Artist: Hymnosis
Title: Unmasking Faces
Type: EP
Label: self-released

Hymnosis are from Montreal, Canada. I’d say that essentially their music is technically-inclined brutal Metalcore. I found this 5 track EP interesting, enigmatic and frustrating. If I may start with the bad, I thought that the fourth track “You Reap What You Sow” was an aimless and unpleasant sounding cacophony with terrible harmonies and an unexpected and somewhat incongruous acoustic insertion. To their credit, Hymnosis are good at throwing in little hand grenades which stop to make you think and deflect from the view that they are just a raucous and aggressive Hardcore outfit. In fact the harsh aggression is worked well. Yet it doesn’t start like this at all. The EP begins with the title track and here Hymnosis show they have a talent for tight structure and technical melody with a prolonged and electrifying opening. As we head into the aggressive Hardcore strains, the sense of structure is challenged but the overall shape is still there as the track develops. The harmonies are good so I am at a loss as to why they were so terrible later on. Although less rounded in melodic terms, the energy flows. The second half of the excellent track “Unmasking Faces” has the air of someone punching their way out of a bag.

“How Dare You” and “Unconscious Suicide” are more in the style of new York Hardcore with a fair sprinkling of added aggression. They are good. In total contrast to the ghastly “You reap What You Sow”, the final track “Faithless” oozes depth and interest. It is a powerful, chunky and emotion-filled track, reminiscent and worthy of Killswitch Engage. But there’s more. Just as the EP began with disciplined and sophisticated musicianship, “Faithless” is capped off by a pulsating guitar section. The experience hasn’t been epic, or nor is it designed to be, but the end certainly is.

It’s clear that Hymnosis like to add elements to their brand of Hardcore and in doing so show that they have imagination and talent to add to the evident energy and aggression. Adding elements however is not the same as adding value. Some of “Unmasking Faces” is very good. Other parts are not so good. It’s not clear to me what Hymnosis were doing and I think that they might wish to package their music better and let us in on the secret next time.

http://www.myspace.com/hymnosismusic

Andrew Doherty

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