally or not) uncomfortably like a Christian parody of Iowa's most infamous sons, Slipknot (with a lead singer also called Corey). Rather than craft hate-laced anthems towards fellow people, Eso-Charis adopt a more laudable, if also cheesier, Satan = S* attitude, roaring "You're a liar/ Satan we rebuke you in the name of Jesus (Tsunamis)." Unfortunately, the lyrics throughout the rest of the album are no better, never rising above the dry sloganeering and sermonettes of lines like "Stand up and praise/ You must be strong/ There is no compromise/ Decisions made don't come from circumstance/ We better fight back for Jesus (Processed Bodies). Noble sentiments, but creatively rather unpalatable.
Admirably, Eso-Charis have tried to slice and dice their hardcore sound into something a little more off-kilter and unpredictable, but with unsatisfying results. "Born with a Future" starts with a bang and then loses its groove, descending into a plinky-plonky moment that doesn't quite gel, instantly killing the whole song. The opening of "Processed Bodies" sounds like an instrumental passage from Fugazi's latest release. This then erupts into some dense hardcore before shortly transposing back into another Fugazi-esque passage. Again, this doesn't work as intended. Rather than building tension, the softer phases are a release of it. "The Narrowing List" has a fantastic opening, but falls prey to a terrible spoken word passage that sounds like a studio intruder speaking over the din.
Tellingly, the best track on the album, "Spirit of Revival" is also the shortest. The opening rhythms are immediately gripping, with some unoriginal but effective guitar chunks overlaid. It is focused and to the point, wisely eschewing the ill-advised and incongruent softer moments that plague many of the other tracks. Corey's roar is also in need of some tweaking, often sounding (much like Bruce Fitzhugh on Living Sacrifice's Reborn) shrill and verging on breakage.
Overall, this album fares badly when compared with much of the Solid State roster and mainstream titans like Slipknot and Mudvayne. Unnecessary filler for the already bursting Christian hardcore bargain bin.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis March 2002Reviewed by Nate BaileyEso-Charis contains two members of Living Sacrifice. This album was recorded by Barry Poynter and released on Solid State. While Eso-Charis contains members of LS, they are nothing like them. This is not to say that they are gentle, but instead of the metal presentation, there is a new-school hardcore feel. Plenty of gut wrenching screaming, breakdowns, double bass, and occasional technical…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerFirst rule as a music consumer: don't believe everything the band's publicity tells you. Eso-Charis is a hardcore band out of Arkansas that has been around for some time, but this is their first major recording. Half of the band consists of members of hardcore outfit Living Sacrifice, and therein lies the problem. Because of the connection between the personnel of the two bands, Eso-Charis spends…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestPure power, that's how I would describe this band. But it's more than power alone. It's chaotic and with an alternative twist. The album kicks off with the song with which they opened their energetic set at the Brainwave Festival: Born With A Future. The sound is huge with the hoarse vocals of Cory Putnam. Man, his throat must be aching after a show! This debut-album contains nine songs produced…HM Magazine #74Reviewed by Chad OlsonAfter touring with Living Sacrifice and Embodyment, and also having Bruce Fitzhugh co- produce this debut, these guys are unleashed on disc. With vocals not much unlike Bruce's, the music is more progressive than either of their touring mates, which gives them a wider appeal. To order, write: 1510 North Hills Blvd, Van Buren AR 72956The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Chris KingMan, I like this album!!! Eso-Charis is a four-piece hardcore band from Arkansas with an independently released CD (produced by Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice) and a knack for writing killer songs. I saw them play with Living Sacrifice and Embodyment in Tucson, Arizona, and was impressed enough to buy their CD right after their set. You can read the review of that show here. What a great live…Similar sounding releases
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