2008 Woodie Awards
'Death' Reaches Epic Proportions
Hope Conspiracy return with guitar driven album.
Jarrod Moore
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: Entertainment
"And so they feed!"
Kevin Baker screams this after the ominous, nearly minute-long guitar build-up that begins "Death Knows Your Name," his band's newest release.
After a four-year hiatus following 2002's "End Note," one minute is all it takes to understand that The Hope Conspiracy is finally back, with enough anger, rage, and intensity to amend every second of its absence.
With the reunion with former guitarist Neeraj Kane, as well as the addition of former Give up the Ghost guitarist Tim Cossar, "Death Knows Your Name" not only picks up where "End Note" left off, but continues pushing the band into an epic, matured territory of hardcore music. But not in the lame, "wanna-be" '80s route taken by bands like Avenged Sevenfold; this is still music meriting the punting of puppies and the kicking of asses (in a positive way, of course).
The driving guitars of Cossar and Kane are coupled with the tasteful bass of Jonas Feinberg and the accentual drumming of Jared Shavelson to create a fuller sound than "End Note," which was recorded as a four-piece with former guitarist Aaron Lisi.
Baker is still pissed off. The fuller sound of the band only gives his voice more support as he shrieks and screams his condemnations until it sounds as if his throat is being ripped from his neck, then he screams some more. It's the voice of a man who probably expels lightning from his anus, and can wilt an entire field of flowers with a single glance.
The 11 tracks vary from the brutal in-your-face hardcore The Hope Conspiracy is known for, to epic segues and breakdowns which could be trademarked to Tim Cossar. From beginning to end, it remains compelling and addictive.
Songs like "Deadtown Nothing" and "So Many Pigs, So Few Bullets" display the punk-oriented scream fest side of the band, whereas "Curse of the Oil Snakes" and "Suicide Design" show the newfound progressive versatility of the band's direction.
"Death Knows Your Name" eradicates the option of the "eject" button, and could be held responsible for tardiness to work or school, as well as the release of bottled rage. This is the soundtrack to the gritting of teeth, the clenching of fists, and the handing in of an anger-management therapist's resignation.
Kevin Baker screams this after the ominous, nearly minute-long guitar build-up that begins "Death Knows Your Name," his band's newest release.
After a four-year hiatus following 2002's "End Note," one minute is all it takes to understand that The Hope Conspiracy is finally back, with enough anger, rage, and intensity to amend every second of its absence.
With the reunion with former guitarist Neeraj Kane, as well as the addition of former Give up the Ghost guitarist Tim Cossar, "Death Knows Your Name" not only picks up where "End Note" left off, but continues pushing the band into an epic, matured territory of hardcore music. But not in the lame, "wanna-be" '80s route taken by bands like Avenged Sevenfold; this is still music meriting the punting of puppies and the kicking of asses (in a positive way, of course).
The driving guitars of Cossar and Kane are coupled with the tasteful bass of Jonas Feinberg and the accentual drumming of Jared Shavelson to create a fuller sound than "End Note," which was recorded as a four-piece with former guitarist Aaron Lisi.
Baker is still pissed off. The fuller sound of the band only gives his voice more support as he shrieks and screams his condemnations until it sounds as if his throat is being ripped from his neck, then he screams some more. It's the voice of a man who probably expels lightning from his anus, and can wilt an entire field of flowers with a single glance.
The 11 tracks vary from the brutal in-your-face hardcore The Hope Conspiracy is known for, to epic segues and breakdowns which could be trademarked to Tim Cossar. From beginning to end, it remains compelling and addictive.
Songs like "Deadtown Nothing" and "So Many Pigs, So Few Bullets" display the punk-oriented scream fest side of the band, whereas "Curse of the Oil Snakes" and "Suicide Design" show the newfound progressive versatility of the band's direction.
"Death Knows Your Name" eradicates the option of the "eject" button, and could be held responsible for tardiness to work or school, as well as the release of bottled rage. This is the soundtrack to the gritting of teeth, the clenching of fists, and the handing in of an anger-management therapist's resignation.
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