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

JFH Music Review


Hands, Creator
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Hands
Creator



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 73 minutes, 56 seconds
Street Date: July 21, 2009


Busting onto the scene in 2007, hardcore act Hands spent some time in the independent realm before signing to the perfect label for their sound, Facedown Records. Shortly after signing came their debut album, Creator. It contains eleven brand new songs (including a hidden track) with a running time of more than an hour, making it quite an ordeal to listen through.

Now, unlike the majority of bands you hear on Facedown that feature rough speed metal riffs and drums and rather unpolished screams and growls, Hands generally contains a good mix of hardcore and power ballads. It sounds a little more well-produced as well, as it has a very clean sound throughout. The songs do have their fair share of growls in the vocal department, but there are a lot of cleaner screams too. The lyrics are mostly well-written, with themes ranging from humility and repentance to worship. In "The Least of These," vocalist Shane Ochsner recognizes just who he is, saying "I have been a hypocrite, and I've been all the dirty things that would disgust You, but in this I have seen compassion when it was undeserved," followed later in the song by "Oh how can I condemn when I've been delivered from the flame? I'll shake the liar's hand because I know that we're the same." The last track, entitled "Creator," is just a straight up worship song - no screaming, double bass, metal riffs, etc. - and repeats the same four lines over and over again ("Sovereign and holy, Creator, raining with mercy, Creator, reveal Your glory, Creator, show us Your nature, Creator"). I always love to see and hear metal bands giving glory to God, but it's also a tough song to get through unless you're already in a worshipful mood or setting. However, at the end of the track, fast forward through the several minutes of silence, and you can hear the hidden track called "Revelation." It's almost like the beginning of another album in the way it starts out. It ends up not being like "Creator," with it taking the turn back into hardcore like the rest of the album.

Another similarity between "Revelation" and the rest of Creator is it's all hard to get through. There's a blatantly obvious talent in the members of Hands, whether it's for writing lyrics or the musicianship of the group, but I found myself having a tough time listening to the album. It was almost like a chore. Nothing in the songs really jumped out and grabbed me or demanded my attention. One of the drawbacks for the songs is the more mellow style of hardcore mixed with long songs, which range from four and a half minutes to nearly ten minutes for "Revelation" (including two songs that are about seven minutes long each). This is really what makes Creator hard to listen to.

These guys do have something going for them. The quality is good and the talent is there. They just still need to refine it a little bit more, and try working on songs that aren't so long and exhausting. It may help to keep the listener's attention a little better, and it might allow for more energy to flow through the music. Now, don't get me wrong, Creator isn't a terrible album. I just think it could've been better.

- Review date: 2/4/10, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Facedown Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 73 minutes, 56 seconds
. Street Date: July 21, 2009
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Hurricanes (5:17)
  2. Rescue (5:32)
  3. Brightest (4:22)
  4. The Heavens And The Earth (7:06)
  5. Of The Flesh (4:59)
  6. Robed In Majesty (5:18)
  7. The Least Of These (4:32)
  8. Resistance (6:01)
  9. Returning (6:55)
  10. Creator (23:44)

 

 

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]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]

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]
Elan Brio Sun Rays - 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]
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
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