Review Summary: From Our Hands seem to be ready to conquer the world with their sophomore album, which is surprisingly good in all areas, and is worth a listen!
First of all – I'm sure that 99% of you guys have never heard about this band. So, let’s start off with a quick introduction. From Our Hands is a four piece rock/punk rock band from Bratislava, Slovakia. So far, they have released 2 full length albums, both on the label XProduction. Over the past 2 years, they have shared the stage with bands like Yellowcard, Anberlin, The Blackout, We Are The Ocean, August Burns Red, From Autumn To Ashes, and VersaEmerge. They played 2 sold out back-to-back shows with Sum41 in Prague, and participated twice in the big Rock For People festival. All of their songs and lyrics are in English.
Now you may ask, „What sets apart these guys from everyone else, why should I even check them out?“ Well, I have a easy answer for you – the lyrics, the intensity, the musicianship in From Our Hands‘ releases is so unique and refreshing for the whole punk-rock genre/scene, these guys are like a gem waiting to be discovered. I will post some youtube links in the comments so you can check ‘em out before reading.
Now let's get over to the actual review for the bands‘ sophomore album – Sinners. It contains 10 songs, 2 of which were chosen as singles. What caught my eye the most on this album were the lyrics. They are really well written, not full of clichés (like many other similar bands), and surprising, considering these guys know English as their 2nd language. The musicianship is also on a very high level, Turcer provides the occasional solo or two, but the riffs are far from mediocre all over the album. Lead singer M.Hotka has a interesting voice that will not bore you over time. Overall, the recording quality is impressive and showcases From Our Hands‘ talent to write good, catchy songs. Consistency is also shown here – the album does not have a soft spot, every song is just great and different from the last one.
Sinners starts off with Someone Like Me, which is a great choice. Only a few seconds of a „intro“, and the song kicks in, with full strength. The second song, Bad to the Bone, is one of the highlights of the album. It's a good example of the aforementioned lyrical and musical talent of FOH. Third in line is Eye for an Eye, which starts off with a booming gang vocal, and is one of the heavier songs on the record. I guarantee you will start nodding your head subconsciously to the rhythm after a while. On The Ground - the second single, comes 4th. This slower ballad shows a different side of FOH – the mellow verses and the exploding chorus fit together nicely. It's probably the saddest song on the record, lyrically being about reflecting on your life, and what impact you leave on others.
On tracks 5 – The Devil, and 6-The Razor, From Our Hands continue to build up the momentum for the 7th song and the first single – The Noise. One of the most memorable songs by FOH – it contains everything a good punk rock song should have. The good lyrics, riffs, and fast paced drumming is topped off with a sweet guitar solo. Klimos’ solid bass playing can also be heard here. Next is the title track – Sinners, which slows the tempo down a bit. It's like a call to arms for every fan out there, and the lyrics won't let anyone just stand still at any of their live shows.
"All your filthy killers
Raise your hands against the sky
For one last time
All the lonely mothers
Left by child and fathers
Think what you have done
But you don’t understand why"
Number 9 means Changes, a song that starts off slow, but later develops a faster pace with Hotka singing “You can buy love for a dollar / Faith for a day / In this awkward place”. To top the whole thing off, the last song on the album is called Till We Die. A true punk rock anthem, it’s one of the most craziest songs on the record, with a strong lyrical message.
From Our Hands is:
M. Hotka – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
M.Turcer – backup vocals, solo guitar
R. Klimo – backup vocals, bass
M. Simonic – drums
