Not Revenge.....Just a Vicious Crush,
Fifth Hour Hero
Even if you haven't heard of Fifth Hour Hero yet, chances are you've heard the vocal stylings of frontwoman Genevieve Tremblay. Having provided backing vocals on Against Me!'s 'Searching for a former clarity', she's not new to the music game, and this shines through on 'Not Revenge....Just a Vicious Crush'. This isn't an album that's been made for the sake of fame and fortune; this is heart-wrenching pop-punk that feels genuine and thoughtful.
Fifth Hour Hero make use of two lead vocalists. Both Genevieve and her male counterpart Olivier Maguire get the chance to carry their own songs, which prevents this album from becoming repetitive. However it must be said that Maguire's vocals aren't quite up the standard of his co-singer. This is evident as the albums highlights lie in songs such as 'My Sympathies' and especially 'A Light on You'. The latter is a beautiful ballad that tells the tale of a man in a pit of depression, and Genevieve delivers the words with such sincerity.
In some ways this album could be interpreted as slightly unoriginal. The palm-muted guitar parts in the verses and classic vocal harmonies aren't something we haven't seen before, yet Fifth Hour Hero manage to create their own sound while still using old methods of making good punk music. There are obvious nods here to bands such as Rise Against, Distillers, Rancid et al, yet all the while you're distinctly left with the impression that this album wasn't made with any intention of imitating these bands.
Fifth Hour Hero are without a doubt a diamond in the rough of today's punk scene. There's not a single song on 'Not Revenge...' that is bad. There are hooks aplenty that suck you into each and every song. The lyrics are well thought out and the music has been put together to produce a unique sound. This album is simply cracking, and if you have an interest in any bands like Hot Water Music, Lawrence Arms, Distillers, or in fact punk rock in general, you need some Fifth Hour Hero in your CD collection. Go buy this immediately.
Andrew
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