The title of the album “Veins of Light” by Ichora is taken from the meaning of the word Ichora, which refers to the vast limitless potential that resides in all of us. Artist Chri proves that this is more than simply a statement to be read and then forgotten about because he has utilized the vast limitless potential within HIMSELF. By being a completely versatile and well rounded musician, songwriter, producer, engineer, artist, and creator, Chri shows us the vast limitless potential that lies within HIM.

When the EP “Veins of Light” by Ichora arrived all the way from Australia, I opened the package, read the bio, and found myself suitably impressed before even taking a listen. Chri does it all himself. He sings, he plays the guitar, he plays the piano, he plays the drums and the bass and the cello and anything else he can get his hands on. He also does all his own engineering and producing. In a nut, Chri is a master of his trade and it shows clearly in the music.

The five track EP kicks off with the hard hitting guitar chords of “Lunafire.” It’s a melodic and masterful beginning to the EP, especially when Chri begins singing. His voice has a bit of a nasal quality coupled with a rough, rugged edge that effortlessly slides into the refrain of the song, which is really the heart of “Lunafire”. Chri sings “Hearts locked in the shallows, souls chasing lost halos, Kiss staging the fire, we’ll never bleed with the crowd.” These are excellent lyrics made even more powerful by Chri’s wide range of vocal talent and the masterful musicianship. “Lunafire” flows together seamlessly and gives us just a small taste of what’s to come.

“Haloma” is the second track of the EP and it definitely has more of a rock/grunge feel to it. Chri’s voice is noticeably deeper and darker at the beginning of this song, with a creepy sort of undertone that gives way to the melodic roughness of Chri seeming to channel a pleasing combination of Kurt Cobain and a demon from the underworld who has come to the surface to grace us with his presence. “Haloma” is a well crafted song that gives us a little bit of everything, and yet it still somehow comes together to give us a powerful sense of rocking out to some of the best music that Kurt Cobain never made.

In stark contrast, the song “Returnity” begins with a very mellow and vaguely spooky series of sounds that melts into a rhythmic pattern of musical harmony. Chri did an amazing job of engineering this song and it reminds me of the band Muse, who are known for their stellar sound. There seem to be quite a lot of different layers to this song and Chri did a masterful job of making them join as one. The subtlety of “Returnity” is what I enjoy most about it. The listener is treated to a whole world of enticing musical phenomenon in this piece. The production and engineering of this song is near perfect and we can definitely hear the greatness of Chri’s voice in this song and his range of vocal abilities.

“Waking” is another Kurt Cobain inspired piece, and while listening to this song, I actually felt like this may be something that Cobain recorded and never released. As a long standing fan of Nirvana, this was a pleasant surprise for me. I had the urge to smash a guitar and scream. It’s a very short song, but a very well put together one. Once again, Chri’s magic at the controls is apparent and I would love to see him perform this song live. “Waking” is full of twisted energy that grabs the listener and pulls us in from the very first notes. I only wish the song was longer.

The final track of the EP is called “Tidaleave” and it’s my personal favorite. The guitar work is great and I very much enjoy Chri’s voice in this one. It’s a melancholy song that clearly gives us a glimpse of Chri’s soft side. The lyrics are thought provoking and intelligent and Chri sings them well. As with all the songs on the EP, “Tidaleave” is very well produced and the sound is crystal clear. I especially like the way the song ends, how it fades out and leaves us wanting more.

I went to ichora.com to learn more about the songs on this EP and the artist who created it, and I read the lyrics for all of the songs on the EP, as well as other songs that Chri has done, and I was very impressed with his gift for imagery. Even without listening to the music, the lyrics themselves can take us to other places within the mind. And when you add Chri’s music to his words, you get a masterpiece of musical genius that cannot be replicated. Chri is an extremely talented artist and I would happily purchase any album that he creates.

Ichora: The vast limitless potential that resides in all of us. Indeed. Chri has found that potential within himself and I am grateful that he has decided to share it with us.

Reviewed By Rhonda Readence

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