A new arrival on the metal scene in 2023, Bath based HollowKin have a sound that doesn’t pull any punches. They’re an impressively heavy unit, but unlike some of their would-be peers, they’re not just content with exploring a perfect metalcore sound, or driving forth with a world of thrash riffs which pay homage to their heroes and influences. The five tracks which make up their 2024 debut draw from a broad array of metallic fare, taking in intensive prog metal, groove metal and a pinch of doom and hardcore, along with a whole world of metalcore, creating something that’s sometimes familiar, but always without compromise.

Following an extended intro featuring sampled voices and intermittent notes from a clean toned guitar (‘Tomorrow At Dawn’), ‘A Pilgrimage’ crashes in, with a sledgehammer heaviness. It’s mid tempo actually makes the crunchy riffs sound even more intense, as if they’re pounding against an unbreakable surface, and things get even tougher once a rasping vocal adds an extra layer of anger. Although these elements would create a great track, HollowKin go the extra mile, working in quieter, almost gothic moments which recycle the guitar parts from ‘Tomorrow At Dawn’. These quieter elements sound very atmospheric when heard beneath the kind of hardcore vocal you might find on an early Bring Me The Horizon LP, without taking too much away from the track’s obvious heaviness. That’s a world of great riffs, even before finding time for a chorus section that explores a moody prog metal stance, where a huge crooned voice challenges the previous roar for dominance, while the drums add a burst of pneumatics. As an introduction to HollowKin’s mix of metalcore and fierce prog metal, this track is more than effective, but it’s fair to say there are even better tunes to be found here.

An EP standout, ‘Leech’ finds the band applying a very aggressive sound to another interesting, complex arrangement which pushes their chosen genre forward. From the moment the number opens with a synth drone and a guitar riff that hints at a cross between nu metal and classic thrash, it has a sense of impending brutality. Any feeling of unease is not misplaced since, at the moment the heaviness kicks in, the band go all out in terms of pure aggression. Via a burst of unrelenting pneumatics, the listener is thrown into a world where bits of thrash meet with swathes of metalcore, but it’s soon clear that HollowKin aren’t content with being lumped in with a world of similar acts. For the chorus, they bring an unexpected burst of melody where a soaring vocal is joined by a much smoother riff which draws elements of prog metal and the post-metal sound of the much missed Awooga, and this heavy, melodic approach really allows the listener an opportunity to be absorbed by a huge sound. Switching back to the heavier grooves, a few of the vocals adopt a relentless hardcore edge and the drums power against the guitars with a real intent. Overall, this is a smart slab of metal that shows off some really tight musicianship.

The gothic drones used to open ‘The Devil In Your Garden’ signify something slightly different again as the band teases with a love of doom, before launching into a brilliant metalcore riff that’s peppered with an industrial edge. The sharp edges here are perfect for a dual vocal to do battle with a deep growl and a harsh yelp attacking each other. In keeping with ‘A Pilgrimage’, there’s a huge melody brought in to drive a great chorus, and it’s hard to ignore the admiration for Mike Patton that inspires a massive, dark sounding croon. The sequence of groove-laden mechanics and alternative metal hook repeats, and then everything becomes more intense thanks to a razor edged middle eight where HollowKin drop into a blast of hardcore, similar to that which brought Dillinger Escape Plan cult stardom. In terms of a heavy track with a finely tuned melodic hook, this is almost perfect, which allows for a slightly more abrasive style to drive the set closer ‘In Heresy’. For this final tune, listeners are dropped into a world where hardcore riffs are sometimes offset by death metal vocals, whilst various technical elements sound as if bits of an old Linkin Park tune are being smothered by a groove-death act. For those who crave a more obvious melody, another croon-filled hook brings more fine alternative metal, and a cinematic coda places echoing choirs over a harmonic guitar drone, before a mid tempo drum part drives a heavy riff that evokes a little more of a classic hardcore sound. It’s almost as if HollowKin have wedged all of their influences into these four minutes, but it’s to their eternal credit that everything works together very naturally.

By adding a few dark, proggy twists and a nod or two to Faith No More to some particularly uncompromising metalcore arrangements, HollowKin have hit upon an epic sound. This debut is never easy going, but it’s rarely anything less than thrilling. It’s the work of a band set to smash everything in their path, and if this concoction of heaviness has any moments that are likely to be smoothed out as the band becomes a little more mature, then it really doesn’t show. Overall, this is a great first outing – heavy, complex, angry, even strangely atmospheric in a couple of places. In terms of a well rounded showcase of brutality, this has it all, making ‘Confessions & Failures’ a highly recommended listen.

October 2024