Hopesfall "A Types" CD
[Trustkill]
I was somewhat torn on this band's last record, in that there were elements I really enjoyed, but overall it wasn't really clicking with me. Well, there are still some minor setbacks happening here that I'm not totally satisfied with, but the songwriting is definitely progressing. The choruses are a little catchier, the vocal harmonies more emphatic, the writing more fluid and cohesive, etc. It's definitely got an air of marketability to it, I mean, this stuff could sort of get "big" on some level, but I'm fine with that. There are still smatterings of subtly technical picking patterns and lightly metallic riffs amongst the laidback and openly melodic passages, and even though the general fare is basically heavy and dynamic emo, there are still some crunchier moments that hit a little harder or get a little discordant (see portions of "Icarus" and "Matchmaker's Haven", for example). I think the singing could be a little stronger, I definitely like the harmonies, and the backing screams can add some changeups that help, but the singing itself needs just a little extra push forward to really carry the emotion of the songs. They're still getting there, so it's cool. Opener "It Happens" (which uses more indie rock kinds of influences) has one of the catchier choruses herein and is a solid starter because it hints at what's to come without really giving anything away; "The Ones" contrasts clean passages with midpaced heaviness and strong dual guitar layering very nicely, probably better than most of the other compositions herein, later bringing in some of those droning guitar textures that are becoming so popular as of late; and closer "Per Sempre Marciamo" is a little slower and longer with some of the more lush clean passages and soft vocals with lots of effects swirling around. The recording is good, but I do think adjustments could improve the album itself. It's not quite bright enough, for one thing. The tones are all pretty solid, but it's a little muddy, so I'd like to hear the bass given more definition and then everything else cleared up a little with more character to the tonality of the instruments. The percussion sounds pretty damn great as is, so that should probably stay put, and I do appreciate the bass presence a lot. So... maybe just inching back on the low-end of the bass and giving the guitars a little more punch? It sounds pretty effective regardless, so that's great. The layout's beautiful on this thing. The text is crisp and compact, and all of the artwork is bold and contrasts deep blacks with vibrant colors, with a style that's kind of digital and kind of painterly. Very unique. The imagery is sort of a weird mix of astral looking fire/water styled color schemes and suggestively angelic types of shapes at times, and it's all pretty interesting. The lyrics are definitely curious as well, personal, and dealing with common topics of love and loss and such, but the phrasing is more creative than average so it really hits on some strong moments. "In a season of collapsed lungs, there's a dark holiday and we are following straight lines to death." A definite improvement for the band as a whole. I'm looking forward to their future work, because I really doubt they've reached their full potential yet, and it's nice to be able to recognize such a solid progression from one record to the next over the course of a few years. (7/10)
Running time - 42:04, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: It Happens, Icarus, The Ones]
Trustkill Records - http://www.trustkill.com

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