Search - Hope Conspiracy :: Death Knows Your Name

While better than other 2006 releases, is poor in constrast

Daniel Fitzgerald | Santa Cruz, CA USA | 03/28/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The hype around this album was return of guys from Code Blue. And addition of that guy from Give Up The Ghost (which he wrote catchy energetic music, but was never very impressive or inventive). This album lacks energy. Think it doesn't? Listen to End Note, and then listen to this. You'll see my point. In fact it lacks really anything that made the Hope Conpiracy rad, besides Kevin Baker's distinguished vocal style. All the songs sound like bad rip-offs of Hope Con side projects and less like the original band does! If I wanted that, I'd go listen to Bars. Most the songs clock in at about 5Minutes, which isn't a bad thing if their is some fine musicianship. However, the time is filled by a lot of slow droning ambient nuissances. The recording sounds like later Kurt Ballou, trading in raging wall-of-sound tone, for just, generic indie sound. It sounds like they used all 70s vintage equipment with no tone or gain. For instance, Cold Blue was thick as hell. The guitar, bass, and kick drum on End Note were brilliantly captured. Death Knows Your Name sounds more like Led Zeppelin equipment redlined through a mixer.

If you are a diehard Hope Conspiracy fan, I'd still say go buy the album, cause it does have 3 or 4 good songs, but overall, its a severe disappointment. This album is better than most other hardcore albums. But is a letdown in contrast to their early work. I was hoping to hear their best effort to date. Instead, this is their least innovative, energetic and rocking effort. When a band reunites, they should return better than before, or they shouldn't reunite at all..."