Entering a new age of extreme creativity and innovation.
Pushing hardcore metal to the limits and setting new goals for bands fast lagging behind come Fear My Thoughts with their stunning innovation is metal, 'Hell Sweet Hell'. This album is fast becoming what may be the key to seeing limits within musical boundaries smashed to oblivion and new horizons being created. This is not just a new offering of the same old quality that you would expect from a band of their genre but a totally new breaking point in musical innovation and exploration. The sound is sonic and exploratory, pulling in more musical influences into its force field then what is usually considered to be desirable. This is quite simply, music without limitations.
After a sinister introduction that sets a dark and mysterious scene, the lead vocalist leads the magnetic appeal of this music into full force and sees a melodic fusion of symphonic, hardcore and gothic metal with a light aftertaste of punk. There is no real way to describe the general sound of this diverse band, the contrasting genres just work so well together that they create sound that is almost otherworldly, and they seem to overflow with a pure sense of energy, more so then they would if left unaccompanied.
To quote the press sheet that came with this CD, Fear My Thoughts take old and forgotten approaches to different genres of music that once stood proud on the scene and inject their old life-force and strength plus a little something extra, back into them. This fusion and approach to metal-core is a brave and extremely forward one to make in a time where nearly every hardcore band has a tendency to sound the same. In an era where music sees itself repeated, chewed over and spat out again to the point that most techniques are fast wearing thin, this is a refreshing innovation and one that is done extremely well as these sort of fusions are something that many artists attempt but fail to pull off properly.
'Windows For The Dead' sees symphonic metal's power married with tough yet surprisingly clear vocals that chant and rise above, moving with the chord progressions smoothly through the chorus. In this song the blend of different genres isn't as apparent as in some other tracks, but it still oozes the sheer appeal that Fear My Thoughts have for being so diverse and creating one of those choruses that remains in your head for hours after hearing the song. After the 3rd chorus, the guitars leap into collaboration, the lead maintaining a sad yet powerful riff over the top while the rhythm keeps a steady melodic fall of notes raining in the background, closing the track in style. 'In The Hourglass' displays ethnic influences as a melodic mode similar in sound to traditional Egyptian music echoes throughout as harmonic vocals wade through the complex swamp of interwoven instruments. This addition is effective for the mood of the song and does well to add a touch of mysticism to an already unique feel.
All the trademark signs of Death Metal are still retained within the music but they are blended so well with the power and hardcore aspects of the music that the sound results in a perfect hybrid breed of music that could easily stand on it's own as a separate genre. 'Sweetest Hell' follows along a similar theme as 'In The Hourglass' but has a lot more pronunciation in the notes with fewer genres mixed in, making the riffs themselves stand out so much more. The vocals here are also less melodic and much more gruff and grating However, they still boost much more clarity then many other metal-core bands and so once again rise above into a class of their own, chanting their power throughout a mystic and atmospheric chorus.
'Dying Eyes' is most certainly the highlight of the album, following the lead of such bands as Children Of Bodom and Wintersun by mixing raw and abrasive vocals with the pure speed and melodic power of melodic death metal while also tossing some power metal influence in too. Fast and bursting with complex key and guitar melodies that race each other through the choruses, 'Dying Eyes' shows off the full Scandinavian influence and generic potential of this band.
Showcasing Fear My Thought's ability to blend genres, styles and ideas together in such a way that makes them work in perfect harmony, 'Dying Eyes' is by far and away one of the recommended tracks that's bound to get this band he recognition and acclaim that they deserve. Injecting life into every dull and withered over-used musical technique in the book, Fear My Thoughts delve headfirst into a strange new era of metal and bring to the forefront the sheer magnificence and passion entailed within their music. With this pure offering of hellishly delicious music, Fear My Thoughts cannot fail to gain the worship that they are due, 'Hell Sweet Hell' is the long awaited revival of innovation and creativity on music.