The Hope Conspiracy - Death Knows Your Name
Rating
RIYL
BaneShai Hulud
Sick Of It All
Converge
Tracklist
1. They Know Not2. Deadtown Nothing
3. A Darkness In the Light
4. Animal Farm
5. Curse of the Oil Snakes
6. Hang Your Cross
7. Suicide Design
8. Leech Bloody Leech
9. So Many Pigs So Few Bullets
10. Sadistic Sacred Whore
11. Stolen Days
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A lot has changed in the hardcore music scene since The Hope Conspiracy’s last release, 2002’s End Note. At that time the nu-metal scene was still dominant, for the most part, and hardcore bands such as themselves were only hinted at being appreciated, and if so, only on an underground level. Four years later, looking at the mainstream of today, hardcore music has taken a forefront position with bands such as Killswitch Engage and Bleeding Through receiving mass appraisal with dozens upon dozens of copycat bands throwing out albums to simply jump on the trend. That isn’t to say that all current hardcore releases are that predictable. While Bane’s last effort, The Note, was a severe disappointment, albums from Converge and Kylsea see the groups at their collective best, and fortunately for The Hope Conspiracy, they join the ranks of the latter with Death Knows Your Name.
In the past, The Hope Conspiracy has played a traditional style of hardcore, somewhere along the lines of Bane and Shai Hulud, and Death Knows Your Name is no exception. This album is relentless, but in such a way that is creatively interesting, never losing the listener's interest, due to some light instrumental experimentation and some rather brief track lengths. Though the bulk of the album’s songs clock in at just over the two minute mark, the album doesn’t feel too brief, rather the band establishes a thought and moves on. This is a rather refreshing fact that aids the playback value of the album and gives it more of a true punk vibe. The lyrics, for the most part, deal with what most hardcore songs do -- politics, sellouts, and brotherhood. This, along with the traditional hardcore approach to their music gives the Hope Conspiracy the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, which is refreshing when done properly, as it is on Death Knows Your Name.
In the early years of the decade The Hope Conspiracy came to be know for no holds bared hardcore, and this release lives up to the band's punk reputation. If anything the band has matured musically, with a tighter sound and crisper vocals, which when put together make for an altogether better sounding album. End Note may have truly established the band and lives on as their most notorious work, but Death Knows Your Name keeps both the band’s integrity and reputation alive.
--Josh Tabbia
Comments
Cleveland, OH
Scene Point Blank / Escapist Records
Minnesota
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Philadelphia, PA
I hope that was sarcasm and not another potshot at peoples RIYL's.
Facebook - Sure, why not, be my friend
Where The Hot Carl Isn't A Frowned Upon Phenomenon - The Blog
GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!
Boston, MA
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
Dubuque
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Philadelphia, PA
Bane's last record isn't shabby, but it's nowhere near as awesome as Give Blood. I really try not to let production get me down, especially on a hardcore album since hardcore isn't supposed to sound polished, but the production on The Note is abysmal. It definitely says something about Brian Mcternan's recent production work when a lot of his older stuff trumps it.
Facebook - Sure, why not, be my friend
Where The Hot Carl Isn't A Frowned Upon Phenomenon - The Blog
GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!
Cleveland, OH
I quote, "In the past, The Hope Conspiracy has played a traditional style of hardcore, somewhere along the lines of Bane and Shai Hulud, and Death Knows Your Name is no exception."
The Hope Conspiracy has never ever sounded anything like Bane at all. You people need to clean out your ears.
Scene Point Blank / Escapist Records
Sorry Barry, but when you're that far wide of the mark, well, you're a sitting duck. THC sound nothing like any of those bands. This is just about the worst review I've read on this site.