Thursday 23 August 2012

Hope and Hindrance - Heart of a Coward



Hope and Hindrance – Heart of a Coward

Rating: - 7/10

Former Sylosis frontman comes into his own on  debut album

                After his split from UK metal titans Sylosis in 2010, vocalist Jamie Graham has returned with his new band Heart of a Coward. Although this release does not have the technical precision of Sylosis particular their epic (yet incredibly long) 2011 album “Edge of the World”, Hope and Hindrance combines the sound of Sylosis with a hardcore energy reminiscent of bands such as While She Sleeps.  The album could have been as generic as many other metallic hardcore bands who just stick to monotonous breakdowns rather than pursue new musical ideas and are perfectly happy to belong to a scene, what sets Heart of a Coward apart from the pact is the use of the Djent guitar tone taken from the mighty Meshuggah which adds a toughness and intensity to the bands riffs and especially during the crushing breakdowns. The album does go a little too metalcore at moments and could leave listeners wondering if they had been transported back to 2003 and at times the album does fall into the typical breakdown hardcore clichés. Where as this album may not set the world on fire it is a solid and interesting release from a promising UK band who are at least combining their metallic hardcore roots with a new and exciting musical idea and sound.

For fans of :- Sylosis, Meshuggah, Hatebreed

No comments:

Post a Comment