Send "A Hope for Home " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 With so much music to listen to and so little time, I typically pass on releases coming out on Facedown Records. I tend to picture bands of tattooed tough guys like xDeathstarx-- not exactly my bag-- and whether or not my prejudices are substantiated by reality, I need to have some method behind my obvious madness. However, something prompted me to give a listen to A Hope for Home's The Everlasting Man, released on Strike First last year, and I ended up very pleasantly surprised by their "refreshing" execution of metalcore, screamo, whatever.I use the word refreshing loosely there, for lack of a better word. Listening leaves you feeling anything but refreshed. Their dark, moody sound evokes a strong sense of being lost. Not like being lost in a faraway town where you can ask someone for directions but don't because you're a guy, and we don't do things like that. Not lost like the passengers on Oceanic flight 815, whose prison is an island, one that's strange and occasionally sinister, but ultimately quite beautiful, the type of place you'd like to be stranded if you had to be. No, we're talking irrevocably lost, the kind where the spirit teeters on the brink of resignation as the last oppressively dim glimmer of optimism is slowly snuffed out. The Everlasting Man was a definite step forward from their self-released Here, the End, an auspicious, but somewhat by-the-numbers and breakdown reliant record. Realis marks a further progression in the realm of atmosphere and ambience, seating them somewhere in the vicinity of bands like Oceana and labelmates Hands, who straddle the line between straight metalcore and artier, sludgier bands like Isis and Neurosis. Nathan Winchell's vocals have morphed to fit the mood-- on The Everlasting Man, there was vitriol, anger, fire and defiance in his screams, but on most of Realis, he echoes the anguished cries of writhing, damned souls, those who now only know despair and have all but given into it....full text |
| Indievisionmusic |
| Artist: A Hope for Home Album: Realis Label: Facedown Records Release Date: March 30, 2010 Review by: Michael Mayer III Tracklisting: Nightfall The Overman Withering Branches The Machine Stops No Light Post Tenebras Lux First Light of Dawn The Crippling Fear The Warmth of the Heavens Seasons Ascension After It takes a lot to impress me in the post-hardcore genre nowadays and for good reason. It’s been oversaturated for years and labels are still signing these bands like it’s the hottest new fad. Yet they all roughly sound the same with generic breakdowns, crab-like postures, and a typical mix of clean vocals with screaming. Sure, the songs may be catchy sometimes but it’s hard to get into a song you’ve heard a thousand times before by better bands. Luckily we have A Hope for Home and their third release, first on Facedown after being promoted from Strike First, to save us. Their 2009 album, The Everlasting Man, saw the band experiment a bit with their sound as they dabbled in atmospheric interludes and a complete concept. Here the guitars are a main focus being crisp and organic, very much reminiscent of As Cities Burn’s first album, and the clean vocals never approach the ‘whine’ range (yes, that’s an official level now). Realis is like the light at the end of the dark tunnel the genre is in. The opening track, ‘Nightfall’, immediately sets the mood for the first part of the album. A dreary acoustic guitar starts us off to create a very lonely feel and then the drums, keys, and other guitars jump in and build up to an explosive scream. The creative chords go a long way in driving the song forward as they come to the forefront in between Nathan’s screams of frustration. Most of the songs on this album naturally flow into the next and all of that frustration in the first song gives way to aggression in ‘The Overman’. The heavy riffs and frantic pace only let up at the chorus where the strong and crisp clean vocals enter. You can hear a light use of synths in the background that serve to give the song a larger than life feel as well. Then, whether it’s the addictive chords in ‘Withering Branches’ or the cold, metallic guitars in ‘The Machine Stops’, you are certain to be pulled into each song’s distinct trait. Next you’re hit with an emotional hammer as the melancholy of ‘No Light’ strikes. Quiet piano notes loft ahead of somber guitar distortion and a foreboding drum beat adds to the dreary atmosphere. The vocalist then chimes in softly as he sings, “There’s no way out. No light, no hope. Put out the fire, it burned so bright. No truth, no hope.”. It’s easily the best song on the album because it’s as hauntingly beautiful as it is awe inspiring. The song continually builds to the ultimate climax of screaming as all the instruments join together in unison. It is, perhaps, the perfect example of what sets a band like A Hope for Home apart from their contemporaries. From here it appears the album starts the uphill climb out of despair. ‘Post Tenebras Lux’, as it turns out, is Latin for “Light after darkness” and it’s certainly a fitting name. The song reflects as much considering the brooding nature of the previous track. It’s very forward and upbeat, but not without aggression. At points it sounds like the screamer is raging a battle and trying to press forth through some sort of opposing force. The droning guitars add to that notion before making way to some fantastic, peaceful chords at the end. The next few songs continue the climb upwards with swirling guitars, soaring vocals, and a newfound boldness. Don’t worry that the edge is lost though. These songs are every bit as heavy and powerful as the first half....full text |
| Underthegunreview |
| Artist: A Hope For Home Album: Realis Genre: Post-Hardcore Label: Facedown Portland’s A Hope For Home merely began as an emotional outlet during a time of despair but have recently transcended into a devoted endeavor. While most post-hardcore acts build their foundation by combining intricate, fast-paced guitar riffs and relentless drumming, A Hope For Home, take a different approach. They interweave standard hardcore elements but execute them in a slower, more melodic manner. After releasing their critically acclaimed album, The Everlasting Man, they struck the interest of renowned label, Facedown Records. Soon after signing they stepped back into the studio and are nearing the release of their forthcoming album, Realis. A Hope For Home put ample amount of effort to get their message across. Following their signature trademark, Realis is a conceptual declaration of the doubts, fears, and questions humanity asks on a daily basis. The album tells an introspective tale of a man that finds himself living in a world filled with hopelessness and ultimately questions his existence. As the story unfolds the man struggles to reconstruct his understandings of reality as he searches for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Not only do they paint a picture with their visionary lyrics but they also incorporate their music to enhance the sonic imagery. A clear example is their literature inspired track, “The Machine Stops,” depicts the protagonist’s fear of a “machine” driven world and how mankind’s dependency on technology could contribute to our downfall. The aforementioned musical aspect comes into play towards the second half of the song where they create a mechanical chugging sound that follows the narrative....full text |
A Hope for Home lyrics
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