Achilles – Hospice

Why are these guys not on Hydra Head records? Seriously, why? If anyone from that label so happens to read this, please do me a great favour and explain to me why you have yet to pick up Achilles. They’re exactly what you need. Now, it’s no big secret that the big double H is my favourite label in terms of output. They’ve introduced me to some of my favourite bands whose albums, to this day, I still rotate quite heavily and while they’re repositioned themselves into a larger foray of noise bands then ever before, they still release some of the most refreshing music I’ve heard in a long time.

I guess one of the reasons I like Achilles so much is because of their nostalgia factor. Instantly this band reminds me of every band I cherish so much. They’ve got the in-your-face intensity/complexity of Botch; they utilize and master stop/start aspects so prevalent in the music of Coalesce; a controlled sense of melody, much like Converge; and they top all this up with the atmospheric tendencies of older Cave In and Isis. I don’t think it’s possible for anyone who’s been even remotely interested in the 90’s Hydra Head output to dislike this band.

Yeah, yeah, name drop central. Let’s get to the actual music, shall we? Hospice instantly rips open with a friendly “hello”, a neck grabbing shout of “My own pathetic devices/ entangle my hopes/ turn my dreams around” by a seemingly agitated Rory Vangrol. Achilles sound like a band with the urgency of each song being their last. Where on previous albums, they’ve tinkered and experimented in a type of metalcore that was interesting, but merely a drop in a vast ocean, Hospice sounds like a completely new beast. Their sound is far more rooted in hardcore then metal, though that doesn’t mean it’s not heavy by any means, instead it’s intelligent; they’ve lowered the complexity so that it feels cohesive, instead of overbearing, yet still managing to pay homage to all the bands mentioned above. They’re the economical counterpart.

The only problem that could be worth mentioning is that, while these songs are fresh in their genre, they do manage to blend together at parts, causing a bit of confusion. However, those moments are kept to a minimum.

So far, this is my heavy album of the year and I have no hesitation considering this for a top ten spot. It’s exactly what I needed to hear in a new band to give me hope for the hardcore/metal scene. More bands should take a look at what Achilles is doing and follow suit.

” Wake up, wake up. We’re losing everything!” there is truth in that statement.