“It’s in my DNA to go against the grain”
Savage Hands formed in the wake of defunct bands in the Virginia and Maryland area. In 2018, they released their first EP Barely Alive through SharpTone Records. Since then, they’ve released a full length record, The Truth in Your Eyes, and toured with the likes of Wage War, Being As An Ocean, Currents, and Dayseeker, to name a few. That brings us to their latest release, their new EP Rock Bottom.
Lead single “Angel Dust” kicks off this collection of five songs, a hard rock song that has a heavy bridge that will keep metalcore fans wanting more of that side of the band. But then with “Black Clouds” and the title track “Rock Bottom” following the same active rock/radio formula as each, they miss the mark of where the first track hit. The elements are there for truly great songs, but the hooks are missing the edge the band brought to the table with older songs like “Demon,” “RED,” and “Memory.”
That’s not to say there aren’t standouts, with “Halo” and closing track “Smile”, which both feel reminiscent of their earlier work. These two songs encapsulate the infectious choruses the band is known for. Dynamic riffs carry the rest of both songs that will have you bobbing your head. If the rest of the EP had this feel to it, it could have been a home run.
Lacking some of the pop and catchiness that their earlier material possessed. Rock Bottom is solid enough, but, ultimately, ends up feeling a little forgettable at times. At a time when the scene is brimming with incredible bands, Savage Hands hold their weight. Unfortunately, they aren’t bringing the sort of groundbreaking edge to the table that is needed to stand out.
Buy it, Stream it, or Skip it?: Stream it. It won’t waste your time, but you won’t be clamouring to revisit it over and over.
You can see the band on tour this May, supporting Attack Attack!, Belmont, and Traitors.
