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HateskoR

Paint My Fear

Written by: TL on 06/04/2012 19:23:32

While it isn't often I review metal records around here, I have occasionally dabbled in some of its sub-genres, such as folk, melodic death, power and progressive, and especially when bands of smaller reputation come around, it often falls to me to give them assessment, while our metal experts proper dedicate their full attention to the larger, supposedly more important releases. One such occasion is now, as we've been sent "Paint My Fear", the debut LP of Madrid based five-piece HateskoR (their stylisation) which regular heavy heads EW, MST and MH have graciously let fall all the way down into my lap.

"Paint My Fear" is a record that casts HateskoR as a band with a solid backbone of Scandinavian inspired melodeath alá, and acts like Insomnium, Skyfire and Omnium Gatherum come to mind as likely comparisons. To not remain invariably in the same territory however, the album also sends out small scouting excursions to the territories of folk and power metal, allowing for melodies and rhythms that aren't exclusively standard melodeath fare. The dynamic thus created works nicely to the band's advantage and for my money, I'd say things sound fairly potent whether the band's fingers are racing frantically up and down their guitar necks or their keyboard.

The flipside of 'fairly potent' however, is that you could also say that the elements taken from HateskoR's various genres of inspiration aren't turned into anything that's above the average of those exact genres. Maybe it's the handicap manifested by a production that, while clear and decent, doesn't sound as perfect and powerful as the latest stuff by either of the other bands referenced, or maybe it's just the fact that the gargling, guttural growls that are the bands main vocals, are thoroughly indecipherable and of even more questionably quality than the much debated ones employed by Omnium Gatherum in particular - Whatever the reason, "Paint My Fear" is not a record that offers much by way of stand-out moments. It's an easily enjoyable doze of melodic metal, with a couple of decent ideas to its name that HateskoR should certainly pursue on further releases, but while it can get your feet tapping and head bopping should you turn your attention on it, I don't see it seizing you by the ears and giving you an impression that lasts longer than its duration, the way you know a really good album does.

Download: Far Beyond The Stars; Ten Days, Ten Nights
For The Fans Of: Omnium Gatherum, Insomnium, Skyfire,
Listen: facebook.com/HateskoROfficial

Release Date 18.11.2011
Noisehead