HOLLOWSTAR
The latest act seemingly jumping on the sustained retro rock resurgent bandwagon of the past few years are Cambridgeshire quartet Hollowstar. And here we have the release of their latest single, 'All I Gotta Say', which follows last year's debut EP, 'Some Things Matter'. Just one track by which to judge these relative newcomers, although it's a corker, and I can happily report their place on the bandwagon is more than justified.
Clean guitar arpeggios characterise the verses, which give way to chunky riffage that's delivered with a whole ton of groove, before distorted chords resonate forth for the song's hook-tastic refrain. Guitar licks and brief solo spots are integrated within the song's fabric in a fluent rather than forced way; while transitions between tempo and rhythm changes have been finely crafted. Then there's the bass playing frontman Joe Bonson, whose voice is nicely balanced between the gruff and the smooth, and the laidback and the powerful.
At times, 'All I Gotta Say' treads the line between rock and metal, so this will undoubtedly appeal to retro rockers as well as those who thrive on something a little harder and heavier. The track's a clichéd little fucker, for sure, but when a composition is as astutely composed and performed as well as it has been here, then bring on the mimicry! If this bunch can maintain this level of compositional quality throughout all their material, their future will undoubtedly be a very promising one. These St. Ives folk are the real deal. That's all I gotta say!
Clean guitar arpeggios characterise the verses, which give way to chunky riffage that's delivered with a whole ton of groove, before distorted chords resonate forth for the song's hook-tastic refrain. Guitar licks and brief solo spots are integrated within the song's fabric in a fluent rather than forced way; while transitions between tempo and rhythm changes have been finely crafted. Then there's the bass playing frontman Joe Bonson, whose voice is nicely balanced between the gruff and the smooth, and the laidback and the powerful.
At times, 'All I Gotta Say' treads the line between rock and metal, so this will undoubtedly appeal to retro rockers as well as those who thrive on something a little harder and heavier. The track's a clichéd little fucker, for sure, but when a composition is as astutely composed and performed as well as it has been here, then bring on the mimicry! If this bunch can maintain this level of compositional quality throughout all their material, their future will undoubtedly be a very promising one. These St. Ives folk are the real deal. That's all I gotta say!
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Self-released
Single
ALL I GOTTA SAY
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
3:11
RELEASE DATE:
25th May 2018
TRACK LISTING
1) All I Gotta Say
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"If this bunch can maintain this level of compositional quality throughout all their material, their future will undoubtedly be a very promising one."
