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HIFH - Neon Handshake
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by Rebeckah Pearce
  • Type: Album
  • Release date: 03/02/2003
  • Label: Chrysalis
With their much-anticipated debut album, Hell is for Heroes' have successfully combined killer riffs, distinctive vocals and strong melodies. And thankfully there's not the slightest whiff of Symposium in the air.

In fact its Placebo influences that are rife from the outset, most noticeably in the guitar riffs of ‘Five Kids Go’ and ‘Three of Clubs’, where mid-90s rock meets 21st Century ‘mojo’.

Of the crop, its ‘Out of Sight’ which is probably the most ‘nu-metal’ song on the album, although its strong drumming and killer bass line means that it is still a damn fine tune. Undeniably the best track though, is previous single ‘I Can Climb Mountains’; an anthem in the making with the infectious refrain ‘I can build bridges from what you burn’. Naturally, the best way to listen to the song is loud and repeatedly. Pushing hard though, is the raw, dirty and frankly, sexy current single, ‘You Drove Me to It’. Imagine the Foo Fighters and Placebo having grainy French film sex in a toilet whilst Christina Aguilera looks on, stroking a whip.

The only real problem with the album is that with repeated listens, singer Justin Schlosberg's vocals do become rather samey, most noticeably on ‘Night Vision’, Which is frankly, a crap song lacking structure and asks the question as to why it was chosen as a single, especially in light of the quality of the rest of the songs on 'The Neon Handshake'. Undeniably catchy, spirited and as more-ish as salt and vinegar Squares, it's a definite recipe to make you want to bounce round your bedroom in front of the mirror with no shame.

HifH prove they are one step ahead of their contemporaries, such as InMe and Hundred Reasons - in the fellowship of ‘Nu-Rock’, if you will - by providing instantly recognisable tracks that don’t so much demand your attention as stamp on your foot, pull your hair and spit in your eye to get it.

If you don’t already play guitar I can guarantee you will have an urge to start after listening to 'The Neon Handshake'. In fact, I can predict that teenagers bought this album for their birthday will be requesting a Gibson and Marshall stack for Christmas.

  • Hell Is For Heroes 8 / 10
Words: Rebeckah Pearce

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

This is an incredibly shite review. Looks like it came from the nme what with all the pish adjectives and such.

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

ARGH. The end of the review puts Hell is For Heroes in their context. The same stable as InMe and Hundred Reasons, all of which are all boring and slightly pish. Hundred Reasons watered down their act for a commercial audience and ended up selling records to the same ppl who would have bought them anyway, InMe are a talentless white-middle-class 14/15 year old nu-metal UK equiv (IT HURTS INSIDE E T FUCKING C), whilst Hell Is For Heroes are the most underwhelming, boring as hell punching far below their own weight load of balls you've ever seen since Menswear. All of which are bad copies of things that americans can either do slicker (InMe = A crap Linkin Park?) or generally invented (HIFH and HR = post hardcore > ATDi, Icarus Line etc). Why people bother listening to this crap I dont know. You should all be Mclusky whores.

"Nu-rawk" revolution? Fuck off. Its all so boring.

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

TER-WAT! HIFH NOT BORING. END OF STORY!

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

YES THEY ARE.

VERY BORING INDEED.

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

Hell is for heroes kicks ass. They're a great band, with a great album, if you don't like it, don't listen.

grtz, Ralph

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

I've never quite understood why I've felt or been made to feel slightly embarrassed about liking Hell is for Heroes. They're a fucking ace band and it's a fucking ace album. It's one I still listen to regularly.

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

I didn't want to like them because Symposium were dickwater, but I do... especially that Night Vision or whatever it's called.

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

Ok but will that stop you writing like you wanna slot in the eNeMEy?

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

You know what Gordon? I will write how I please because to be honest I don't give a shit what you think.

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

Yes Hell is 4 hero's are very good but as for saying that they are 1 step ahead of Inme is an absolute joke!!!
I've seen them both and Inme are the best thing since Nirvana!!

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

bull shit are InMe the best thing since Nirvana InMe arent anything special to be truely honest i dont dislike them but you have somewhat over rated them hugely

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

I can't say I dislike this record. A few nice tunes but otherwise pretty bland, however, like Puddle of Mudd it has it's place in my record collection ('Train Music').

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

Puddle Of Mudd? Raz, I thought you had taste.....:-p

Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

can't wait for the new album
they just recorded it
out late autumn hopefully

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

He He! then i guess the two years of constant touring?

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

you can but hope

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

d'ya reckon a slot on a festival might be out of the question?

Re: Hell is for Heroes - The Neon Handshake

can't really say
they played the last 2 readings haven't they
but they are planning an autumn release...

Hell Is For Heroes - The Neon Handshake

HIFH are ok but their stuff tends to sound a bit the same after a while. HR have more variety and just generally better tunes. And so what if they're following a similar genre to ATDI-someone has to