ALBUM REVIEW: Hawthorne Heights - "Bad Frequencies"
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With their first release in five years, Hawthorne Heights have released their new album Bad Frequencies. The Ohio emo-rock band has had a long and varying career, with their highlights coming early on with the hit "Ohio Is For Lovers" off their first full length album. It is hard to follow up such success so early on, but the band has continued to evolve and mature since the early 2000's. “In Gloom” starts out the album with a bit of a bummer. But the heavy track is short and sweet and goes straight into the rest of Bad Frequencies. “Crimson Sand” is a bit more riff heavy as their screamo elements begin to get mixed in. Not only do they toss in unclean vocals from guitarist Mark McMillion, along side JT Woodruff's recognizable clean vocals, but there's even a little bit of a breakdown involved. |
Bad Frequencies' title track really hits the brakes, just about halfway through the album's tracklist, but then punches you right in the face as it kicks in momentarily with both clean and unclean vocals repeating over and over: "Got some bad frequencies buried in my skull. Like a bright red switchblade knife, it's never dull." The track is probably the most lyrically heavy, and gives you the sense that the past still weighs on the band.
The last half of the album is more of the same from the first half, and tracks like "Push Me Away" and "Straight Down The Line" really draw back to the screamo tendencies of the band.
Listening to Bad Frequencies was a completely throwback for me. Honestly, the last time I really listened to Hawthorne Heights was back when "Ohio Is For Lovers" was on MTV and getting radio play. But this album is something that definitely doesn't seem to fit in 2018, and it is a bit concerning since the band seems to still be producing a sound that was so popular back about 2006-2008. Personally, I really enjoyed this album; mostly because it's the music that I enjoyed and listened to all through high school. But is this something that the younger generations will grasp onto? I think that anyone that grew up with the same music taste as I did would really appreciate Bad Frequencies and all of its emo/screamo glory.
Bad Frequencies is available right now here.
Also, Hawthorne Heights are currently on tour and you can check out their tour dates over on their website!
Watch the video for “Push Me Away” off the new album: