Having taken a major step up career-wise after impressing Goo Goo Dolls vocalist/bassist Robby Takac enough to get some valuable recording time at his studio, Hearts & Hand Grenades have finally progressed from EPs to this fully fledged debut album.
Positioned as a hard rock outfit, H&HG really sound like they’d be happier as a full-on metal band, judging by the crunchy riffing here; tracks like Adrenaline, For The Weakened and My Sickness possess pleasant chugging echoes of mid-paced Metallica and Judas Priest and leave you wishing the production would add just a bit more heft and heaviness
Bravely aiming for some variety and sophistication, In The Crowd combines minimal verses with whip-crack rocking choruses, while I Hide is less successful, the lightweight verses just too longwinded before the chorus payoff.
Solid melodic heavy rock that could go further.
