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

Reviews, Rhonda Readence Ichora, Veins of Light

Ichora’s debut EP Veins of Light is an eclectic mix of styles that is unlike anything being played today on terrestrial radio. With tracks ranging from hard rock to near dream-like softer melodies, Australian song writer/self-taught musician Chri has created and album that contains something that has sadly been lacking from the music industry in recent years; originality.

Chi of Ichora is a bit of a one-man show. This vessel of creativity is not just a musician but practically an entire orchestra. Within the entire five track EP of Vein of Lights, Chri plays–and quite well mind you, guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, cello, and probably much much more. Triangle? Possibly. Vocals? Absolutely.

Chri’s vocals are unlike any other. At times they are gritty and perfect for the hard rock scene. Other times they are smoother–reminiscent of the trance-like vocals of RadioHead’s In Rainbows, but with a fair amount of grit thrown in for good measure.

Veins of Light opens with the song “Lunafire.” This track establishes the Ichora’s style perfectly. It begins with the tropes of hard rock.

Chunky guitar: Check.

Dark vibes: Check.

Seems like the makings of pretty descent hard rock track. Then the chorus starts, and introduces some of Ichora’s softer elements. The end result is fantastic and definitively Ichora.

It’s difficult to say which Chri pulls off better–hard rock or rich melodies. On the one hand, tracks like “Haloma” puts Ichora in the same league as such artists as Marilyn Manson, H.I.M., and Mudvayne. If you’re a fan of these artists, you have to listen to this track. It’s dark, gothic, and atmospheric. It’s the kind of song that you’d expect to find on the soundtrack of a horror film, or perhaps played during a movie trailer of a summer blockbuster. If Veins of Light has a main single, Haloma is it.

Despite appearances that Haloma is the standout single off Veins of Light, “Returnity” is my favorite track off of this EP. This song in particular puts me in mind of RadioHead’s In Rainbows. It’s very dream-like and just plain feels effortless. The fact that Chri can so easily switch between the harshness of Haloma to the tranquility of Returnity is a testament to his skills.

My only concern is that some may find this pairing of styles a bit jarring and be turned off by this. I hope this isn’t the case. While I have to admit that Veins of Light feels a bit experimental, it holds lots of promise. According to Chri’s Web site, “Veins Of Light comes from the meaning of ichora, referring to the vast, limitless potential that flows through all of us.” This absolutely applies to Chri. After listening to Veins Of Light, there is no doubt that he is extraordinarily talented. His debut EP is a strong start for his career. Now I’m just waiting for him to release a full-length album that forever changes the music industry. The potential is there.

Reviewed By Zach Daggy

Reviews, Zack Daggy Ichora, Veins of Light