Now ever since we introduced the star rating system I knew I was going to have to come back and review this album because it is a classic. I bought this album on the strength of one song and the first time I listened to the whole album I was blown away. This was one of the most eagerly awaited debuts from a British band and it certainly lived up to that expectation. This is an album that took the band from underground stature and put them on to the front of many a music magazine.

The album kicks off with ‘Five Kids Go’ and what a way to kick things off. It’s like a rush of blood to the head and makes you just want to start chucking stuff around your room, but in a good way. Justin Schlosberg’s vocals are so unique and have such strength to them and added with the hard rocking of the rest of his band mates, it’s a recipe for perfection. ‘Out Of Sight’ is the next song and quite possibly my favourite Hell Is For Heroes song ever, it switches between melodic and chaotic parts to brilliant effect and is just amazing. ‘Night Vision’ and ‘Cut Down’ are both examples of the energy evoked by the music that makes you want to sing along to every word. ‘Few Against Many’ is another amazing song with against has the quiet melodic verses that lead up to the massive choruses that are bound to get the mosh pits going. ‘Three Of Clubs’ is the song that I first heard and reason why I bought this album so it will always be special to me and is an amazing song, great guitar riff and the amazing vocals are a real highlight yet again.

‘I Can Climb Mountains’ is probably the bands biggest hit to date and there is definitely a reason for that, it’s amazing. This song is a British rock anthem and really is Hell Is For Heroes at their best and you haven’t heard it yet then you need to, simple as that. ‘Disconnector is next and another song that starts of slow but builds up into an assault of guitars and some immense vocals. ‘You Drove Me To It’ is another killer tune that will have you rocking the fuck out but singing along to every word at the same time. ‘Slow Song’ totally changes the tempo and is exactly what it says on the tin. Both Harmonic and Melodic it is a beautiful song, well at least for the first three and a half minutes until HIFH decide to kick your arse once again with an onslaught of pure rock fury. ‘Retreat’ is the final song and is another beautiful song that will have you singing along to every word and really shows just how important this band is.

The Neon Handshake is Post-Hardcore at its finest, this is an album that doesn’t sound like anyone else and I personally think this is one of the most important records of the past 10 years. Hell Is For Heroes has created a timeless album that sounds as amazing as it did in 2002. As long as HIFH continue to go on and play shows in the UK then I’ll be there, not just because they are one of the band live bands in the UK but also just to get the chance to here classic songs like ‘I Can Climb Mountains’, ‘Out Of Sight’, ‘You Drove Me To It’, ‘Three Of Clubs’, ‘Five Kids Go’, etc, etc. Today Post-Hardcore mostly means a bunch of bands that all look and sound the same screaming out the same old tired lyrics, but when The Neon Handshake came out it was an album filled with originality where every song was different and truly showed a band that was all about the music.

To find out more about Hell Is For Heroes - Click Here