HCS play an eclectic (yes, I just used that word for the sake of using it) mix of modern rock with atmospheric but also metal-ish influences. Cardoso’s drumming and guitar work is just outstanding, with tasteful rhythmic trickery but also a great groove and feel. Check out the badass drumfill in “Baby Blue” or his tasty guitarlead at the end of “Watergate”.  One could describe his playing as some form of progressive modern rock, but I would just call it damn good rock songs with, for a change, technically proficient playing. Garm’s vocals give this album a flavour of its own because the man has one of the most identifiable throats in the nice music world we live in. He might not have the broadest range but I can’t name anyone else who has his tone. Tracks like “Skin Flick” could be a textbook example of a great tune which wouldn’t do bad on radio with its catchy chorus. “Masterpiece [of Art]” combines the previous with some fancy Meshuggah-like drumming on the end, while “Kill Me” is a 2 minute atmospheric piece that could have fit on the latest The Gathering.

 

Personally I like this album a lot because I’m just a big Garm fan in general; a song with him on it automatically gets my approval. Its sad, but that’s just me. Not every track on this disc is as great as the other, but I doubt if anyone can say that this disc contains a bad song. If you like your rock thought out, technical proficient but without progressive overload of shredding, definitely give these two guys a chance.