One of the better releases of the last two months is from a band you may not have heard of before: Chasen. Their album which has released this week, That Was Then, This is Now is a great mix of thoughtful Christian lyrics and strong piano-based melodic pop music that stands out as original and fun. The band’s name, which I first thought was evoking the God who seeks relentlessly for His children (though with bad grammar), actually comes from founder Chasen Callahan, worship pastor from South Carolina. This is the second album from the quartet, but the first with INO records. This is a much more mature sound than their earlier album, and hints that there is probably some really great stuff yet to come, as well.
Their sound is comparable to Tenth Avenue North (with more piano/keyboard), or the fantastic Remedy Drive. The first song immediately jumps out at you with its driving piano/keyboard line before the electric guitars punch through with a very catchy riff, all really fast and upbeat. When the vocals come in, it just solidifies the whole deal. There are wonderful harmonies and interplay between the lead and backgrounds, and the vocalist sounds a little like Chris Daughtry with a higher range that he takes advantage of throughout the album. A violin even emerges at one point in the song, before the melody takes over again, and you realize that there is a lot going on under the surface of this tight mix, which holds all the way through That Was Then, This Is Now.
“Love in Your Name” is the second song, and has a very catchy chorus. But it’s the lyrics that stick out on that one, as they aren’t afraid to name-drop when it comes to Jesus, and proclaim their ability to say, “so long, misery” because of his love. It follows with “On and On,” the first single from the disc, which talks about the futility they’ve experienced in following their own way. Ultimately, when all else fails, God’s love never does. The vocals are definitely a strength to the whole album, and they are in top form on this song. I really love the sound of Chasen’s voice, and he handles the soft stuff and the rockin’ wails with a perfect warmth and melody. “Leave You Alone” is one of my favorites on the album, and again showcases a very catchy melody, including the band’s “oo, oo, ooh-ing” in the chorus. But it is the piano that sticks out to me, and it is front and center on this one, which is definitely a good thing. This sounds better than many of the hits being circulated on the radio right now.
Airplanes has a slightly more acoustic sound, and is upbeat, despite the lyrical focus on loss. Apparently, it was inspired by the untimely death of one of Callahan’s friends. But he can’t help singing that “you’re gonna make it through” and that friendship is an eternal relationship when it is shared with a love for Christ. The album doesn’t really lose any steam, as “Eyes Of A Rescue” proves: a late song that really rocks. And “Slow Down,” has a really cool staccato string part that opens the song and pops up again throughout, while guitars come in on top of them with a head-bobbin’ rhythm that drives the melody. That one has probably my favorite lyrics on the album, as they are sung from the perspective of God reminding us that He has already set our hearts free and urging the listener to “leave all the changing to Me.”
Overall, the lyrics are good, but they aren’t super original, with the exception of a few toward the end of the album that were really excellent. But to me, it is the music that really sets this group apart. There is a great mix of harmonies, piano, and catchy guitar work. The vocals are really awesome, and sound as good as any of the perennial favorites. This is a strong pop album that I can easily listen to from front to finish. I hope their new relationship with INO is a fruitful one, cause I definitely want to hear more.
Reviewed by Matt Milligan
