HELL OR HIGHWATER – Begin Again

Label: Pavement Entertainment, Inc.

Release Date: February 5, 2013

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: ToddStar

“Honestly, I was never a fan of Atreyu.”  That is the first thought that runs through my head when I read the press release for this disc.  That being said, I am always trying out new bands and genres.  Maybe I shouldn’t let this disc slide by based on my own close minded view of Atreyu.  Worse case scenario is I waste 40 minutes with this playing in the background.  “Gimme Love” jump starts with a great rock riff and monster drumming.  This just might be worth the next 40 minutes.  The vocals kick in and this is far from what I experienced and was disappointed in regarding vocalist Brandon Saller’s previous band.  This is really good.  “Hail Mary” comes in gently and soon starts up full blown rocker.  The track is different from the previous track, but only in that it gives you a look into another facet and style of the band.  “Terrorized In the Night” keeps the  energy and quality up.  The guitar work is all rock and roll, as is the solid time keeping from the rhythm section.  The vocals are also very good on this track.  This is slowly becoming a damn good disc.  Next is up on this disc is “Tragedy.”  This track relies heavily on the guitar work of Matt Pauling and Neal Tiemann.  The vocals are on par with the rest of the disc to this point, but the dueling guitar work is really good and lets this track stand out.  “Find the Time to Breath” puts the rock back on this record.  The tribal drumming and thumping bass line create a great base for this track.  The vocals and guitars add to it, but may not have been as strong without the start from the rhythm section.  “Rock Waters Edge” has a really different flavor to it, but don’t shut it down yet.  This has a cool vibe that adds depth to the disc.  This is up there as one of my favorites on the disc, and it is one of the more mellow tunes thus far.

Honestly, any track that features Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows is going to be a winner in my book.  The next track, “Go Alone,” is no different, but is totally different at the same time.  This has a western feel to it.  Not Kenny Rogers or Conway Twitty western, just a dirty bluesy western feel.  The chorus is all rock, but everything else is really cool.  “When the Morning Comes” opens up with some great fret work and continues with a cool guitar line that keeps the track light.  The vocals and groove of the track keep it pointed in the right direction.  This is another of my favorites.  “Crash & Burn” has a cool punk vibe to it when the guitars come charging in and the drumming from Captain Carl is all killer and no filler.  If you close your eyes, you can see the drummer just killing his drum kit, based on the pounding that is going on.  The guitar solo is cool too.  The balladish “Come Alive” is next, but don’t be fooled.  This isn’t a ballad in the more common sense of the term.  It is just starts off like that.  Soon you are ass deep in another rocker that stands up to every other track on the disc.  Disc closer “We All Wanna Go Home” is a final shot by the band to highlight each aspect of this disc, whether it is Brandon’s vocals, the guitar tandem of Pauling and Tiemann, bassist Joey Bradford, and drummer Captain Carl.

Do yuorself a favor when you pick this one up or buy it in download form – get the version with bonus tracks.  I am not going to shed any light on these, but trust me when I tell you they are worth the extra money!!!

Category: CD Reviews