Review Summary: Jersey hardcore with trading vocals, frantic bass lines, kick ass drumming and killer riffs.
Hundreds of AU is a hardcore/screamo band from New Jersey which is my homeland and I am proud to say that. These guys have an unmatched energy at their live shows and on their newest release Communications Link Re-established. Yes, this album came out last year in May of 2018 so I am a bit late to the party but I am beyond glad to have stumbled upon somehow. Don’t remember how but it doesn’t matter. These guys kick some serious ass.
I don’t know all that much about this band or their background apart from the fact that they hail from New Jersey. Their sound is similar to that of Off Minor (without the jazz influence), Orchid and Neil Perry just to name a few. Great riffs play throughout this EP backed by awesome drumming and frantic bass lines. Another notable aspect of their sound is their vocal trading in verses and choruses which is done extremely well.
From start to finish this is an excellent record coming in at only 18 minutes. It’s short but sweet and they waste no time in their execution. Not a single filler track can be found on here making it a fantastic experience. These guys seem to be very in touch with their sound and know exactly what they want to do on record because there is absolutely no fat on this joint. Just a lot of feedback, tons of raw riffs and in-your-face classic hardcore. It’s hard to pick standouts on this thing because of how consistently solid it is. The opener Deflection Arts starts with a few seconds of high pitched feedback just to come in to full attack mode with a series of riffs that make you want to flip your desk over and curse off your boss right there and then. After the first 30 seconds or so a different set of riffs follow that caught me completely off guard as I was also welcomed by a different vocalist. Both vocalists then come together for the last 20 seconds in epic fashion which is really reminiscent of some Off Minor tunes from Innominate. And wow, holy s**t, that was only the opener?
The album pretty much keeps the same tone throughout which is absolutely fine considering its absurdly short run time. You do get a break from the screaming sessions on the tracks Observer and Signature. These tracks have killer opening instrumental sequences that show the band’s versatility and hopefully their future possible experimentation with instrumental parts like these. Besides these instrumental progressions, most tracks are separated by interludes of high pitched feedback which is alright but overall uninspired. Of course, it is only what separates the tracks from each other but when it’s happening between every song it gets a bit old. Runneth Full Stage 2, the fifth track, while extremely short offers some of the most frantic riffage that the EP has to offer. Around the 30 second mark you are bombarded with an assault of guitar chords in rapid succession that sounds like the equivalent of achieving a triple S rank in one of the Devil May Cry games.
Hundreds of AU’s first EP is a great release and will positively put these dudes on a lot of hardcore fan’s radars. Ever since hearing this EP it has been consistently played in my car, at the gym and just about anywhere I go. I will be extremely excited to hear from these guys in the future as it is evident in their sound that they have a lot to offer. Give it a listen and see for yourselves. You will not regret it.
Standouts:
Deflection Arts
Tell Us
Observer
Sharing the Spotlight
Live shows are also f**king insane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udzbnqgCaAM
Bandcamp:
https://hundredsofau.bandcamp.com/album/communications-link-re-established
