Dead Hearts

The first few seconds of Blackhole's debut album, 2009's Dead Hearts, will probably have most listeners pegging them for just another token hardcore band, but once the harsh screaming and full-throttle 90 seconds of opener "Don't Cry" come to a screeching halt, the British quintet -- immediately and rather shockingly -- begins to stretch its sound. Ensuing standouts like "If Only," "Tides," and "Post-It-Will" boast a variety of tempo changes, surprising melodic runs and harmonic counterpoints, and inventively phrased riffs instead of uniformly down-picked barre chords. Yes, the gang choruses crowning others ("Can't Breathe a Word," "We Are the Dead Hearts," etc.), along with the invariably melody-free vocal delivery, serve as constant reminders of Blackhole's true hardcore pedigree, but for once this is a badge of honor to be raised in triumph instead of an albatross of stifled creativity hung round their necks. All hardcore bands should be this daring with the form, but then, this may no longer be hardcore, but the new rock & roll. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia