Posted by Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over, it’s time to jump back in with some new reviews and reflections on various media. During the holiday break, I found myself playing a lot of video games (namely Elden Ring Nightreign with friends) and listening to music. During those sessions, I stumbled across an artist whose music really stuck with me. I realize that it’s been a little while since I’ve done a music review, and this artist just dropped a new EP the other day. The EP is short, only consisting of five songs and clocking in at fifteen minutes, so it’s a really easy listen.
The artist in question goes by the name Hellhills. He’s a solo artist from Lithuania who has been releasing music since 2019, yet his sound captures an incredibly nostalgic vibe that I associate with 2000s electro industrial metal/alt rock (I know that’s a mouthful but it’s kind of hard to describe in words). As a result, I’ve really come to enjoy his music, so I wanted to shine a spotlight on him and his new EP today,
“Gone Too Far” is the first track, and the one that lends its name to the EP. The sound for this one is very alt-rock. The quietness of the verses that build up towards the chorus works really well, and allows Hellhills’ range and vocal abilities to shine. He has a very good, and in my opinion fairly unique, vocal sound, and “Gone Too Far” definitely uses it well. He alternates between fairly standard singing and a higher mode that sounds really good. As for the instrumentals, it’s solid alt rock. There are some nice solo moments where the instrumentals are able to shine through, even if the instrumentals largely serve as backing for the singing in my opinion. This same musical style is largely present throughout the rest of the EP. The subject matter of the song focuses on distance and drifting apart. It’s fine, but I can’t deny that sometimes I find myself focusing more on the sound of the song than its actual substance.
“Getting Bored” is the next track, and it keeps the alt rock sound going before sprinkling in some more electronic elements here and there. The vocal style is similar, but this time it does lean a bit more on the higher singing style, and I think it sounds great. There are also some fantastic screams. This song definitely begins to capture the nostalgic vibe that I experience when listening to Hellhills. I love the vocal quality throughout this one, and the instrumental does a good job backing it, especially in the quieter moments. I really enjoy the message of the song as it grapples with how familiarity with someone can lead to boredom and distance. It’s an interesting message that I’m not sure if I’ve heard elsewhere.
“Wither With Me” is my favorite track on the EP. It’s very electronic in terms of sound. It also showcases Hellhills’ higher singing register more than the other songs, and it just sounds so good. There’s a lot of emotion baked into it, and the vocal quality itself is just so unique, at least in comparison to what I’ve listened to before. The instrumentals do a great job of slowing down and quieting during pivotal vocal moments, which really lets the lyrics shine. In terms of general tempo, the song is pretty fast, which makes those brief slow-downs more impactful. The lyrics themselves deal with ideas of dreams vs. reality, and facing reality with someone by your side. Though to be completely honest, it’s one of those songs where I look at the lyrics on Spotify as the song is playing, and I don’t really understand what’s going on. That being said, it sounds really good.
“Cut The Moon” returns to the more alt rock style of instrumental backing, but the vocals do maintain the higher register. It sounds just as good as the others. The minimalist instrumentals accomplish the goals of focusing the listener’s attention on the vocals again. The vocals also drip with emotion, which always makes a song better for me. I will say though, even after looking at the lyrics and following along with it while listening, I have no idea what this song is about. It seems to be about companionship in some capacity, but it’s kind of hard to follow. At least the song sounds really good.
The last song on the EP is “Far From Closure.” This one follows the previous styles established in the rest of the EP. It starts with an alt rock instrumental opening before fading into the background while the vocals come out. The vocals definitely favor the high pitched register, and it still sounds fantastic. In terms of lyrics, this is probably the most coherent song on the EP as it discusses the ending of a relationship. I like the ideas presented as it grapples with one-sided relationships and their inevitable conclusions.
Overall, I really like this EP. It’s such a different sound from what I’m used to listening to sometimes, namely with the vocal quality. Hellhills definitely has a distinctive sound, and I would highly recommend giving him a listen. Part of the reason I’m so interested in this artist is because lately, I’ve noticed a massive influx of AI music on Spotify. It’s honestly super disappointing, which is why I’m starting to become hyperaware of some of the stuff the platform recommends me. It really sucks when Spotify pushes bland, soulless AI rock slop that all sounds the same when there are talented artists out there making really good music that deserves to be heard. Hellhills is one such artist. I know that his music may not be for everyone, but his style immediately captured my attention, and I wanted to draw some attention to it.
Broad Scope Entertainment 