He Is Legend - It Hates You
Rating
RIYL
Every Time I DieUnderoath
Fear Before
Release Date
06/23/2009
Label
Tragic Hero RecordsTracklist
1. Dicephalous2. Party Time!
3. Everyone I Know Has Fangs
4. The Primarily Blues
5. Cult Of She
6. Stranger Danger
7. Don't Touch That Dial
8. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
9. Future's Bright Man
10. China White III
11. That's Nasty
12. Mean Shadow
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So who here is ready to hear Suck Out the Poison part deux? If you were, than it would probably be unfortunate to hear that the latest He Is Legend album is a complete and total departure from that album. If you were to relate this release to any of their previous ones, you’d probably have better luck comparing it somewhat to both 91025 and I Am Hollywood. They have, unfortunately, ditched the gritty southern rock vibe and have taken a much lighter but grungy approach on their latest record It Hates You. Of course most fans are going to be disappointed to hear that they have veered off the path they were heading on with Suck Out the Poison, but it is refreshing in some ways to hear a new sound from these guys. Really, though, have they ever stuck with the same style for more than one disc?
It Hates You still has the tone and the heaviness that He Is Legend are known for, but there is a poppy and catchy element to the songs on this album that is not normally heard from them. Whether or not they are trying to make a more accessible record in order to cater to a new audience is debatable, but this doesn’t mean they didn’t chuck a few breakdowns our way. This album displays a multitude of dark undertones, so much so that pictures of them recording in a haunted house come to mind.
Another noticeable factor is the improvement of Schuylar Croom’s vocals. After injuring them sometime between I Am Hollywood and Suck Out the Poison, he was forced to take a much lower, raspier route. Currently, his voice seems to be doing much better as he is able to hit the higher notes that he had on the first two albums. There is still a bit of a rasp to it, but the clearness in his voice is evident. Croom also does a lot less screaming than found on previous He Is Legend records. The focus is much more on singing than anything else. A clear example of this can be found on the opener "Dicephalous", an intense and raucous track where Croom has a growl in the back of his throat but shows he has the ability again to lift his vocals to a higher level. The only song where Croom lets out his primal scream is found at the end of the creepy "Everyone I Know Has Fangs".
Now with all this talk about them changing their sound, their ability to create aggressive, unrelenting tunes has not gone away. Songs like the fierce "Primarily Blues", a heavier song with trickling guitars, and the brutal, earth shaking "That’s Nasty", a song in drop A, gives the disc its rattling flavor. Matt Williams’ bass lines perform as the lead in some of the songs, taking the pressure off guitarist Adam Tanbouz who still keeps the bite in his tone. There are also the two, seven minute epics "Stranger Danger", a more haunting tune that displays one of Williams’ more impressive bass lines, and the album's closer "Mean Shadows", which doesn’t wear out its welcome as it keeps up the intensity all the way through.
Many will likely note the presence of "China White III", the third installment in a series of songs with the theme of a barren garden, on this album and will most likely expect it to be the heaviest of them all. In contrast, the boys of North Carolina decide to show you their diversity in song composition with a more bluesy and acoustic track that builds up on a climax as the drums are introduced. It shows Croom's vocals in a different light as he lightly sings, “Won’t you please grow for me?” It is a pleasant surprise, as well as a break from the heavier songs.
It Hates You is a solid album, but unfortunately it won’t be what most fans were expecting or looking for to be honest. The only flaw this album contains is that it isn’t anything overly special. It’s a rock album through and through, and we all know that He Is Legend is capable of making something much more than that. If you get anything from this review, understand that even though it’s not a second installment of Suck Out The Poison, It Hates You is still an enjoyable album.
--Andrew Beam
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
I need to hear this.
West Haven, CT
I hated Suck Out The Poison at first, then I grew to love it.
Its refreshing when a band can re-invite their style and keep making good music.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Coopersburg, PA
I wasn't going to give this a try after Suck out the Poison but your review has me interested now.
