Abandon All Hope ‘Hell/Hopeless’
As the Chinese year of the snake finishes, allowing all to shed their skin, the year of the horse arrives. A year where possibilities are endless and nothing is unachievable. Returning from their own wilderness, leaner, meaner and sharper than ever before as the year tips over, are South Australia’s Abandon All Hope.
The two track teaser release of Hell/Hopeless, a precursor to more delectable cuts, underpins the bands claim to be one of the scenes original metalcore/hardcore masters. Yet these tracks are much darker than before.
Track one, Hell, tells the tale of a pseudo hangman in hell who spits vile and hatred at someone who has killed multiple people. In gruesome detail, the lyrics paint the torture that will unfold to a backdrop of nerve shredding riffs. It makes Dante’s Inferno seem like a child’s book.
The music is dark, harrowing and dynamic. The drops will rattle your speakers and any venues this is performed in. Vocalist Micah Leinonen plays the role of the executioner like he was born into it.
Track two of the double release, Hopeless, sonically is more expansive and rising, while still holding onto its rage. Lyrically it’s a juxtaposition of content, as it talks about fighting your darkest demons, overcoming them and becoming tall, powerful and successful.
The rhythm section of David McArthur and Chris Whitbread pummelling the space between your ears, as the guitars from Shaan Kelly and Jake Battista hit your chest like a defibrillator jerking you back to life.
Abandon All Hope have been away a while and judging on this release, and on the back of a triumphant return with Bleeding Through, this year promises to be more of a gallop than a trot for these thoroughbred musicians. Forgot year of the horse, it’s the year of Abandon All Hope.
Review By Iain McCallum
