Hinder – Welcome To The
Freakshow
Universal, December 2012
1/10
I won’t make this
review longer than necessary because Hinder encapsulates everything that I hate
about radio-friendly hard rock. The first track, lead single “Save Me”, and
“Ladies Come First”, both harmless mid-tempo rockers are about as good as it
gets here on the band’s fourth album. Problems are already apparent, however,
as the production sucks all feeling and life from the songs. The snare drum is
pathetically weak, there’s little to no bass in the mix, and the frequent use
of electronic drums and beats is distracting (and downright offensive on “Wanna
Be Rich”). What really sets me over the edge are the lyrics, which generally
take a lame storytelling form or consist of wallowing in self-pity about
relationships and how life sucks. At least half of the songs are ballads or
limp soft rock tunes that unfortunately make the lyrics easy to understand. I’m
sure it will hard to avoid some of these songs as more are unleashed as
singles, but be advised to try your best. I honestly thought that commercial
hard rock couldn’t sink any lower than Nickelback or Creed, but Hinder have
done it. At least give Nickelback and Creed credit for writing some songs with
teeth and respectable melodies. Run for the hills and avoid this like the
plague.
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