Review Summary: Gimmicks aside, the music is not terrible but also not good. If you are a fan of this band, then pick up the album as you have heard this band for six other albums. If you do not like this band, stay far away from this.
Band: (Hed) P.E.
Album: New World Orphans
Label: Suburban Noize
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/hedpe">Myspace</a>
Rating: 2/5
Gimmick bands are some of the most hated bands around, and it is not because of their music. In the case of (Hed) P.E., they are the self proclaimed leaders of "The Truth Movement". In reality, this gimmick of theirs is very played out, and their music would not be as bad if they dropped the gimmick and wrote lyrics about other subjects.
The album starts off with, that is right you guessed it, a clip talking about politics and a new world order. After that you get a second short song where Jared's vocals sound like ***. After a while the guitars come in with a punk riff. The best thing about the album is the drums and they are showcased very early on the album in the song "
Live or Die Free". Jared should stop screaming because his voice seems like it can not take it anymore. He is definitely better off sticking with singing and trying to rap. I think the band as a whole would benefit from Jared leaving, but than we would not have those bright spots like when he sings on the first single "
Ordo (ab Chao)".
The lyrics all concern politics and even go as far as to be outdated; this album was set to be released in October so there are a few instances where they talk about the "upcoming" election. Not to say the lyrics are bad, they are decent at best for the most part, but maybe some diversity please? The guitarists are never given a chance to showcase any skills they may or may not have. This is really a shame as the band's whole world appears to revolve around Jared. What we are able to see is some good riffs keeping the songs together that allow this album to be an average album musically.
I now want to hit the song that everyone knows should had never made it past the demo stage, "
Stepping Stone". Really? Did this song really need to be on the album guys? REALLY!?!? Let us move off the lyrical content and realize he rhymed "err" with itself around three times. Not to mention that it's yet another song with a sound clip. While we are on the subject of songs not needed on this album, why are there five ***ing intros? Is this a mixtape or something? Two would do just fine guys; we do not need five songs where we know it will be a sound clip about who the government is failing America or how they are not even humans.
Gimmicks aside, the music is not terrible but also not good. There are three versions of this album, each with different cover art with just the sky a different color and different bonus tracks. If you pick up this album, go for the Black version over the White and Red, as the black version features the track "
Bucky Lasek". If you are a fan of this band, then pick up the album as you have heard this band for six other albums. If you do not like this band, stay far away from this.
Recommended Songs: Stay Ready (Featuring Dirtball), Renegade, Work On This (Featuring TECH N9NE)