Brooklyn, NY
i doubt this is my kinda album, BUT i love the cover art! 5 stars for that
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Lehigh Valley, PA
Suck Out the Poison was fantastic I have no idea what anyone is talking about.
Waterloo, Ontario
you just described a five star album to me. i can't wait to check this out!
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West Haven, CT
You are from PA. ;)
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Washington, DC
I loved Suck Out the Poison, but I'm still very excited and interested to hear this album. They're one of those bands who can do no wrong.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
I don't get it? Are you saying I'm a hillbilly?
Raleigh, NC
Don't want to knock what you said or anything, but trust me- most fans were hoping for something different than Suck Out the Poison. I could care less- This band writes damn good music. I've liked every CD so far, and this, I'm sure, won't be any different. I can't wait.
Lehigh Valley, PA
See I may be biased because I'm a huge fan of southern rock. So Suck Out The Poison to me, was their best. I hated I am Hollywood and 90210 or whatever the eff it's called was alright haha. However, it's true that the best thing about this band is that no album is like any other. It's amazing that this band progresses to a different sound all the time. I'm just having a hard time understanding why fans are looking for something different from Suck Out The Poison. Am I the only person on this site that liked that album? ha
West Haven, CT
I clearly said I liked Suck Out The Poison. At first I thought it was hillbilly Penn state bullshit.
But after enough spins it grew on me.
And no I wasn't calling you a hillbilly cause you live in PA. I do in fact despise PA.
But you're a cool guy.
I think He Is Legend need a change from Suck Out The Poison because two records with the same style by that band would get old
and wear out why I liked them to begin with.
I like I am Hollwood
but if they put out a similar record a few years later,
I wouldn't be here right now talking about them.
They'd be old news.
Did I mention the CD name is near perfect?
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Lehigh Valley, PA
oh..ok. But I'd be alright with you calling me a hillbilly. I have no problem with that at all. haha. Even though I am not, I act like I'm from the south most of the time.
San Borja, Lima, Perú
+1
Count me in for the bluesy and grungy
Raleigh, NC
Oh, no, I definitely love Suck Out the Posion. Fantastic CD and definitely more musically adventurous I think. They expanded on exactly what they should've. But I was just saying that from what I've seen, most people don't like it, and are therefore looking for a change.
Dubuque
In total agreement with Andrew with the review. It's a good listen, but I have to say I won't be replaying it very much. It doesn't have the lasting appeal as Suck Out The Poison did.
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Somewhere in New York
The consensus I got from a lot of people on Suck Out the Poison, was that they were thrilled with it and said it helped Schuylar to sing better live. I know I really liked it, and thought they were going to put a different spin on the whole gritty southern rock thing, but I would say we already have Maylene for that. Either way, I'm glad we didn't get a second part to it.
I actually listened to this over and over because my opinion of it changed each time. Some of it to me is really catchy, well the choruses at least. I still like it, I just think it will get lost in the mix of their other releases.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Dubuque
Andrew I hope to have mp3s here shortly. I couldn't stand the media player.
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Somewhere in New York
Yeah, I would have given it half a star more if I had the actual CD, haha. What sucked is you couldn't really get the flow of the album with the media player because you had to click to play each song after each one was over. So annoying!
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Atascadero, CA
it played straight through for me.
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Infinitely Inwards
I know that i have said this before, but I am indifferent to most people's opinion on this one. The songs that i have heard are amazing and I am very biased towards this band. I really cannot wait to have this album.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Somewhere in New York
then life apparently hates me...
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
West Haven, CT
It Hates You.
Duh.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
PA
Very well written review.
I really like all the songs off this album that I've heard so far and can't wait for the rest and like a lot of other people have said already, HIL can do no wrong in my opinion so I'm fully expecting this to be a phenomenal CD. Album art is sweet too.
A Spaceman.
greensboro NC
I am very excited to hear this record. I have heard the 4 demos and LOVE them. I think that the direction that they took is awesome!