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Hella: There's No 666 In Outer Space

It's interesting to find bands like Hella - for this is the kind of group that definitely shows a level of influence by bands such as Primus more than anything else you will find on the modern scene. It's easy to notice this based on the level of heavy experimentation and complex time signatures that appear on every track on the album. There is nothing predictable about their sound, and while at times it looks to confuse - it is instead a very well-thought out mayhem. There are many who refer to this brand of music as Mathcore or Nintendo (which is a term I am still not catching at all) but I did feel that through it all there is definitely a lot of tasty rhythms and patterns that will impress any fan of that Avant-Garde/Experimental side of Rock. It takes a couple of listens to appreciate what is going on, but as a result you will find yourself getting a little more in sync with the guys. The band is comprised of Zach Hill, Josh Hill, Aaron Ross, Carson McWhirter and Spencer Seim. Zack and Spencer were band mates since High School and Josh is Zach's cousin. The bands goal was to play a less conventional form of music and the name is simply a common slang term used in Northern California. Fans of bands like Mars Volta, System Of A Down and of course anything by Les Claypool should enjoy what Hella is doing.


Track Listing

  1. World Series
  2. Let Your Heavies Out
  3. The Ungratefull Dead
  4. Friends Don't Let Friends Win
  5. The Things That People do when They Think No One's Looking
  6. Hand That Rocks The Cradle
  7. 2012 And Countless
  8. Anarchists Just Wanna Have Fun
  9. Dull Fangs
  10. Soundtrack To Insecurity
  11. There's No 666 In Outer Space

Added: January 15th 2007
Reviewer: Ken Pierce
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 3341
Language: english

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Hella: There's No 666 In Outer Space
Posted by Pete Pardo, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-01-15 19:22:06
My Score:

On Hella's latest release for Ipecac Recordings, There's No 666 in Outer Space, the band has expanded from a duo to a five piece, with original members Zach Hill (drums) and Spencer Seim (guitar) fleshing out the line-up and in the process giving the band a much fuller sound. New singer Aaron Ross helps give the complex nature of the songs here an added quirkiness, one that will remind many listeners of The Mars Volta. Each song is fairly lengthy, weaving many twisted yet melodic paths that touch on hard rock, prog, jazz fusion, metal, and avant-garde. Listening to the jangly bass riffs from Carson McWhirter twirl around the intricate guitar lines and drum patterns instantly brought to mind Primus as well as King Crimson, while the oddball yet somewhat alluring vocal harmonies of "Friends Don't Let Friends Win" could almost pass for The Beatles on a wild acid trip.

There's really a lot going on here that will require repeated spins to fully digest and comprehend. With a myriad of instruments thrown into the mix, like guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, sax, and cello, Hella will keep you guessing till the end. One thing is for certain, There's No 666 In Outer Space is very much an avant-garde album, and one that will appeal to progressive rock fans. Take the quirkiness of The Mars Volta and the experimentalism of ISIS, and you'll have a good idea of where Hella are coming from.



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