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Review Summary: A really dated crunkcore album with the occasional flourish that elevates it above its predecessors, only for those hopes to be annihilated by Charlie Scene. A vulgar and immature act by large, Hollywood Undead are one of the very few surviving crunkcore artists characterized by sexual lyrics with little subtlety and the occasional metalcore influence. With the release of 2020's 'New Empire Vol. 1,' they leaned heavier into that influence, showcasing some genuine growth, yet the second volume would show the band regress once more towards their roots. 2022's 'Hotel Kalifornia' was not expected to reinvent the wheel, but could one genuinely hope that this widely reviled artist could make strides forward on their eighth studio album?
To put it simply, this album is nothing more than the aggregate of the elements of each of their albums to date. Opening song "Chaos" features some of the heavier aspects of their sound, which is continued with a breakdown towards the end of "World War Me," whilst that latter example also shows the band revert to type with the poor rap flows and simple uninspired beats. It even features some level of Dr. Dre plagiarism. "I'll never change," is declared in the hook, and this is certainly the case with this artist. "Ruin My Life" takes the album to rock bottom, with a truly uninspired dance beat and some of the worst lyrics in their entire back catalogue. The autotuned chorus is so laughable, so cringe-worthy, that it becomes hard to take any of the tough-guy posturing the band scatters throughout their works with any degree of seriousness. "Wild In The Streets" is one of those tracks, where it is declared that Johnny will "break their necks" alongside other parts of "their" anatomy, yet the band really do sound pathetic throughout moments like these; a collection of Peter Pan's who couldn't ever grow up.
Not everything on this album is completely devoid of interest, however. "Reclaim" opens with a Linkin Park-style vocal moment, before Johnny's rapped verse begins with an air of confidence and focus missing throughout most tracks here. The chorus isn't too terrible either, and the hard-rock riffing actually serves a purpose instead of feeling tacked on to appeal to a wider demographic. "Dangerous" contains a riff that would not sound out of place on a Black Stone Cherry album, and whilst the rapped verses suck, the repetition of that one riff in the chorus alongside the chants of "so dangerous, dangerous," help elevate it... until Charlie starts rapping later on. Basically, everything Charlie Scene ever puts into the Hollywood Undead discography becomes some of the worst material out there, as the guy has no charisma, no flow, and is the worst writer of the bunch. He single-handedly kills off "Dangerous" the moment he opens his mouth.
'Hotel Kalifornia' is an album that showcases yet more stagnancy in an already tired, worn-out sound that only really had a place in the music industry a decade ago, when crunkcore and scene kids were rife. Tracks like "Hourglass" and that riff in "Dangerous" provide a little credit for an album that otherwise would receive none. I don't recommend this to anybody. For anyone wanting a half-listenable Hollywood Undead experience, 'American Tragedy' is the only one worth any time at all, as their most recent album is filled with all the usual issues with this style of music. I guess the only thing to be grateful here is that the sexual lyricism of their earlier works is kept to a merciful minimum.
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I wasn't especially excited for this album, but I enjoyed American Tragedy and a few songs from their debut, so bought and braved it. It's not the worst thing i've ever heard, but still stay away from it other than the couple of highlights mentioned in the review.
For the record, Charlie Scene is literally the worst vocalist ever to exist, and thats including the other fruitcakecore nonsense.
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Make yourself known then ghost negger :D
Honestly feel this is one of my stronger reviews to date
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I'll admit up front, Hollywood Undead is a guilty pleasure for me, so I'm slightly biased...but Charlie carries this band half the time, so I'd argue against him being the worst vocalist. That's unrelated to this as I haven't gotten through it all yet, but currently it sounds like more of the same.
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thanks skele
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"thanks skele" Did you neg then? Honestly its fine either way, im not about to be a dick on here over it, im genuinely here to be quite relaxed. But I would still rather know whose negging the hell outta me because I honestly feel, without being arrogant, my reviews are better than half the front page material these days. Sure, theres issues, but they aint awful. Edit - Ive actually survived like 8 months without upsetting anyone or being a cock this time, so surely that shows how serious i am now
"
I'll admit up front, Hollywood Undead is a guilty pleasure for me, so I'm slightly biased...but Charlie carries this band half the time, so I'd argue against him being the worst vocalist. That's unrelated to this as I haven't gotten through it all yet, but currently it sounds like more of the same."
I just feel hes ridiculously cringey. I just remember the "got a mean boner from a Charlie Scene poster" bar from earlier in their career. Shit sucked.
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"I just feel hes ridiculously cringey."
I mean, yeah, they all are, let's be honest lol. But again, this is probably my nostalgia and whatnot kicking in. Finally finished it all and it's nothing special. It's "fine", for what it is.
However, I agree that your review was well written (and voted so). Keep on keeping on.
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Thank you Squizzy. I genuinely liked American Tragedy, although I can go no higher than a 3 Purely because of how cringey and Blood On The Dance Floor Ish it feels lyrically at times, but it was a solid album
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Not sure if I grew out of them or they just got worse because this does nothing for me. I enjoyed the first like 3 releases and not much since. This is mostly boring.
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THEYVE G0T REALLY P00R 0VER THE YEARS SADLY
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
NOT SURPRISING
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WHAT ISNT
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"im genuinely here to be quite relaxed."
This is how it always starts.
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"This is how it always starts."
I know but usually i dont last 8 months, because I get angry the second someone aint treat me the same. Not happening this time man, im here for the music. For instance I asked for this to be featured, it wasnt and another review was that was submitted later. Thats not an issue for me, im just getting my head down and preparing another review. Sooner or later theres a small chance ill win the site back over and if not, well Im not losing sleep over it.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
Bad aldumb stinky poo
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
Wow this sucks
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Hollywood Undead couldn’t be anything better than dookie, unfortunately. 💩
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
they were serviceable during that one period where they posed as a legit rock band i guess lmfao
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Honestly this feels like b-sides from Five with ever so slightly more tasty riffs and production.
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