Release
date: July
18th
2019.
Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Model
Citizen –
Tracklisting
1.Pleasure
Island 04:17
2.MAXIMUM
Beta 04:26
3.Do
It Right 04:13
4.I'm
Not Here 04:49
5.Too
Many Rivers 05:23
6.Dad
Sludge 03:33
7.That
Awful Sound 06:09
8.Not
in the Cards 03:22
9.Bastard
Jesus 06:37
Members
Collin
Young - Guitar, Vocals
NJ
Borreta - Guitar, Vocals
Jon
Galletly - Drums, Vocals
Justin
Hunt - Bass
Review
Hammerhands
new album – Model Citizen – is quite a loud and aggressive album
with a deep social conscience running within the bands DNA. The album
is quite different to their earlier albums and I have to applaud the
band for writing hard-hitting lyrics to match their heavy
experimental and sometimes Psychedelic Rock/Metal sound.
Opening
song – Pleasure Island – starts off promisingly with a mixture of
intense Progressive Doom/Sludge Metal grooves that feel influenced by
Mastodon and Neurosis. The hap-hazard approach with the music is
quite infectious in places and the progressive sounding guitars add a
real classy sound to proceedings. Hammerhands sound quite confident
on this song and leave you wanting more.
Second
song – Maximum Beta – has a more Hardcore based sound compared to
the opening song. The song still manages to maintain a deep
progressive groove with hard-hitting lyrics to match. The vocals feel
out of place for the most part but soon settle down into a more
confident rhythm. The music is way more experimental with elements of
Sludge, Doom, Noise and Hardcore Punk combining for a deeply
troubling and unflinching sound.
Third
song – Do It Right – is quite freaky, surreal and very gloomy in
places. The band feel inspired by Eagle Twin on this song with the
vocals and riffs having a familiar sound to them. Though, the
socially aware lyrics save the day once more and allow Hammerhands to
create an unsettling style of Doom/Sludge Metal.
Fourth
song – I’m Not Here – is one of the standout songs on the album
with the band playing a more straight-forward style of Doom/Sludge
Metal with a classic sounding Hardcore groove being added for a
deeply unsettling approach.
Hammerhands
continue experimenting with their sound and adding a gloomy
rebellious nature to the overall feel of the album. Songs such as Too
Many Rivers, That Awful Sound and Bastard Jesus make a lasting
impression and that’s down to the dark lyrical content the band
have written for these songs.
Overall,
Model Citizen is an superbly produced and well-made album with a lot
to say. It will take time to fully understand what’s going on with
this album and is perhaps best suited to the more adventurous
Doom/Sludge Metal listener.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Will
at Prescription PR for
the promo. Model
Citizen
will be available to buy now
on
CD/DD/Vinyl.
Links:
