St. Hood "2004" CD
[self-released]
Hell yeah, more killer metallic hardcore coming out of Finland. This band has a unique sound compared to a lot of these kinds of bands because the music is a really even mix of hardcore and metal that doesn't come off as generic. They have a few note based metal riffs and your usual hard hitting rhythms, but something about the feel of it really is different from the norm. The vocals are also unique in that they're raspy shouts that lean towards singing at times, and I rarely hear vocalists with this style of voice, so just the character of his voice is really fucking cool. The breakdowns and thicker, slightly melodic chords in "Solid Hate" are a bit more typical and straightforward, but the writing is still top notch, and that's actually one of my favorite moments on the disc! "My Turn" is the shortest track but actually has a thrash metal vibe in some of the riffs, and that's what I love the most about all of these raging Finnish bands. "Some Regrets" closes with a lot of slow and eerily dissonant riffs with nice drum fills to back it up, leading into some midpaced chugging and awesome harmony runs. The sound kicks ass for a demo, too. It's better than most full-lengths I hear from a lot of smaller hardcore labels. It's nice and clear, you can hear every instrument, all of the tones and the mix are pretty solid, etc. Very nice. The CD-R comes in a color package with a really nice layout for being a demo. Everything looks nice and consistent and has a strong look to it, including the lyrics and everything. As expected the songs are pissed off and deal with standing up for yourself, backing up what you say, etc. This is one of the best hardcore demos I've heard in awhile. I'd love to see this band do a full-length. Keep an eye on these guys for sure... (7/10)
Running time - 12:28, Tracks: 4
[Notable tracks: all four are pretty damn good, especially "Some Regrets"]
St. Hood - http://www.sthood.tk

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