Reviews

My first impression upon hearing the leadoff track from Hopesfall’s latest offering, Magnetic North, was that it sounded like the Deftones mixed with Glassjaw…but out in the deepest reaches of space. I think that’s a fair assessment and it holds true for most of the record.
 
I was and still am a huge fan of Hopesfall’s first Trustkill full-length, The Satellite Years, so, naturally, I anxiously awaited the release of the follow-up, A-Types, a few years back. And I was severely disappointed with that record. The album stripped their sound of most of its aggression and replaced it with an ill-conceived attempt at catchy melodies. Well, have no fear this time around; Hopesfall are back with an epic album filled with equal parts heaviness and beauty while adding a nice dose of atmosphere to the mix.
 
The most important thing to point out in regards to this record is the vocal performance of lead singer Jay Forrest; he really puts on a hell of a show. Just jump from the end of opener “Rx Contender the Pretender” to track four, “I can do this on an Island” for an example of Forrest’s excellent range in regards to his inflection and presentation; he may not hit the high notes which are all the rage these days, but he can present his words and voice in so many forms. From strangled screams to huge, floating melodies to a darker crooning style reminiscent of stoner rock masters Vision of Disorder, Forrest is able to sell the desperation and seclusion that the sound and lyrics on this album seem to embody. He also seems to have skipped trying to pen catchy melodies this time around, opting for a more honest sound that finds its foundation in the group’s heavier sides coupled with their utilization of effects and reverb. But, of course, a lead singer is nothing without his band…
 
…and the other selling points on this record are the guitars and the huge, open space the band is able to create. Often steeped in multiple effects courtesy of the flawless production by Mike Watts, the guitars bounce from delicate, clean-tone passages to absolutely massive tones, adding layer upon layer to the atmospheric bricks already laid in the rhythm and bass tracks.
 
Listening to this album conjures images of glacial canyons, deep underwater exploration, or massive spans of desert.; everything about this record screams isolation. Hopesfall have gone for - and achieved - a wide open sound that should translate perfectly to the stage; I know I can’t wait to see them now. I was only slightly surprised by this return to form; The Satellite Years was too good of a record to be a fluke and now that the band has purged itself of the need to catch ears, they have reemerged, wielding the crushing sonic weight of yet another new sound for them, one that I hope they stick with.