Connecticut’s Hostage Calm has always been pretty popular in the modern day punk scene, but with the band’s latest release Please Remain Calm, labeling them with one specific genre is near impossible. Hostage Calm has always been one to create their own unique sound, but their most recent Run For Cover Records release proves their originality is the strongest it has ever been.
The album opener, “On Both Eyes”, starts very strong. The soothing vocals with the stand alone guitar riff almost seem too perfect to be true. The change of pace near the one minute mark of this song really proves that while being slow and calming, Hostage Calm can still be fast and melodic. Towards the end of this track a tambourine comes in, this is a very nice hint as to what is coming next. The tambourine sticks around for “Don’t Die On Me Now”. This song has an incredibly catchy chorus, and a very strong guitar riff towards the end. Next up is “Brokenheartland” which almost comes off as a little bit surf rock. The vocal harmonies in this song are quite enjoyable and pleasing to the ears.
“Woke Up Next To A Body” starts off with an acoustic guitar, but not soon after does the rest of the band join in. The pounding drums in the chorus of this song really gain your attention. This is probably the most “normal” song on the entire album. “Oh. Dancer” instantly makes you want to bob your head. The clapping is a subtle, yet brilliant thing to add to this song. This is probably one of the most catchy songs to be released in 2012. It’s not everyday you hear a band use sleigh bells in a song that has nothing to do with the holidays, but Hostage Calm goes for it in “May Love Prevail”. This track keeps the catchiness alive and well. “The M Word” touches on the subject of marriage, the nearly acoustic song is a nice change of pace from the prior tracks. The way the strings, tambourine, and rest of the band are blended just make for a beautiful song.
The nearly a cappella “Patriot” just screams talent. The vocal arrangement in this track is some of the most brilliant work this decade. Towards the end the song almost becomes reminiscent of The Beach Boys. “Closing Remarks” is the only song that feels like it could have been on the band’s previous record. People who were huge fans of the self-titled release will surely enjoy this track the most. Album closer “One Last Salute” starts off with the same feel as some of the other songs on Please Remain Calm, but then takes its own direction towards the middle. Around the 3:20 mark the song almost claims a 90s punk rock feel, but soon after gets very epic. The way the song is ended could not have been any more perfect.
Overall Hostage Calm, is still trying new things. I can easily say this is one of the most unique bands around. No matter what genre of music you are into, it is no secret that Hostage Calm knows how to be catchy, passionate, and very relatable. At the end of the day anyone who was a fan of Hostage Calm’s previous work is going to love Please Remain Calm. There is also no doubt in my mind that this album is going to bring in lots of new fans as well. This masterpiece is one of the best releases of 2012, maybe even this decade.
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