Number 24 - Newborn Sun by CHON

 Number 24: Newborn Sun by CHON

A brighter take on math metal

Release: June 11th, 2013
Genre: Prog Rock
Favorite Tracks: Puddle, Fluffy, Bubble Dream

 

Where I heard it: 

In the summer of 2016, I went to a concert with a group of friends to see the band Periphery. For the uninitiated, Periphery is a progressive metal band that specializes in the subcategory of djent, known for its metalcore influences and complicated time signatures. The show promised a night of heavy moshing and headbanging, as foretold by their opening acts Sikth and Toothgrinder. Sandwiched in between these two extreme groups were a band called CHON, a group that seemed unknown by the majority of the crowd. It was a bit of a shock when CHON started their set, as the contrast in both style and volume suddenly shifted to something much less abrasive. Unlike the uproarious and chaotic mob of the preceding Toothgrinder set, the audience for CHON was silent and frozen still, watching in awe of the captivating product these guys put out on stage. I wouldn't say the crowd was unreceptive to CHON, but the vibe was much different as opposed to the other acts I saw that night. Everybody in the venue paid close attention to the music because we wanted to hear what they'd conjure up next. Once the song ended, massive applause. Then, without missing a beat, CHON would introduce the next song and get right back into the groove. Even though they weren't the headliner, I came away from that concert fully knowing that CHON delivered the best performance of the night. Very rarely do I see opening acts at concerts that resonate with me so strongly, but there was something so light-hearted and endearing about CHON that wouldn't let me forget about them anytime soon. I headed to Spotify for a deep dive, starting from their debut EP Newborn Sun. While I thoroughly enjoy the entirety of CHON's catalog, I will always be partial to the album that gave me my first formal introduction.

"The trick to enjoying Newborn Sun is to let go of your expectations. CHON were babies when they released their demos in 2008. They have matured and their influences have grown, which have resulted in a different - though not completely foreign - direction and sound."
~ Sputnik Music

 

What to expect:

Progressive rock has expanded prolifically since its heyday in the 70's and 80's, built upon the ideas laid out by its predecessors. Gone are the days of psychedelic synthesizers mastered by prog Gods like Rush and Yes, replaced by greater knowledge of musical theory and meticulous note arrangement. Most of these progressive elements are seen in genres that encourage more advanced instrumentation, such as metal. CHON's particular brand falls somewhere in between the spectrum of metal and rock, demonstrating their heaviest sound right out the gate with their self-released EP Newborn Sun. Comprised mainly by the brotherly trio of Mario, Esiah, and Nathan Camarena, Eric Hansel's additional backing guitar is the glue that holds everything together within this unique group. While CHON boasts all the necessary characteristics for metal classification, their approach to the genre is much more palatable to a general audience than the hardcore sounds that traditionally accompany the genre. For one, Newborn Sun is entirely instrumental, removing the intimidation of coarse vocals in favor of a purer experience that puts the grooves front and center. CHON's synchronicity is essential to the success of their final product, which features tight unison sections and creative polyrhythms split between instruments. This musical emphasis allows for remarkable creativity in tracks like Puddle and Dew that exhibit the well-developed chemistry among the group's members. The bubbly tones of Mario and Eric's guitars unleash a swift flurry of notes that perfectly pair with the frantic blast beats of Esiah's drum kit. Newborn Sun is undoubtedly complex in its structure, but not to the extent where its songs are too abstract or undiscernible. Instead, each song from the album focuses on executing a concept to its fullest before dissipating into the next track. Newborn Sun is straightforward with its delivery, wasting no time with elaborate diatribes that muddle their progression throughout the album. In fact, its bite-size runtime of just over seventeen minutes is a large part of the draw for me. During that short period, CHON are able to bring the house down with impressive licks and fills that leave you salivating for more. This may initially seem like a cop-out for lack of material, but I'd argue that Newborn Sun's artistic briefness strengthens the sum of its parts, choosing not to overstay its welcome and go out on top. Its clear direction is a bold proclamation that if your material is good enough, there's no need to justify it with extra bells and whistles. CHON's talent stands on its own as the only reason you'd ever need to fall in love with them. 

"[CHON] managed to attract a devoted cult audience for their modest yet elegant math rock algorithms: nimble twin-guitar filigrees arranged with pinpoint dexterity and precision. CHON play fast and they play hard, but at the same time are incredibly light on their collective toes, dancing around each note with an easy grace that bellies the intricacy of the musical architecture."
~ Prog Archives

Why it's my favorite: 

It's entirely true that challenging material doesn't necessarily make it good by default. Every song isn't meant to be dissected down to the molecule to derive its meaning. However, growing up as a percussionist, it can be a lot of fun breaking down the anatomy of a track in order to appreciate its musicality. Newborn Sun offers a feast for starved musicians that craves both substance and technicality. Its lack of lyrics forces the audience to discover the intricacies of every song that lie hidden in plain sight. Its segmented composition takes advantage of dramatic pauses to seamlessly transition between different modes of time. Even for a novice listener, the album's modulated beat patterns are easy to follow along with. For instance, Fluffy's intro is written in 9/8, a relatively unused time signature that ends up flowing remarkably well. Puddle starts out in a 5/4 jam before gradually removing beats from the measure down to 4/4 and eventually 3/4. The beats are then added back, concluding with an epic 5/4 outro that puts CHON's full range of talent on display. It doesn't matter what obstacles you throw at these guys; CHON will inevitably weather through the storm thanks to the skills of its faithful crew. Mario and Eric make for a terrific string tandem that sweep every inch of the guitar neck, providing riveting tales with their harmonic riffs that leave no need for lyrics. Although CHON would experiment with vocals in later installments, I much prefer the instrumental takes for the insane production value they put out. Most notably, I can't help but be impartial in my preference to the percussive performance of Esiah on Newborn Sun. The sheer impact behind his entire kit adds decorated texture to any moment, whether it's a resonant crash cymbal or the pop of his snare drum. CHON are a special group that has the potential to make it big one of these days, but I have a feeling these guys are in it for the music over the fame. Their humble attitudes allow their talent to do all the talking, and Newborn Sun speaks volumes in an extremely limited amount of time.