Hills Of Elysium: This Lost Generation

There's much to admire about Seattle based Hills Of Elysium, with a solid fanbase built up organically through live shows and their ever present social networking. Then there's the band's get up and do it attitude which also finds This Lost Generation being the band's second self financed release. Add to that the "pay what you feel like" approach that allows you to choose your price for a digital copy of this album and there's no doubt that HoE are both in this for the long haul and willing to put their neck's on the line to make a real success of their mix of gothic, modern-metal pop.

What is, so far, missing however is that real killer song that could catapult this band of two girls and three guys into a greater public arena. Like their approach to marketing the band certainly give it their everything, but for all their efforts, most of This Lost Generation falls just ever so slightly short. None of it is bad and for the price of a few dollars from their site (yes I know they are offering it for free, but c'mon, they gotta eat!), this album is a worthy investment, just don't expect to be blown out of your seat by what the Hills are offering up. Not yet anyway, as while the likes of "Chemical Warfare", "Hey Kids! (It's Cool Now)" and "Social Media Depressive" don't quite hit the mark, they do hint at greater things.

Ironically enough, one of the main things that Hills Of Elysium could do to take that step, is stop trying just quite as hard on the musical front as they do with every other aspect of the band. Front-woman September Garland has bags of spirit, but when she bursts into a scream, the effect is more that of tantrum throwing children, than aggressive social commentator. Those very attempts to sound quite so threatening are the very thing that undermines the impact. However when she concentrates on a more individual delivery as on the ever pulsating "Stipend To Die", the proof is there that things can lock tightly into place. The twin guitar attack of Vibeke Stolan and Joshua Cannaday grind and growl throughout, although truly memorable riffs are few and far between, while the gurgling bass and smack of drums from Matthew Herrin and Valdemar Huguet actually proves to be the glue holding the whole thing together. The only song I would single out for criticism is "Girl With A Microphone", with the gentle guitar and vocal that brings a close to the album being wide of the mark. Instead of wrapping up the social commentary that the rest of this release is intended to relate, it sounds just a little too self indulgent and there's no doubt that the sentiment would have made a far greater impact in less stark surrounds.

Far from a classic, yet far, far from a disaster, Hills Of Elysium have with This Lost Generation set a foundation from which to build. It will be interesting to discover whether what they construct crumbles quickly, or stands long and proud. If their dedication is anything to go by, it will be the latter.

Track Listing
1. This Lost Generation
2. Chemical Welfare
3. Dead Birds Fall In Arkansas
4. On The Fringe
5. Hey, Kids! (It's Cool Now)
6. Louder
7. Social Media Depressive
8. The Artists & The Architects
9. Stipend To Die
10. One Last Round
11. Girl With A Microphone

Added: August 18th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Hills Of Elysium Official Website
Hits: 2700
Language: english

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