Straight from our Northern Brethren, comes a heavy rabbit punch of an album from My Hollow, On Borrowed Time!
Starting in 2008, My Hollow has grown from a Canadian secret to a progressive, groovy powerhouse of a band, with their latest release absolutely kicking the door open to the metal community of the world. Coming together from all over the tundraic provinces, My Hollow is made up of:
Lenny Chiasson: Guitars
Sean De Faria: Bass
Angelo Giammattolo: Drums
Greg Gallagher: Guitars
Graham Gaudreault: Vocals
With only 1 EP before On Borrowed Time (2013’s Cold Dark Days), My Hollow has crafted a damn fine sound for themselves. Described as groove metal, it’s not far off the mark. Between thrash-acceptable sections, they manage to fit in some very technical, and soulful, rhythm and groove. The second half of Kings With No Castles illustrates this perfectly, with a bass and drum piece that locks down their chops and should send the listener’s foot and head to bobbing.
Portions of the album really combine the best of both worlds, fast and that groove thang, like the first track, On Borrowed Time, which has me really feeling a ghost of Lamb of God haunting its bones. THey play with extreme aplomb, neither burying the lead under scales and finger exercises, nor do they just keep it to caveman speed and chords. THey are a dynamic band, jamming along at 100mph, then cruising along to vast, deep sonic vistas that refresh the listener throughout the album (after On Borrowed Time, Cold Dark Days slows it down). They bounce around from different influences and spheres, but never staying long enough to wear out their welcome.
The production is well utilized, as they sound clean, violent, adn like a band that is going to tear through your expectations in a live show. The vocals are vicious, recalling the better rough vocals of metalcore and blackened thrash, keeping the enunciation clear so we can follow along at home. Musically, very fast, very good metal, blending groove, speed, sounds ranging from blast beats, to alt picking, to almost a tech death vibe. It’s heavy in all the right places, and your neck will be sore afterwards.
On Borrowed Time being just a sophmore album, My Hollow shows so much promise for future releases. They bring a hefty presence to the table, and are well worth the listen if you want a new band to throw down with.
Check them out at their Bandcamp HERE
