“Next in Line” commences with “A Miracle,” which is a cry for help, or depending on the point of view, a kind of confession. Here the alter ego of the band cries for a miracle in his life that would be to meet someone to be with. Hmm, according to the press release and the music Holler are alleged to be a Hard Rock band, however, this kind of lyrics is not the typical one we would find in any of the stars of the genre. It is the other way around, the guy is always the ladies’ man, the one who gets them all. A new approach maybe.
I dare to say “Next in Line” showcases a delicate, and very sensible mood in here. Sign of the times? Maybe, maybe not. The music in “Next in Line” sounds to me to have been measured with extreme care not to annoy, offend or bother anyone. There are no excesses as it would be expected from a Hard Rock band. Not sonic, not verbally, not nothing. Even the mixing took out most of the guitars’ punch.
Giving “Next in Line” a second thought, the songs are very well-built, the aforementioned care did a good job in producing a perfect sounding. “24Seven,” for instance, should be in a Prog Metal album. Yeah, that’s the only exageration in the album. The guitar parts, if my dear fan pays great attention, are well-written and meaningfull. It would be great a mixing that gave them more punch. The phrases and the guitar effects of album welcomer “A Miracle” sound so good, however, it sounds to me the mixing was made to highlight vocals only, which are perfectly cristal clear.
I missed a lot the musical excesses Hard Rock and Glam Metal are known for, yes, I do. I miss the ‘let’s party’ mood the CD cover inspires. From where I am standing this would give the songs that pounch and agression Metal music requires and, besides that, it would draw more attention to the well-written songs Holler developed here. A burst in the guitar lead in a track as “Stormy“ would sound perfect with a higher mixing. I guess all the album would benefit greatly from all of them.
Holler “Next in Line” will be released on May 23rd via Scarlet Records.
Track Listing:
1. A Miracle
2. Stormy
3. Chandelier
4. Don’t Fool Me
5. The Ocean
6. 24Seven
7. Crystal Eyes
8. Trust
9. Away
10. The Leader
11. Perfect Place
Watch “Stormy” official music video:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!