Houston duo Mr. Charisma step away from their long-established hardcore roots with Some People, a four-track EP that trades breakneck aggression for brooding introspection without losing an ounce of intensity. Longtime collaborators Daniel Austin and Chris Hatfield, both veterans of Texas hardcore bands Die Young and Will To Live, embrace a darker palette inspired by gothic folk, outlaw country, and classic singer-songwriter traditions. The collection of noir-infused songs that examine mental illness, manipulation, hypocrisy, and survival through sparse arrangements, memorable melodies, and uncompromising lyricism. Recorded, mixed, and mastered entirely by Austin in a home studio, the EP also stands as an impressive example of what a focused DIY vision can accomplish.
Opening track “Some People” immediately establishes the record’s haunting atmosphere. A steady, hypnotic acoustic guitar creates a mystical pulse while Hatfield’s rich baritone enters with grave authority, sounding somewhere between a weary storyteller and a world-weary prophet. The song serves as both cautionary tale and hard-earned advice, warning against deceptive personalities while encouraging listeners to recognize their own worth before falling victim to manipulation. Its restrained instrumentation makes every lyric land with greater emotional weight, proving that simplicity can often be the sharpest weapon.
Then the EP pivots toward social satire with “What Matters Most.” Slow-burning guitar strums support Hatfield’s deliberate vocal delivery as he dissects performative outrage, political narcissism, and media spectacle with dry, understated wit. Rather than shouting its message, the song lets its observations simmer, creating an atmosphere that feels thoughtful yet quietly confrontational.
The band’s interpretation of Motörhead’s “God Was Never on Your Side” strips the original into something even more haunting, allowing themes of religious hypocrisy and dogmatic certainty to resonate through Mr. Charisma’s distinctive gothic-folk lens. Closing track “You Better Win” shifts the focus once again, presenting warfare and human conflict with stark realism.
All in all, Some People finds beauty within bleakness. Mr. Charisma offers solidarity for listeners navigating an increasingly fractured world.
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Review by: Naomi Joan