Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


A Hope For Home, The Everlasting Man
A Hope For Home
The Everlasting Man



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 48 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: January 20, 2009


Look out everyone, here comes another hardcore band! A Hope For Home's new album The Everlasting Man is the third release on the recently-renewed Strike First Label. The five guys from Portland presume to bring a "story of mankind's fall and awaiting redemption," all in genuine hardcore/metalcore style.

Fair enough. After a brief instrumental intro, The Everlasting Man starts fairly ambitiously with "Iniquity: An Offering." Underoath influences are immediately apparent as the guitars grind, the vocalist screams, and the rhythm changes frequently. This is firmly within the established territory for current Christian hard bands, and it's a well-delivered sound. At this point in the album, anybody already acquainted with hardcore will be finding things to like about A Hope For Home.

Unfortunately, this does not last. Unexpectedly, the dynamic of the album changes. Beginning with "Babylon: The Insatiable Thirst," the pace slows down dramatically and the tracks grow excessively long. With the exception of the minute-long closing track, the remaining four songs are all at least five minutes long. These tracks all feature dreamy sections of smooth vocals interspersed with brief outbursts of screaming and stretches of simplistic instrumentals. It's not inherently a bad sound, but it drags more and more the longer you listen. In some cases, such as in "Masada: The Spiral Staircase" and "Restoration: The Return From Exile," the ethereal instrumentals become unbearably long and drawn-out.

There's no question that A Hope For Home has a lot to offer lyrically. This is nothing if not a dark album. "Iniquity: An Offering" addresses getting lost in today's culture and not living a fulfilled life for God. Noticeable lines are, "We've turned away from what we were meant to be, trading in conviction for a dollar's worth in dreams" and "Look how far we haven't come. We've been playing God." "Absolution: Of Flight and Failure" honestly looks at the desperation in trying to get back to God, as the band sings "These wings were built with purpose, but I have used them for my own. These hands were made to lift you up so high, instead they tear you down."

Unfortunately, it takes more than lyrical quality to make an album. The Everlasting Man would undoubtedly have been better as an EP with less of the six-minute-long drowsy meditations. Although initially strong, there is a great deal of unrealized potential here, and as a full length album it inevitably falls short of the mark.

- Review date: 1/24/09, written by Timothy Estabrooks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Strike First Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 48 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: January 20, 2009
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Covenant (2:11)
  2. Iniquity: An Offering (3:53)
  3. Affliction: The Witness, The Advocate (4:32)
  4. Infidelity: Kingdom's End (3:15)
  5. The Exile (2:34)
  6. Babylon: The Insatiable Thirst (6:09)
  7. Absolution: Of Flight And Failure (6:29)
  8. Masada: The Spiral Staircase (6:14)
  9. Restoration: The Return From Exile (6:51)
  10. Redemption: A Grief Observed (5:27)
  11. The Thousand Years (1:18)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
Hope Through Grace John 20 EP [Southwest Hardcore]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Kresher The Adventures of Sylas Spin EP (independent)
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
mewithoutYou Live (Vol. One) (independent)
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
nobigdyl. nobigdyl. Unplugged, Vol. 1 [indie tribe]
Josiah Queen The Prodigal (Deluxe Edition) (independent)
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Since The Death His Heart Hates - EP [The Charon Collective]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 1 [Thumper Punk Records]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 2 [Thumper Punk Records]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Paul Demer Let All Things Now Living - Single (independent)
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
ELEVATION RHYTHM At the Altar (Acoustic) - Single [Elevation]
Happy Powers Garden Song - Single (independent)
Sam Hauge Fame You Can Buy - Single (independent)
Hollyn & Weathrman Trees - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter - Single [Rise Records]
MŌRIAH Winter Wonderland - Single (independent)
The Myriad Time - Single (independent)
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Katy Nichole When I Fall - Single [Centricity]
Makenzie Phipps O Holy Night - Single (independent)
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
Ravenhill The Shakes - Single [Honey Gold Records]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Scapegoat Solace (feat. MajesticGhost) - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Stay (Gonna Be Okay) - Single [Provident]
Jordan Smith How Great Thou Art - Single [Gaither]
TKE3 Found (feat. Leya) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images