Klatzke
02/26/09, 08:59 PM
Holding Onto Hope - Of the Sea...
Release Date: March, 2009
Record Label: Unsigned
"Read my lips! I'm done with it!"
Of the Sea, the debut (full length-ish) album from Holding Onto Hope is extremely surprising. If you go into this expecting another metalcore knock-off band, you're going to be caught completely off guard. They do incorporate a few metalcore elements in their sound, but overall the songs have a much more atmospheric feel than metalcore. This, coupled with their gravitation towards spacey interludes and spoken (compared to sung) clean vocals give the tracks a completely different mood.
Obviously this isn't going to revolutionize any genres but I certainly wouldn't mind if it did. This type of melodic, atmospheric mood works so well with this genre. This was shown predominately in Oceana's The Tide, and I wouldn't hesitate to say that Of the Sea contains many similar traits.
One of the most interesting things about the album is the incorporation of quite a few interludes. These interludes normally have their patented spacey and atmospheric feel, and they work well among the heavy-hitter tracks. Even during one of their songs, however, it's not unlikely to hear a trippy atmospheric bridge or break. My favorite of these is "What You Make Of Me" which incorporates both strings and the lead vocalist's spoken chants that serve as the conduit for the songs escalation. Him begging "Take my arms, make them yours. Take my heart, make it yours. You are the giver, creator, destroyer, hold me, make me, shape me. Cause I wanna run, till my feet grow tired. Carry me, carry me home!" is one of the most emotionally heavy parts in the entire album. Though I'm sure some people would call them long-winded, the interludes are really quite interesting and serve a valuable purpose in conveying much of the concept of the album.
The instrumentation stays tight throughout. The guitarists are on their toes and can throw out some serious guitar work when it's needed, and one of my favorite moments of the album resides in the swift guitar riff of "Speak Your Words;" particularly the charging change-up around the two minute mark that serves as a precursor to a powerful breakdown. The vocalist can hold his own as well, and while his vocals may not lead every arrangement like many metalcore bands, there are many, many moments where he shows his aptitude as a frontman. The La Dispute-esque "The Keeper and the Calm" is a great example of this, especially in the opening lines where he exclaims "Teacher, do you care that we perish? Awake from your sleep, and save us from our fates. Child, let your fears be washed away. I welcome the storm to bring you back to me!" These lyrics serve as part of the culimination of their concept, which becomes obvious enough when paying attention to the lyrics and the emotion captured in each of the songs.
Of the Sea is an incredible album for such a young band. Their incorporation of some elements that have yet to become a staple of this genre are extremely interesting, and overall all of their arrangements are tight. The concept of their story is ambitious as well, and my overall feeling towards this album is resoundingly good. Give Of the Sea a chance if you're a fan of heavier music in any way shape or form, or just great music in general.
Oceana; La Dispute; Hands
http://www.myspace.com/hohband
Release Date: March, 2009
Record Label: Unsigned
"Read my lips! I'm done with it!"
Of the Sea, the debut (full length-ish) album from Holding Onto Hope is extremely surprising. If you go into this expecting another metalcore knock-off band, you're going to be caught completely off guard. They do incorporate a few metalcore elements in their sound, but overall the songs have a much more atmospheric feel than metalcore. This, coupled with their gravitation towards spacey interludes and spoken (compared to sung) clean vocals give the tracks a completely different mood.
Obviously this isn't going to revolutionize any genres but I certainly wouldn't mind if it did. This type of melodic, atmospheric mood works so well with this genre. This was shown predominately in Oceana's The Tide, and I wouldn't hesitate to say that Of the Sea contains many similar traits.
One of the most interesting things about the album is the incorporation of quite a few interludes. These interludes normally have their patented spacey and atmospheric feel, and they work well among the heavy-hitter tracks. Even during one of their songs, however, it's not unlikely to hear a trippy atmospheric bridge or break. My favorite of these is "What You Make Of Me" which incorporates both strings and the lead vocalist's spoken chants that serve as the conduit for the songs escalation. Him begging "Take my arms, make them yours. Take my heart, make it yours. You are the giver, creator, destroyer, hold me, make me, shape me. Cause I wanna run, till my feet grow tired. Carry me, carry me home!" is one of the most emotionally heavy parts in the entire album. Though I'm sure some people would call them long-winded, the interludes are really quite interesting and serve a valuable purpose in conveying much of the concept of the album.
The instrumentation stays tight throughout. The guitarists are on their toes and can throw out some serious guitar work when it's needed, and one of my favorite moments of the album resides in the swift guitar riff of "Speak Your Words;" particularly the charging change-up around the two minute mark that serves as a precursor to a powerful breakdown. The vocalist can hold his own as well, and while his vocals may not lead every arrangement like many metalcore bands, there are many, many moments where he shows his aptitude as a frontman. The La Dispute-esque "The Keeper and the Calm" is a great example of this, especially in the opening lines where he exclaims "Teacher, do you care that we perish? Awake from your sleep, and save us from our fates. Child, let your fears be washed away. I welcome the storm to bring you back to me!" These lyrics serve as part of the culimination of their concept, which becomes obvious enough when paying attention to the lyrics and the emotion captured in each of the songs.
Of the Sea is an incredible album for such a young band. Their incorporation of some elements that have yet to become a staple of this genre are extremely interesting, and overall all of their arrangements are tight. The concept of their story is ambitious as well, and my overall feeling towards this album is resoundingly good. Give Of the Sea a chance if you're a fan of heavier music in any way shape or form, or just great music in general.
Oceana; La Dispute; Hands
http://www.myspace.com/hohband