HOLLOW SIN

The opening track from this English rock/metal band starts in a promising way but quickly shows its limitations, falling into clichés rather than dynamics which is a shame as my first few seconds were spent looking forward to some pumping metal. That’s not to say this has nothing going for it and, as a demo, it gets better and more interesting as it progresses with some great ideas (and guitaring) especially in track four ‘Blood From A Stone’. There’s no denying in frontman Andrew that Hollow Sin have one hell of a vocalist and this may help elevate them higher. What does let this demo down, though, is the production in a flat tubthumping cardboard toms and bass drum way and a slightly cheap guitar sound on the heavier bits. I think that with a real fat and modern production Hollow Sin have a chance at showing their true worth and that is passion, which does fortunately come across from this demo. They certainly have an honesty for real metal which does feel refreshing in an age where everyone else is trying to mix and cross-over styles! If you want a handle on where they are coming from then I would put them musically in the same place as Breed 77 for their melody inspired metalness. Ultimately this is a band with potential but need a big production to bring the songs alive and help push them further.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released Demo

EP

VACANT TRANSGRESSION

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

22:08

RELEASE DATE:

2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Hurricane
2) Fated Consequences
3) Shell
4) Blood From A Stone
5) Calling

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"They certainly have an honesty for real metal which does feel refreshing in an age where everyone else is trying to mix and cross-over styles."