Michigan has a rich recent history of emerging metalcore acts. From We Came as Romans to Famous Last Words, the state has been red hot for some of the genre’s most exciting names. Hailing from Grand Rapids, UNFD’s Hollow Front are looking to stake their claim as heir apparent with the new album, The Price of Dreaming.
‘In The Spotlight’ is a slow-burning, patiently building start to the record. The hauntingly ethereal opening is a foreboding warning of the onslaught that is to follow. Much of the record appears to allude to the re-emergence into the world after the solitude and strife of the pandemic years, and ‘Comatose’ is perhaps the most direct example of this. The track evokes ridding oneself of the shackles of the past two years and, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, flutters into life after a tentative beginning.
Tracks such as ‘Self-Sabotage’ and ‘Changeling’ are examples of what is helping Hollow Front stand out from the crowd: rousing, fist-pumping anthems that serve as somewhat of a hybrid, a conduit between 00’s and 10’s shaded metalcore with the dynamism and progression of the band’s current-era peers.
It’s easy to carry an air of cynicism when casting a critical eye over the metalcore genre. As over-saturated as it is, breaking down the composite parts of what separates the good from the must-listen isn’t always straight-forward. Hollow Front feel like they are on the way to transcending the genre, with tracks like ‘Thick as Blood’ and title track ‘The Price of Dreaming’ cataloging a melting pot of uplifting melodic injections and breakdowns that plummet you down to earth with the the force of an out-of-control roller coaster.
The guitars of Lee Albrecht & Dakota Alvarez play a starring role on The Price of Dreaming. Both are paramount in not only conveying the expression of the tracks, but also keeping the record at fever pitch. Shining star ‘Better Off’ and 2021 single ‘Treading Water’ both home particularly explosive, immaculately articulate riffs.
Whether it be the unrepentant fierceness of ‘Heritage’ or the stripped-back ‘Two Worlds Away’, Hollow Front seem to be adept at conveying compelling stories; Closer ‘Running Away’ sees the quintet meander more into the hardcore space than anywhere since track number one and hit all of the notes as they grapple with self-doubt.“Searching for the strength that I could never find, running away is the only thing I thought was right,” tensely utters Tyler Tate as the record roars to its climax.
There’s plenty of space for contemplation and introspection on The Price of Dreaming, but Hollow Front hammer home their intentions to ply you with potent and immersive metalcore throughout. The new LP is a blistering and bruising experience evoking myriad emotions and conveying a heady and moving blend of euphoria and despair.
Listen here.
The post Album Review: Hollow Front – The Price of Dreaming appeared first on New Noise Magazine.
