Hundredth and C.S. Lewis

"Even in literature or art no man who cares about originality will ever be original. It’s the man who’s only thinking about doing a good job or telling the truth who becomes really original, but doesn’t notice it. Even in social life, you never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking what sort of impression you make. That principle runs all through life from the top to the bottom. Give up yourself and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it.Submit to death, submit with every fibre of your being and you will find eternal life." - C.S. Lewis

"It’s monumental for us to rise to the surface, just to breathe in some reality. We’ve been drowning in uncertainty."

Hundredth - Let Go - An Early Look

So, I’ve been listening to Hundredth’s new album Let Go this past week, and I just thought I’d give some initial thoughts for anyone who enjoyed their 2010 album When Will We Surrender.

First of all, with Chadwick Johnson on vocals, it’s going to sound like Hundredth, at the core. And after hearing so many crappy crappy Christian hardcore bands coming out of Mediaskare Records lately, I can’t help but lean back and enjoy myself. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that makes them so great, because strictly speaking it’s still hardcore (though much more melodic and not as angry as the elitists might think it should be).

Maybe that’s just what it is right there: the fact that they fashion hardcore music around positive messages. And it is. You can’t be angry and encourage people. Once you’ve gotten to know the scene of heavy music in general, you can understand that: harsh vocals don’t make it angry. Even pretty, melodic music doesn’t make it innocent. I know there’s a double standard here, but bear with me.

Anyone who listens to enough heavy music knows what I’m talking about. And anyway I digress. Let Go is, despite its natural beauty, not quite as compelling as their previous album, to me at least. There aren’t as many hooks. A lot of the songs sound more alike. I consider this to be regression on the band’s part, but others may disagree.

Head on over to their BandPage on Facebook for a couple of samples they’ve posted, “Live Today” and “Restless”, the latter of which has guest vocals from Hawkboy/As Cities Burn’s Cody Bonnette.

Look for my full review on JesusfreakHideout later in the month.