Hypernova
Through The Chaos


2.5
average

Review

by Observer EMERITUS
April 7th, 2010 | 18 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A hard origin may lead to an even harder future.

Hypernova probably know the meaning of “chaos”. Having originated in Iran, a country that prohibits listening to, much less the creation of, anything to do with rock music, the post-punk quartet have spent the majority of their time together playing it dangerous and sneaky with the practice of their music in a country that’s often amidst international tension with foreboding hostility from a number of sides. After the release of two EPs in their home country in 2006 and 2008 – which in effect, placed Hypernova as the leaders of the rock scene in Iran at the time – the band have come overseas to The States to record and release their first full-length, the aptly titled Through The Chaos.

Hypernova swagger like a 80s Joy Division on a date with modern-day The National and Interpol. Lead singer Raam - the band members wish to not have their last names revealed - sits at a comfy junction between lead singers Matt Berninger and Pauls Banks of the latter two bands, respectively, with his vocals delivering baritone, smart diction over the band’s blend of new wave and post-punk straightforward musical pronouncements – and straightforward it surely is: essentially, the band are very hook-friendly and make no efforts to hide it. “Universal” opens Through The Chaos via a Killer’s “Somebody Told Me” shaking of drum symbols and waving guitar echo, while Raam follows and delivers a chorus universally ambiguous and catchy: ‘We are one, and we are three / The world’s in love, and so are we’. Subtly is not Hypernova’s strongpoint, however, as the band hit high and strong initially on the album but fall a little on the mediocre and predictable side at the end of the day.

Much of Hypernova’s lyrics on Through The Chaos are rooted in their struggles as an indie/post-punk band in Iran in the latter days of the last decade. “Viva La resistance” and “American Dream” might initially be viewed and heard as shots at America with lines like, ’I will now bow down to your God / This is not who I am’ and ‘You’re all so dead inside,’ respectively taken from each track; but a quick background check finds the source of their hurt and criticism stemming from their home country – and little wonder given the music and religion laws of that area. The band also focus on loneliness and individual failings via Foo Fighters’ “Everlong”-derivative “Empty Times” and cliché-filler, predictable “Monster In Me”. Just as the music really amounts to being no more than straightforward background guitar chords and simple-winding leads, the lyrical subjects also stay really close to home and generally play it a little too safe.

Hypernova’s Through The Chaos is very solid, if not that interesting or attention grabbing. The band, unfortunately, have little in their arsenal of sounds to make them standout from any Joy Division-fan group, much less from those that they seem to derive their influences from - Depeche Mode, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Interpol - often having the effect of the band coming off as merely generic and watered-down variations of those groups. While pressure and threats of law breaking made their continuance as a band in Iran very difficult, just judging from what the band have presented here, however, Hypernova may find it just as hard to survive in the US music market as they did overseas.



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user ratings (5)
2.3
average


Comments:Add a Comment 
Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


out yesterday, but here is a stream: http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/13

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
April 7th 2010


32288 Comments


Much of Hypernova’s lyrics on Through The Chaosp are routed in their struggles as an indie/post-punk band in Iran in the latter days of the last decade

Should that be rooted?

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


yeah, good catch, was wondering why that didn't look right haha

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
April 7th 2010


32288 Comments


No probs.
Excellent review Jared, your usual high standard as always

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


Thanks Deviant, always appreciate your feedback and error correction

BigHans
April 7th 2010


30959 Comments


Man you are really on top of things. Good job as always, future Contrib.

alachlahol
April 7th 2010


7593 Comments


are you insinuating that i like bland, repetitive post-punk?

Metalstyles
April 7th 2010


8576 Comments


A true pleasure to read as always, although you might want to fix that typo in the album's name at the start of the third paragraph.

Also, am I missing something here, or should your "water-downed " in the last paragraph be "watered-down?

thebhoy
April 7th 2010


4460 Comments


Metalstyles is right. Good review as per usual.

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


good catches on those styles, especially on the watered-down. Surprised my word processor didn't catch the first though...

Thanks everyone

are you insinuating that i like bland, repetitive post-punk?


Haha, of course not alachlahol. It's just my opinion on it ;)


AggravatedYeti
April 7th 2010


7683 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

well this was a great read

surprise surprise

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


Haha thanks Yeti. That's partly in due to the nice users' here who spotted my errors.

I'll make sure that doesn't happen again, may need to update windows word too :/

Nagrarok
April 7th 2010


8656 Comments


Haven't been keeping up with your reviews since I was away from quite some time and you write 'em up so quickly, but very fine work as usual. Have your usual pos from me.

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


Always appreciate it nag, glad you got back into it! Actually reduced my output a bit, so my name wont always be on the user front page

EVedder27
April 7th 2010


6088 Comments


Album actually sounds really interesting, but rating will probably keep me away. pos.

Observer
Emeritus
April 7th 2010


9453 Comments


for what its worth, this is fairly catchy, mike. its just that it doesn't last too long.

Thanks man!

ebay
April 9th 2010


501 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

i just read an article about these guys on npr and they are a fantastic story. the problem for me however is that their music offers nothing original or really worthwhile to listen to. i totally agree with your review, it is all cliche-driven. here's the story on them: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125780177

AggravatedYeti
April 10th 2010


7683 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

its not the worst album Ive heard.

they've certainly got some potential.



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