Album Review
The split album – it seems like an interesting idea when a couple bands put down a song or two for distribution outside a show, but when a full-length split comes along like this one from Victory Records the motivation has to be different. Each band is basically contributing an EP’s worth of material, and these two acts aren’t exactly unknowns. Hoods have been kicking around for a decade or so, with a couple of albums for Victory under their belts. Freya is relatively new to the scene, but the band members are not, comprising three-fifths of the legendary Earth Crisis, including recognizable frontman Karl Buechner.
Hoods play first, contributing six tracks spanning a full twelve minutes. I’ve heard a few of their songs in the past, and this new set shows continuing improvement, which is admirable for a long-time act. They pay respect to the old school with songs like “Once Again 2004”, “The Only Good Thief”, and “In Love With a Whore”, although they predominantly strive towards stoking up the pit. Between the long buildups at the beginnings of songs and the sluggish breakdowns, their goal is clear.
Freya takes a more modern metalcore approach, so those of you hoping for a return to the ferocity of Gomorrah’s Season Ends will be left in the cold. Although, Karl’s screaming is back full-time, with hardly any actual singing. “Immortal Beloved” will certainly appeal to the Killswitch Engage fans. The other three songs are more unique, faster, and more aggressive. “Ashes of Troy” is the best of the others, with chord-laden riffing and artificial harmonics that are accentuated by the punchy, bottom-heavy production. They don’t rely on the breakdown to hold the listener’s interest, which is becoming a rarity in today’s scene. A Black Flag cover is pulled off well to finish off the disc.
Neither band really outshines their peer on this split, and they have enough in common not to turn off fans of one or the other. Hoods provide a nostalgic experience with a nod toward the moshers of today, while Freya bring a current sound that will have more appeal to the metal-minded than will their split-mates. The end result is a listenable release from a pair of Victory's middle-tier bands that showcase their strides to break into the top tier.
Hoods play first, contributing six tracks spanning a full twelve minutes. I’ve heard a few of their songs in the past, and this new set shows continuing improvement, which is admirable for a long-time act. They pay respect to the old school with songs like “Once Again 2004”, “The Only Good Thief”, and “In Love With a Whore”, although they predominantly strive towards stoking up the pit. Between the long buildups at the beginnings of songs and the sluggish breakdowns, their goal is clear.
Freya takes a more modern metalcore approach, so those of you hoping for a return to the ferocity of Gomorrah’s Season Ends will be left in the cold. Although, Karl’s screaming is back full-time, with hardly any actual singing. “Immortal Beloved” will certainly appeal to the Killswitch Engage fans. The other three songs are more unique, faster, and more aggressive. “Ashes of Troy” is the best of the others, with chord-laden riffing and artificial harmonics that are accentuated by the punchy, bottom-heavy production. They don’t rely on the breakdown to hold the listener’s interest, which is becoming a rarity in today’s scene. A Black Flag cover is pulled off well to finish off the disc.
Neither band really outshines their peer on this split, and they have enough in common not to turn off fans of one or the other. Hoods provide a nostalgic experience with a nod toward the moshers of today, while Freya bring a current sound that will have more appeal to the metal-minded than will their split-mates. The end result is a listenable release from a pair of Victory's middle-tier bands that showcase their strides to break into the top tier.