Hawthorne Heights – Fragile Future

Victory Records . 4/18/2005 . written by Oliver

Ohio-Pop-/screamo Rockers Hawthorne Heights caused a lot of attention, when the media announced that they had dropping a lawsuit against Victory records. Rumors said, that major labels tried to help to get on their label, but Victory co-founder Tony Brummel forced the band down to their contract to record another two albums for Victory records. Judge James Moran decided that Victory records does not hold exclusive rights to the bands recording process. Hawthorne sued Brummel in August 2007 acusing him to damage the bands reputation trough intransparent marketing strategies. Brummel fought back and sued EMI and Virgin records, who interfered in the contract between Victory and Hawthorne Heights. In 2008 the band is back on Victory records, who forced the band to serve their contract. Unfortunately Hawthorne Heights guitarist and shouter Casey Calvery was found dead in 2007 in the tourbus. Rumours was told, that Casey has taken drugs, but drummer Eron Bucciarelli announced that Calvert was taking legal medicine and had an overdose from a recent root canal. After some time off the band started to write some new material.Although they was thinking of replacing Calvert trough another shouter, the band decided not to do so. Today theire music sounds a lot like Spitalfield and Acceptance now, which is not bad. I really like the new style. Shouting passages got replaced trough stronger bass-, guitar- and synthesizer parts. The title “Fragile Future” reflects the bands situation, which is not quiete clear now. Time has to show, how fans will evaluate the new change in their music now. On “Four Became One” the band focuss on the lost of Casey Calvert, who was not only a mate but a deep friend. In general the new record has become more mature and the guitar parts more stronger; but the release has lost some power trough having no shouting-elements to find in their music any more. This is good on one hand, because I am sick of all this Screamo music, but it is bad on the other hand, because Hawthore Heights was known for their ability to cross bittersweet vocals with true aggression. I like the new record. Fans have to decide, what future will look like.

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Rank: (4 out of 5)

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