Quantcast
Channel: Zero – New Noise Magazine
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 3

Album Review: Hawthorne Heights –“Zero”

0
0

Hawthorne Heights
Zero
(Red River Entertainment)

It’s been almost ten years since Hawthorne Heights debut album Silence in Black and White came out. Unfortunately, when you mention the name Hawthorne Heights people will say, “Are they still around?” Or they might say, “I haven’t listened to them in years.” The band has given everyone the perfect opportunity to get back on board with their fifth studio album Zero.

Zero was described as a “concept album,” but all I hear is the Hawthorne Heights everyone fell in love with. The album doesn’t have the unclean vocals like it used to, but does have the hardcore feel. I think everyone can get into what they have to offer this time around.

The album starts out with an acoustic prelude that leads right into the second track. JT Woodruff sounds just like he always has. What separates his voice in this album is the added roughness to it during the chorus of a few songs. Musically speaking, you can tell that the band has matured within those years. The guitars sound more technical and more intimate. The drums and bass keep the tempo on track and they stay very involved. The album seems to bounce back and forth between light hearted and a bit dark. Despite some of the titles; “Memories of misery” and “Anywhere but here”, Most of the even numbered songs keep a light hearted feel. All the odd numbered songs are dark including the title track “Zero.” The album’s title track is a bass driven and shows the theme of the album the clearest. This song showcases everything Hawthorne Heights has to offer. In this song they lure the listener in with the bass guitar and immediately trap them with a quick clash of guitars and drums. The band jumps back to their roots by adding some screams in the background of TJ Woodruff singing the most compelling lyrics of the album. After the title track, the album continues along with each song sounding like their past album singles all grown up. You get JT’s best vocal performance on the acoustic track, “Hollow Hearts Unite.” What surprised me most about the album was the second to last track “Taken By The Dark.” This track starts out aggressive and continues all throughout the song and even has a full 0:25 seconds of screams.

I am impressed with Zero, but one thing that didn’t impress me was the quality of the recordings. The album sounds like you are listening to it through small speakers. The cymbals and vocals sound a little overwhelming if you have the volume turned up.

Overall the band did everything they could to make this not only a great album but a memorable one. (Justin Petrucci)

Purchase Zero here:
iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/zero-standard-version/id659261893
Physical:  http://www.myplaydirect.com/hawthorne-heights

www.hawthorneheights.com

The post Album Review: Hawthorne Heights – “Zero” appeared first on New Noise Magazine.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 3

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images