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The Los Angeles based quintet, Horse
the Band’s “The Mechanical Hand”, is Combat
Records first release after its restart. I guess the best way to explain
the bands style would be exactly what they put on the sales sheet,
“Nintendo-based hardcore.” If you put the Dillinger Escape
Plan in a wood chipper with the music similar to your favorite Nintendo
games, this is what you would get. That might sound bizarre, but it
actually makes their music unique in an interesting way. This can
be just as abrasive and intense as other hardcore fusions, maybe even
more so. Ironically the keys that make up the Nintendo sound fill
in spots of the music, making their sound feel much fuller. It might
take a couple songs to get used to it, but it grows on you. However,
take the keys out and they are basically another version of chaotic
hardcore bands like the Dillinger Escape Plan. “The Mechanical
Hand” was produced by Matt Bayles who has worked with Murder
City Devils, Mastodon, Isis, Norma Jean, Minus the Bear. The music
is a little unpolished for my tastes, but it does work with this style.
It’s not recorded bad, just some of the notes seem awkward as
if they weren’t played with as much confidence as the majority
of record. And nothing really stands out, just certain riffs and chords
do. The songs aren’t bad, just average, maybe a little above.
I can see people into hardcore getting into this, as long as you keep
an open mind and realize this is a little odd. It now keeps me wondering
what they will do on their next disc. Rating: 78 |
