Hollow GroundFrom the same Canadian region that has spawned great bands such as Endless Fight, Comeback Kid, and Figure Four comes Winnipeg's Hollow Ground. Formed in 2003, the band is comprised of members of fellow native acts Stand Strong, First Strike, and Volition. Since their inception, they have released two demos as well as this MCD that you are currently reading about. It's six songs that usually run for about two minutes. For the most part they're the typical metallic hardcore band with lots of crushing breakdowns, but every now and then they have some slight melodic moments that are very similar to Comeback Kid. And fuck does the opening to "Left Blind" remind me of the now defunct Redline. The vocals sound like Jamey Jasta came in and did a guest appearance that lasted the length of the recording session. I mean that's how much this guy sounds like him. To me, that isn't a bad thing because Jasta has one of best shouting voices in hardcore history. But sometimes it's like damn am I listening to a Hatebreed album that I never heard of? My biggest problem with the cd is the lyrics. They're just too broad and don't really make a specific point. Actually in the song, "On The Line" I just don't get what the fuck the lyrics are trying to get across. So right there, this CD loses a lot of points with me. And another problem I have is the band doesn't do an adequate enough job with some of their transitions especially with the way they enter some of the breakdowns, it seems like they forced it into the song . It's a shame because there are some real solid riffs and breakdowns, most notably the main riff in the opening track, "Ill Fate," which really got the job done for me. The Production was handled by John Paul Peters, who has worked with all the bands I named in the first sentence of the review. If you listen to each song individually, everything seems spot on. But I don't know if it was me or what but whenever I would listen to the whole cd straight through it sounded like each instrument's tone would change and vary from song to song. I mean it's real subtle but it kept on catching my ear. The front cover looks nasty, not feeling it at all. It's a got some guy all bandaged up with some long ass fucking nails that need to be cut, and fuck they look like they manicured him before they took the shoot. What's up with that? And I don't see what a bandaged up teenager has to do with cold reality. Now the inside of the booklet was handled a lot better. I was feeling the three page long picture of a snowy landscape filled with trees with the lyrics printed underneath. That was a nice touch. You get some nice band shots as well inside the booklet. Oh yeah
Rating: 1/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Ill Fate (especially the main riff) and Left Blind
Thesis: The potential is certainly there, but there were just too many things that didn't sit right with me to get a good score; such as, the terrible cover art, the bad lyrics and the way the some of the breakdowns seemed forced. If their next release remedies these problems I would gladly give them another chance.