Considering the sad state of metal/hardcore at this point in time, this album title couldnt be any more appropriate. The Hostage Heart embody a creativity that is lacking in most heavy music and while they havent created a new genre, they fuse tech-expertise, a frantic pace and a few Southern grooves, sounding like a mix of older Converge and the Red Chord. The riffs are clever, combining sick tremolo and crushing chugs while recurrent string bending is used to their advantage, giving them an acutely profound perimeter. They hang on a second of silence after choice riffs, effectively manipulating anticipation and chaos. The vocals are particularly shrill, hitting pitches incomprehensible to most screamers and deep growls that would make any death metaller proud. Machine gun drumming is mixed with bludgeoning beats that even dip into the occasional blast. Their breakdowns are fully punishing and they are able to evoke an emotional essence with complicated melodies. Expect the Hostage Heart to be making their mark very soon.
Hostage Heart
BY Jill MikkelsonPublished Dec 1, 2004
