The King Is Dead is the newest release from Sacramento, California's Hoods. This band has been making hardcore music for a decade and with this album they showcase all they have learned from non-stop touring and 10 years of practice.
This is classic hardcore in an effort to keep hardcore from being "exploited and bastardized." This album accomplishes that and improves upon their 2003 release, Pray For Death. Sharp guitars and catchy riffs keep this album afloat and showcases Hoods' maturity in the brevity of the album, providing the listener with more steak and less fat.
The first track, and the album's namesake, starts hard and fast and is telling of the tracks to follow. This song is among all but one that are written by Mike Hood, the driving force behind Hoods. With the exception of "This Time," Hoods poignantly conveys the angst most teenagers and people (who accidentally smash their finger with a hammer) feel.
Ben Garcia, vocalist for Hoods, delivers each song with gut and heart-wrenching accuracy. The song "Ernie Cortez" is a great example of this and possibly the best track on the album. Garcia also chips in on the lyrics for several of the tracks, though all the usual bases are covered: I don't give a fuck about anyone, I hate everyone, I trust no one - seems like someone likes to talk about himself a little too much.
The smooth transition from song to song and the range of each track (throwing in some punkcore and metal here and there) make this album one to be played from start to finish. Though you might ponder what Hoods have had to be mad about for the last 10 years, hardcore followers will be happy with the result, especially if they are fans of Hatebreed and Bury Your Dead. That is if you can be happy and listen to hardcore simultaneously.
Standout songs: "Ernie Cortez" and "The King is Dead"
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