Review: “Confessions & Failures” by HollowKin

Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? Wasn’t that someone else’s line? Ha. Although only formed at the end of 2023, Bath based HollowKin are already beginning to earn themselves a reputation as a hard working Progressive Metalcore crew, ripping up the road to play shows while investing time in the studio. Comprising vocalist James Steaton-Pritchard, guitarist pairing DJ Hussey and Beau Stevens alongside a rhythm section of bassist Daniel ‘Hodds’ Hoddinott and drummer Dan Ford, the formidable five piece have, thus far at least, shared their ideas live before committing them to tape. So what does “Confessions & Failures” sound like?

An incomprehensible spoken word adds an eerie quality to the haunting 73 second introduction piece that is “Tomorrow At Dawn“, a moment that confirms the bands ability to create something darkly atmospheric before the record has even begun. Whether it has longevity remains open to conjecture but it certainly creates an ambiance ahead of the powerful first track proper “A Pilgrimage“. Crushing seven or eight string guitars deliver a muscular opening burst before dropping out as the band play with texture and allow Steaton-Pritchard’s emotive vocal performance to take the limelight. The punchy Tech-Metal inspired guitar work with flavours of “Holy Hell” era Architects resurface for a chorus that offers more stability vocally, the push and pull of the lyrical narrative a enhanced by the sublime performance with vocal layering put to good use to add screamed moments as an underpinning. As a combination all of that works incredibly well together, sounding far more polished that the vast majority of bands do when it comes to a first output. Blast beats and a bloodcurdling roar bring “Leech” to life in unexpectedly violent fashion, the track finding the band playing with texture as they switch between brutal verses before slipping into a sumptuous clean chorus with glorious sing-a-long sensibilities that no-one saw coming. On paper, stylistically that screams Metalcore but in reality, the heavier parts are so much more savage and while the chorus is slick, its the smooth transition between the two styles which is vital. Rest assured the musicianship is impeccable, a testament countless hours spent in the rehearsal space to ensure the reality matches the vision.

Repeating the trick stylistically while following a similar path was never going to be easy but the band prove they have what it takes with “The Devil In Your Garden“. Punishing, groove laden earworm riffs flow with ease during the first half before reaching another gloriously rich chorus that sinks into your veins like a poison. Lyrically the tale is one about finding a better place by learning from ones mistakes and you’d be hard pushed to find someone with whom that didn’t resonate. You might not guess it but inspired by Dante’s Inferno, “In Heresy” explores themes of judgment; hypocrisy and what legacy really means in one single, blistering track. The pace and energy is sublime, designed to get the adrenaline pumping with mosh pit friendly moments while having the indecency of also having a powerful clean sung finale to bring it home. While other bands flirt with styles and mess around with demos, HollowKin have found their identity quickly and produced a debut burnt offering of soul stirring quality that ride roughshod over any pre-conceived notions that it shouldn’t be possible [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Tomorrow At Dawn
2. A Pilgrimage
3. Leech
4. The Devil In Your Garden
5. In Hersey

“Confessions & Failures” by HollowKin is out 15th November 2024.