“I’m burdened by the sacrifice.“
From the moment Michigan-based metalcore outfit Hollow Front announced that the band’s long-term producer and collaborator Lee Albrecht (The Wise Man’s Fear, Sleep Waker, City State) would be joining in an official capacity as guitarist and songwriter, I had high hopes for the coming record. Lead single “Treading Water” vindicated those, and probably still remains the most fun song on The Price of Dreaming, an album of surprising diversity tied together neatly by its consistent, albeit overly polished, production (Atrium Audio). Hollow Front’s real genius is in the captivating riffs and staple melodic twist which persists even in the heavier cuts. Passion bleeds from the record and the themes it treats with, from loss and heartbreak to the personal sacrifices made in following one’s dreams. Tyler’s enunciation of mids throughout is superb, letting the listener bask in every cathartic detail.
“In The Spotlight” eases in with some gorgeous falsetto and piano before opening up with harsh vocals into a very Polaris-esque second half. There is a pervading sense of sadness: ‘Is this the life I’ve wanted? I’m too afraid to let my guard down. I swear these walls are too damn high.’ It trails off a little early in fact, serving its purpose as the opening track, but it feels like there was a very real potential of turning it into a fully-fledged song. Nevertheless, the guitars soon return with the first of the singles, “Comatose”. With its higher-energy riffs and noodling leads, punchy drums, gorgeous vocals, and ambient soundscape, it is, as both a single and an early track, a great indicator of what the rest of the record has to offer. One of many aggressive tracks accentuated by rich, comforting hooks.
The ‘thick’ in “Thick as Blood” can only refer to the guitar tone in the breakdown, the gnarliest on the record, replete with Albrecht’s quintessential djenty tone and backed by some seriously prominent bass. Again, the soaring chorus is undeniably infectious. ‘If you were here with me, I’d never need a reason to feel numb. Our bond’s as thick as blood.’ “Better Off” wraps up an otherwise stellar first half. In the context of the wider scene, it remains a good metalcore track, but does not stand up alongside the majority of bangers The Price of Dreaming has to offer. Despite leaning on the heavier side of the record, it fails to achieve a real sonic climax to tie it all together. The charming riffage that is a huge draw of the singles is at times a very minor downside, for they at times become indistinguishable from one another in any passive listen.
“Dear Sons” kicks off a stronger back half, boasting a sick breakdown and a unique vocal cadence that makes the middle section really punchy. “Treading Water” sounds as great as ever, and it becomes apparent that the track placing was very deliberate; the album flows extremely well and the spacing of the singles is so uniform it cannot be accidental. After the high energy and groove of “Treading Water”, the record takes a sharp turn in the form of “Two Worlds Away”, a beautiful ballad that eventually explodes, complete with gorgeous solo and expert vocal layering to offer it a further level of depth. It is a much-needed breather before the one-two punch of the angry tracks, “Changeling” and “Heritage”.
Arpeggiated guitars and prominent synths drive the former forward, whereas the latter is Hollow Front at their best. “Heritage” does not let up in any way, and will be a favourite for many long-term fans of the band, offering a modern and synth-laden twist on their old sound. It hit hard as a single and still does. Whilst The Price of Dreaming strikes the right balance between melodic and raw aggression, songs like this show what a no-holds-barred Hollow Front has to offer, which left me wishing for one more unapologetically heavy track to rival it. “Running Away”, closing out the album, is not that, but it is undeniably beautiful, ending the album in a similar vein to how it opened: with keys and the best falsettos on offer. So much so that I found myself rewinding to those vocal passages time and time again. My only complaint is that they are too short-lived.
In all, The Price of Dreaming is a success. 2020’s Loose Threads was a dramatic shift in their sound, and one which, whilst hitting all the right notes, fell a little short of greatness. All the core pieces were there, but it did not necessarily feel like a progression. The Price of Dreaming sounds exactly like what Hollow Front intended with their switch-up. The riffs are flashier, owing to Albrecht’s increased involvement; the production is cleaner (though a bit too clean for my liking); the interspersed keys are integrated more naturally and feel more authentic; and the vocal performances from both Tyler and Dakota were stepped up immensely. All this results in an admirable and intensely personal metalcore record which is easily Hollow Front’s best to date. The Price of Dreaming has something for every metalcore fan, and any fans of Polaris, ERRA, and Wage War would do especially well to take note.
8/10
The Price of Dreaming releases this Friday, May 27th, via UNFD, and you can pre-order it here.