Album Review
Fifth Hour Hero - Not Revenge... Just A Vicious CrushFifth Hour Hero – Not Revenge... Just A Vicious Crush

After a brief yee-haw bottleneck intro, and some anxiety about the album ahead, we are launched into this apparent, “vicious crush.” Well if this is anything to go by, I'll have to get myself involved with more vicious crushes.

Fifth Hour Hero's sound is quite punky actually, but not tuneless basic punk. These songs actually seem to go somewhere. I'd liken them to bands like The Living End and Strung Out.

The first track, Playing Politics, is good to listen to. It's upbeat and really has a sense of rhythm. And the vocals in the chorus are something special. Another female fronted group, the singer's voice is described as “strident” and “beautiful.” I don't think this album is where you'll find evidence of any beautiful singing, punk just isn't like that. But strident, I can go with that. Vaguely reminiscent of Brody Dalle, but without the rough and ragged “oh yeah I eat gravel thrice a day” edge.

The songs are all quite similar really, as quite a lot of music in this style is. It's hard to expand ideas on such a defined genre I suppose. But that doesn't stop it being good of course.

Track four, “My Sympathies” has a good riff. The kind of riff you'd expect right at the start of a song, (which it is,) but they manage to carry it on through the verses as well. Interesting.

Out of these twelve tracks, there aren't many that stand out above the rest, which makes it particularly hard to review.

However I'd like to draw attention to “After All Is Said And Done,” which is one of the tracks where the male backing vocalist takes the limelight, and leads an altogether good song. And also, track eight, “A Light On You,” a gentle song with an acoustic intro, which is always a nice touch to an album. Really something good.

The final track, “Burning The Fields Down,” is the last key track. It's half way between the eighth track, and the rest of the album. It's not stupidly soft, but it's gentle, despite it's use of distorted guitars and drums. Quite strange technically actually. But no, it's very nice. And I'd say it was a very good end to the album.

3/5

Review by Thom
 Band Members
Fifth Hour Hero - Band
Mag (Guitar, vocals)
Balloo (Bass, vocals)
Tremblette (Guitar, vocals)
Jack (Drums)
 Track Listing
1. Playing Politics
2. Faint and Fading Out
3. How Much Is Revolution with Taxes?
4. My Sympathies
5. Divorce
6. After All Is Said and Done
7. Coeur de Berlin
8. Light on You
9. To Split a Rival Like a Fish
10. Satisfaction of Thinking
11. Bruce Oh My Bruce
12. Burning the Fields Down
 Band Related Links
Fifth Hour Hero Myspace
Fifth Hour Hero Official Website
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?