Review Summary: Like lemonade on a hot day, sure we've all had lemonade, but its still refreshing
Hold Your Horse Is are a three piece post-hardcore/ math rock band coming out of the UK. They took their band name from
Hella’s first LP, but that’s where the similarities end for the most part. I stumbled upon (not literally) this band by accident looking for some news footage of the
Glassjaw New Years’ show, they had a video of “You Show Up” featured on the site and I don’t normally watch random videos but that day I was feeling curious. Am I ever glad I did because if they aren’t featured on this site I pretty much don’t hear about any new good bands.
After hearing the single I went to their website and downloaded it for free. After a long search and an accidental download of
Hella’s LP by the same name I decided to purchase their EP from the website, which is a rarity for me when I’ve only heard one song.
The lead single and the video that caught my attention was the first track “You Show Up”. The crisp guitars and catchy chorus show what the band is all about, and they do it well. “You show up” is them at their most accessible and the EP only gets better from there. The next few tracks show their heavier/math rock side but still manage to make it catchy. “Starts and Ends” is the shortest and weakest track on the EP but doesn’t ruin the momentum. “Casual” is the most creative and formula bending track on the record and is their version of a ballad. It starts off slow and emotional only to explode into the heaviest/ Mathiest instrumental section on the entire EP. The last track is a perfect way to end it, probably my favourite song on the album showing off the best of everything they can offer.
I am not claiming this band reinvented the wheel, but they are a welcome addition to my CD collection and to the Post-hardcore/ Math rock genre. Something about them feels fresh, maybe because they just do everything right and it is only their first EP.
Best tracks: “Mackerel Jackson”
“Welcome to Obscurity”
Overall: 4 out of 5
