Hearts and Hands
Hearts and Hands


2.5
average

Review

by Flomazoid USER (3 Reviews)
February 26th, 2013 | 22 replies


Release Date: 2012 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Soaring cleans attempt to mesh with deathcore screams in a very average and boring EP

Hearts & Hands is an interesting band. Made up of musicians from various bands, this "supergroup" (if you can call it that) has quite a mix. Alex Koehler of Chelsea Grin takes to the vocals with Garrett Garfield of Becoming Everest for a strange combination that doesn't quite work. If you've heard a Chelsea Grin song, you know what to expect from Koehler. Sub-par highs and awful lows are the name of the game on this. Garfield's vocals, on the other hand, are elegantly done, and almost make you forget what genre of music you're listening to for a few seconds. Until Koehler starts garbling again, that is.

The first track, "Revenge", starts the EP off with a bang. And by that, I mean, with a breakdown, followed up by another breakdown. That right there about sums up the entire album, with little change. The only appealing part of this track is Garfield's vocals during the chorus (which is actually rather catchy). The guitar work at the end is quite nice, but doesn't justify listening to the rest.

The lyrics are mostly the typical subjects of love and anger. The absolute best piece of lyricism has got to be this one, taken from "Memories":
"You lied
Don't try and tell me
That I'm the only one who sees
You were never there for me
You were never there"
Those lines could easily be written by an angsty teenager any day of the year, and I'm sure that that was exactly what they were going for; and if so, bravo, guys, you succeeded.

The only standout track, "Choices", really shows off what Garfield can do, and even puts Koehler's screams to good use. The song is almost all clean vocals (although Koehler screams along with Garfield for some of the song) and is a welcome change of pace. The guitar doesn't revert into deathcore territory until almost 2/3 of the way through the song, and only lasts for about 10 seconds, then it's right back to an almost hard rock sound. Definitely the best (but that's not saying much) song off the album.

The closing song, "Memories", is another example of Koehler and Garfield's vocals combining to create something somewhat listenable. The ending repetition of "I am not broken, I won't be afraid, I'm burning every memory we made" is a generic line to end this generic album, and makes you look back on the four songs before it, trying to remember any of what you just heard.

This EP is not something that you will be wowed by, nor is it groundbreaking or original in any way. This shouldn't be taken for anything more then yet another generic post-hardcore/metalcore band, and that's exactly what it is.

Recommended Tracks:
Choices


user ratings (31)
3
good

Comments:Add a Comment 
Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
February 26th 2013


18262 Comments


I don't think I will be checking this out anytime soon

foxblood
February 26th 2013


11237 Comments


terrible cover and summary could not deter me more

nononsense
February 26th 2013


3545 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I gave this a spin, it's not half bad. I was surprised with this.

Flomazoid
February 26th 2013


26 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

How was the actual review, guys? Anything I could improve upon for future reviews?

XyphynX9
February 26th 2013


137 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Eh. It's better than Chelsea Grin's newest shit EP.

TacoMan4Life
February 27th 2013


7 Comments


Nice review bruh.

Lloydumus
March 8th 2013


8 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Could you please stop disrespecting Alex? I lot of us have bought this EP because he is in it. I understand that a lot of people don't like his screaming, but just because that isn't your style should'nt bring down the rating of the EP

nononsense
March 8th 2013


3545 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It's not about his screaming being our style or not......it's just that he sucks at screaming. He is one of the worst at his style of

screaming.

Lloydumus
March 15th 2013


8 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

@nononsense we're talking about the same person right? His vocals are powerful and his range is incredible

nononsense
June 22nd 2013


3545 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

apparently not.

reportingbird
June 22nd 2013


1051 Comments


coincidence?

SlipperyQ
November 13th 2013


12 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Quit bashing Alex. Chelsea grin is by far better than this band could ever be.

Flomazoid
November 17th 2013


26 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

"Quit bashing Alex. Chelsea Grin is by far better than this band could ever be."



Sayeth ye with bad taste

lignimvite
March 6th 2014


52 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I enjoyed Gravity Proof and Choices off this EP, the rest of the songs were bland, boring, and unoriginal.

Thunderkat
March 18th 2014


579 Comments


Alex sucks, I rather listen to Phil Bozeman

xiLeadFeather
August 19th 2014


359 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Gave this a 2.5...with 1.5 being for Choices and the other 1 being Garfield's vocals. Really unmemorable album. Some interesting guitar parts, but really just forgettable.

betray
August 19th 2014


9392 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Their full-length album is lightyears ahead of this. Alex being on this EP really dragged it down.



Too bad we won't see anymore new material from this band :/

nononsense
August 20th 2014


3545 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah without the screaming this band is much better. Full length was a solid 3.5 for me.

betray
August 20th 2014


9392 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

arhd

SourAK
August 20th 2014


1628 Comments


soft



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