High Hopes: Sights & Sounds

High Hopes are a Modern Metalcore band out of Reading UK and their new record out on Victory Records is entitled Sights & Sounds. This sophomore release contains 10 tracks of aggressive music that is filled with ferocious vocals, tight musicianship and high octane melodies.

As brutally heavy as Sights & Sounds is, High Hopes have managed to spawn a record that is free of clean vocals and yet still be quite catchy, as well as being 'Pit' worthy. Their crushing guitar tones are in the Periphery zone, though not quite Djenty, but super percussive and blatant and mixed with hyper angst throated vocals that will find you moving in your seat or headbanging with the person next to you. It's the melodic angle that is the thing with these guys. They maintain the heavy and add melody without sacrificing anything. Tracks like "Manipulator" with its no holds barred mentality and violent rage are awesome and still have an underlying chorus that locks you in and then they knock you out with the nasty breakdown section. I dare you to not find yourself bopping your head with the aggression! "The Callout" is another high point, as it builds a little slowly in the beginning and then BOOM, the riffing is undeniable and again melodic underneath.

If you can imagine the Deftones as an aggressive Metalcore band, this is what they might sound like. High Hopes have crafted a solid Metalcore record with Sights & Sounds and to be honest, it's not even fair to but the band into a category like that because they have devised a way to rise above the "normal" Hardcore type of thing and add a melodic sense that is not normally found in this style of music. The key factor being that High Hopes have not made their music any less brutal with their melodic flair into the heavy. Good on ya, Mates.This record is a grower, as I didn't really "get it" in my first couple of spins, but I get it now, good stuff for sure.

Track Listing:
1. Pale Blue Dot
2. The Callout
3. Revelation
4. Vanguard
5. MLK
6. Nostalgic Thoughts
7. Manipulator
8. Defender
9. The Greater Plan
10. Sights & Sounds

Added: March 8th 2016
Reviewer: Butch Jones
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1557
Language: english

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