Tuesday 20 March 2012

Hidden Hospitals - EP 001







I've been writing this blog about heavy metal for at least 18 months now, and recently I've been discovering bands and records from across the spectrum. From the harsh noise of Sutekh Hexen to the pop-mosh stylings of Famous Last Words. Before I hit the metal hard in my next few reviews, I thought I'd leave you with this little EP.

Hidden Hospitals are an alternative rock band from Chicago, USA. Now I know what you're thinking here, alternative = nu-metal. Well your wrong! Read on.

Tracklist:-

1. Atonement
2. One to Ones
3. Controlled Chaos
4. Swan Dive
5. Poet & Liar

EP opener, Atonement hits you with the kind of clean, clear production that could make it a regular on mainstream radio. Hidden Hospitals sound is unique to my ears, but seems contain nods to bands like Thrice (in their more melodic phases) and riffs that occasionally remind me of Paramore, in the experimental, not what you'd expect sense.

This isn't emo though either, it's more akin to proper rock and I'm glad to say a lot more than a boring, plinky plonky indie records. Hidden Hospitals play short, sharp songs that have a great impact but don't impose to the point where they get boring. They've got other influences in them too, like in third song Controlled Chaos, where they use some heavier riffs to add crunch to their music, and there's also a subtle Deftones influence hiding below the surface too.

They're great songwriters and instrumentalists to, just listen to jazzy guitar lines at the start of fourth song Swan Dive, which segues into some really good drum rhythms and dreamy vocals harmonies. This makes their sound very palatable too people who like mature, intelligent music, whether metalheads or not.

This EP is a the melodic tip of what I listen too, and it's really amazed me. To think that Hidden Hospitals contains ex members of Damiera, who used to be signed to well renowned US label Equal Vision and toured with Fear Before The March Of Flames, surprised me, but I can see the progression in their sound. It just proves that a slight musical change of direction for both artists and listeners can be fulfilling and in Hidden Hospitals, you have a band for the future. I for one, can't wait to see how they progress!

You can stream this EP on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/hiddenhospitals and also, they have a website at http://hiddenhospitals.com

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