Jesusfreakhideout.com: Earthquakes & Thunder, "41 & 10

JFH Indie Review

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Earthquakes & Thunder
41 & 10 - Single

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: May 4, 2024
Style: Alternative Rock / Metal
Official Site: DavidCoryEnderby.com
Buy It: Bandcamp

Earthquakes & Thunder is Cory Enderby's indie hard rock project channeling the sound of bands like Soundgarden. Cory handles the vocals, guitars, and bass while Joe-el Desjarlais plays drums. Cory's own personal faith journey is a dark one that includes homelessness and addiction. Christ rescued Cory from this despair and now he aims to spread the gospel and the love of Jesus to others. "Ancient Paths" released in February 2024, and his newest single "41 & 10" released last May.

Right off the bat, you can hear the Soundgarden inspiration. The guitar riff is a clue, but when Enderby's wail comes in, it's immediately reminiscent of Chris Cornell's signature sound. That's not to say that Enderby sounds just like Cornell, but the vocals are certainly in the same vein. Musically, "41 & 10" is a great rock tune. It has that heavier Seattle grunge sound that leans into the metal side just a little. Chris Cornell is one of the greatest rock vocalists in history, and venturing into his style is a dangerous game. However, Enderby does an admirable job, and the vocals are quite fitting for the musical backdrop. The lyrics here are quite simple: "Don't you fear. You are near. Don't be dismayed, I am your God. Pain is without you. Jesus inside you. Carry your cross; don't look back. All is not lost. Love is divine; love is here. Jesus is near." These lyrics span the entirety of the song and tell the story of Jesus being there for you in the worst times of your life -- a message that Enderby knows well.

The weakest area of "41 & 10" is on the production side. The instrumentation is good, the vocals fit the sound, but the production is a little lacking. The guitars sound a bit muddy -- especially in the chunkier sections of riffing. Part of this can be equated to the style of music, but a little more clarity would be nice. Same goes for the vocals. The quieter "clean" vocals actually sound louder in the mix than the yelled vocals. While the production could be better, it's not so bad that it takes away from the song overall. These are just your typical indie struggles as a new artist gets used to producing their own music. In the end, "41 & 10" is a solid rock tune that brings to mind a past era of music and a legend that is no longer with us while lyrically pointing to Jesus Christ as our Savior and the One that can bring us out of hopelessness. Fans of hard rock and grungier styles of music, like Soundgarden, should give Earthquakes & Thunder a listen.

- Review date: 4/24/25, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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Record Label: None

Album length: 1 track: 3 minutes, 46 seconds

Street Date: May 4, 2024

Buy It: Bandcamp

41 & 10 (3:46)
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Jesus Freak Hideout (Michael Weaver): I notice Soundgarden vibes immediately in your newest song. What draws you to that sound and how big of a musical inspiration are they for you?

Cory Enderby: Soundgarden is probably the most pivotal band for me when it comes to secular music. They have had a tremendous influence on me musically. What I like about their sound is the doomesque type riffs that are sonically all over the place. I'm also attracted to his voice. I am also a big fan of Robert Plant. There is just something about that vocal range that I like.

JFH (Michael): You handled most of the instrumentation on this song (outside of drums). How long have you been playing?

Cory: I first picked up a guitar when I was 16. It was a beat up classical acoustic. My friend taught me crazy train by Ozzy and it was off from there. However, I didn't start becoming serious about playing until I became homeless about 22 years ago. I went through a year and a half stint with homelessness where I played on the streetcorners for money. I traveled all over the west coast doing this. I have actually written a book about my experience. It is with a publisher right now being reviewed.

JFH (Michael): Were you ever in any bands in the past before starting Earthquakes & Thunder, or is writing and performing a brand-new outlet for you?

Cory: No, I was in my first band at the age of 16. It was a punk rock back called Dead Black. I have been in several projects since then, but Earthquakes and Thunder is the culmination of all those sources. The name of the band means prayer is like Earthquakes and Thunder to the enemy.

JFH (Michael): You've released two singles so far this year. Do you have an album planned, or are you just releasing songs as you complete them for now?

Cory: I actually have one full-length out and I plan on releasing my next album this year if I can get it mastered. This next album is going to be a rock album in that it will be much lighter than what I have done previously.

JFH (Michael): You're pretty open about your darker past, and "41 & 10" certainly alludes to that. How are you hoping that your music and lyrics relate to people in a similar situation?

Cory: Yeah, my past is filled with lots of dark spaces. I came through a harrowing drug addiction which led me to homelessness. I have a testimony on YouTube that goes into more detail. My lyrics are spirit-filled, but they're more abstract in how they're laid out. I'm hoping that my music will give another option for a music enthusiast. I am a firm believer that there is something that is different about Spirit-filled music. It just hits you differently. And I hope that it can be impactful to others in some way and ultimately draw them closer to Christ.

JFH (Michael): Do you have any live performances scheduled, or are you just currently writing and recording?

Cory: Right now, we are currently writing and recording, but we do gig here and there. We just played a show at the local mall here and before that we were on tv for a Christmas special.

JFH (Michael): God has obviously done big things in your life, but what has He been teaching or showing you through this process of releasing new music?

Cory: God has been showing me that He is enough. We don't have a big fanbase. It is actually quite meager. But the Lord is telling me to just enjoy the process and keep making great music that glorifies him no matter what happens with all of it or how far it ends up going.