Earshot: Wil Martin (vocals, guitar); Scott Kohler, Mike Callahan (guitar); Johnny Sprague (bass instrument); Chas Stumbo (drums).
Personnel: Will Martin (vocals, guitar); Mike Callahan, Scott Kohler (guitar).
Audio Mixer: Rich Costey.
Recording information: Groovemaster Recording, Chicago, IL; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Maple Studios, Santa Ana, CA; Swinghouse Rehearsal Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
Listening to the doom and gloom that permeates Earshot's sophomore effort, the initial sonic resemblance to Tool is striking. Although guitar-playing vocalist Wil Martin sounds like Tool's Maynard Keenan at times, Earshot manages to stake its own musical claim via the churning guitars of Mike Callahan and Scott Kohler and the pulsing rhythm section of bassist Johnny Sprague and drummer Chas Stumbo. Betrayal and angst are the orders of the day throughout the hills and valleys of these potent songs. Here Martin touches on plenty of dark subject matter, be it a horrible break-up (a tormented "Tongue-Tied"), or a desperate escape from a grim situation (the soaring "Goodbye"). However, Earshot does find a silver lining amid all the bad scenarios, particularly the epic "Nice to Feel the Sun," featuring a throng of howling choruses and crashing chords. With TWO, Earshot encapsulates emotional wear-and-tear in a heavy yet engaging package.
