A few California camp experiences, a surreally explosive Myspace happening, and 20,000 indie albums later, the band was signed to Gotee and given opportunity to record with producers Brent Milligan and wunderkind Ian Eskelin. Frontman/guitarist Nick Joyce wrote all 11 of the soaring pop-rock tracks, several of which are arranged with rich orchestral flair. There’s an interesting diversity between brains and brawn, the debut positioned to satisfy a wide range of listeners.
Straightforward Faith
The frenetic opener “Save Me” roars outta the gate, careening through a thicket of guitars and muscular drums. The first radio single, rocker “Because Of The Blood” follows, its guitars edgy and layered over fervent vocals celebrating salvation openly: “Every sin is washed away/the price was paid/now I am free.” Many listeners in the Christian market will appreciate OHH’s straightforward acknowledgement of Christ, but they may also find themselves still waiting for a fresh sound.
Catchy Pop Choruses
Pop praise track “More Than Everything,” with its thick rhythm guitars, does serve up a very catchy chorus, one sure to win over the roughest youth groups. Our Heart’s Hero has mastered the art of the hooky chorus, from the lushly orchestrated praise song “Every Breath,” to the very melodic “Back To The Cross,” thick with gratitude. The band’s youth group beginnings show through, knowing just when to drive the point home, sonically and spiritually, with a soaring melody line and punched-up beats. This is not necessarily a criticism for it can be a tool effective in reaching a younger audience.
Lots of Heart
“Tomorrow,” upbeat and bouncy, is an empowering call to a generation, with some sweet note-bending moments mid-track. Like much of OHH’s message, the lyrics are affirming and encouraging: “We are tomorrow/ we’re more than meets the eye/And all we leave behind/Today we make tomorrow.” More encouragement comes in “To Be A Hero,” the melody line and vocals soaring. There is much to enjoy in the piano-driven ballad,“Broken,” its airy layered vocals openly wrestling with doubts and questions before its lovely orchestral conclusion. Our Heart’s Hero puts a lot of heart into this project, immediately obvious in both message and performance.
Standout Tracks
The nuanced “Alive” is notable for its stately movements, thick guitar riffs and splashy cymbals plowing through time changes and another rich chorus. OHH takes a sharp acoustic turn for the standout closer, “Angels’ Song,” the sincere vocals tenderly underscored by cello and violin, before the track concludes with a child’s echoing refrain. It’s a fitting close to a project whose heart occasionally exceeds its skills, but all in all, an interesting debut from Our Heart’s Hero.
 |
