Amidst the sea of generic hard rock releases we have been lucky to receive a thunderous breath of fresh air in the form of Hail to the North’s new single, “Not by Myself”. Combining their various musical backgrounds into a wholly original sonic concoction, part blistering hard rock, part progressive metal, part soaring melodic bombast, this powerhouse Canadian band, featuring Jordan, Roy, and pianist Ian, are the perfect soundtrack for basking in your underachievingness.
The mixing of the band’s eclectic influences blends into a tapestry that is both hard-hitting and nuanced. Guitar licks scorch seamlessly to beautiful melodic refrains. The puppet master may be controlled chaos, but at its core is a focus on songwriting, and palpable emotional intensity. The dense instrumentation lets the pointed lyrics fly, while the vocals are equally gritty and finesse to cut through. Hail to the North would not have sounded the same without that dynamic energy, and much of the spirit of resistance pulsing through each blistering riff and thunderous fill can be attributed to the production talents of Matt Noztez who helped them sound polished while still remaining uncompromising.
He really came through with the drum tones and nailed every intricate accent and subtle ghosted note in nondiluted detail. It’s a perfect combination of clarity and bone crushing heaviness.But what makes “Not by Myself” stand out from hard rock as usual is the band’s dedication to daring to be different without sacrificing a unity that still makes for crowd-pleasing fun. Dissident experiments find their way into grooves ready for fist pumping cathexes. But it’s a tricky balance to maintain and this Canadian band pull it off with inspiring skill and passion, making them one hard rock fans should look for when they’re wanting a breath of fresh air from stale status quo. Bold musical statement piece ‘Not by Myself’ galvanizes you and leaves you hungry for more from this fiery up and coming act.
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