He Is Legend have been around for quite a few years now and 1 ep and 2 albums later, He Is Legend have released the much anticipated It Hates You. Although the album isn’t a complete train-wreck, it’s not as good as it could be either. It’s lacking a lot of that trademark He Is Legend energy.
He Is Legend seem to have been plagued with problems ever since the conception of Suck Out The Poison back in 2006 with news of break-ups and hiatus’s, only to have them comeback and release the album. There is a lot of uncertainty and doubt, and this also happened with It Hates You.
It Hates You seems to successfully manage to combine southern rock with melodic elements and catchy bass lines. It’s kind of dark, but also upbeat at the same time.
It has a very Suck Out The Poison type feel to it, with some songs sadly feeling incomplete and like they consist of recycled guitar riffs from Suck Out The Poison.
The vocals however could have been a bit better. Vocalist Schuylar Croom no longer seems to scream like he did in previous albums, and now seems to use raspy deep singing instead.
This album is annoying at times, and great at other times. Some tracks seem to generate the feeling of being rushed, or like they’re simply filler tracks. You can hear this by comparing tracks such as; Don’t Touch That Dial and Party Time!!!.
The diva type vocals in some of the songs that were also on Suck Out The Poison (but not the same person) seem to have made a comeback. They sure do love adding ‘oooh, whoaaaa, ohhhhh’ into their songs in the background.
A lot of the songs on this album, I’d say about 70% don’t really have any playback worthiness to them. Which is sad, because I really did like this bands previous material.
If they manage to stay together, I’m sure their next album will be better no doubt.
Some of the stand-out tracks on this album are; Futures Bright, Man. Dicephalous. Everyone I Know Has Fangs.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Ok, seriously? Are you honestly trying to rate this album based on the terribly slowed down leaked version?
If you are, then fuck you.
And 2, Suck Out the Poison was their 3rd album, this is their 4th. They had 90125 and I Am Hollywood before Suck out the Poison.
Do your homework before you write a bullshit review taking a dump on a genius band. Just because this isn’t fast paced southern rock doesn’t mean it’s not catchy, complex and entertaining. Which for me, it’s all of those things and more.
It Hates You is my favorite He is Legend album so far, I look forward to their sound progressing and refining this 90′s Hard Rock/Grunge feel in the future.
Seriously, you’re pretty damn irresponsible for not taking the time to do some research to figure out that the leak of It Hates You was slowed down. That’s kind of your responsibility, especially if you’re going to discourage people from buying the album and supporting the band.
Bands are going to progress and change their sound, they’re going to play the kind of music they want to hear and be the band they want to be. That’s exactly what He Is Legend do with every album, I’d be disappointed if they didn’t.
He is Legend Fan,
Slowed down, not slowed down, it still sucks. If you’re such a fan, you would know that 90125 was not an album and in-fact an EP (two entirely different things). So you’re wrong; this is their third actual album release. The EP was horrible anyway.
Correction: They were a genius band, until they decided to change their sound to a genre that only hillbilly’s in some remote swamp town could appreciate.
You must be one shit fan if you think this is their best album so far; you must be pretty fucked up in the head actually.
Their sound won’t progress any further. It’s a known fact that every time He Is Legend go to make another album they almost always split up (happened with Suck Out The Poison, and It Hates You). They’ll break-up due to this album.
What?,
I’m certain there are some sentences which will answer your post above.
What’s so bad about hillbilly’s in some remote swamp town? I would prefer their musical taste over many others.
Wow. I just had to write this.
Probably Sucks,
-”that was 2004, oh those were the days” Suck Out the Poison came out in 2006. So nice try with the whole “if you were such a fan” card considering your fucking reviewing this album and you don’t even have your facts straight.
-The female vocals throughout the entire record is a different girl than the one featured on clouds.
-They didn’t slow down “Everyone I Know Has Fangs” whatsoever. You without a doubt have the slowed down leaked version. Which makes this whole review irrelevant and unfair.
-Stranger Danger is hardly a sad song. The only difference between the demo and the final version is the mastering. the drums are louder in the melodic built up part and the tinkling guitar part at the end is louder. You probably liked the demo better because it wasn’t slowed down 8% liked the entire leaked version you were listening to was.
-just because a song has a slow tempo (even slower with the version you were listening to) doesn’t mean it has a sad depressing vibe to it. open your mind.
-”Track ten, China White III – A slow southern rock song with an acoustic guitar, didn’t see that one coming? /sarcasm.” Its the only he is legend song to ever have an acoustic guitar in it. So i bet you actually didn’t see that one coming.
- I get that you were trying to be funny and sarcastic. But seriously dude, you missed the mark. Maybe a kid in middle school would have found your little comments funny. Example: “you know what’s really nasty? this song.”, “well you know what he is legend, i hate you”. seriously? grow up dude.
Maybe if you develop a good sense of humor, didnt swear to try to be funny, had an open mind to different genres, and actually made sure you didnt have a slowed down leaked version of an album you could write reviews for a real website.
have a good one
Hi,
You know what? This album isn’t very good and I will tell you all why. He Is Legend had a great start; that is until they decided to change their sound.
Southern rock might be popular in Tennessee and all those places, but in a modern society music tastes change and are completely different.
Name a popular southern rock artist that is on the charts right now… Sure, Billy Ray Cyrus and all those crazy cats might have been popular back in the 90s, but this is now.
It is the people commenting that need to grow up. Who cares if he swore? I most certainly do not because I’m not a stuck up fanboy who defends his favourite bands.
Btw… Suck Out The Poison was a great album. And I’d probably call that one their best.
He Is Legend Fan 2,
The first paragraph was wrong, yes. But you make a mistake or two when you’re under pressure to meet deadlines and time estimates, all whilst trying to maintain a blog. Of course, you wouldn’t know that because you have nothing better than too post comments pointing out errors in a blog post.
Who cares if the female vocals are different to the last, they sound like the same people (Suck Out The Poison / It Hates You). I don’t need to fact check something totally small and irrelevant like that.
I wasn’t actually trying to be sarcastic and or funny; that is just how you interpreted it. I guess I should feel flattered you think that though.
And not everyone swears to seem cool. It’s obviously a ‘swear because the album is a letdown’ type swearing thing.
Probably Sucks,
Could it be possible that when you’re “… under pressure to meet deadlines and time estimates, all whilst trying to maintain a blog…” that you rushed through the whole review process?
HIL Fan 3,
You’re quite possibly correct, but I won’t say so. Look, this isn’t a music review website. This is a website of bi-polar rantings (I’m not bi-polar myself, but this website is).
The content isn’t always going to be correct, and that’s cool with me. It’s reactions like yours that keep this blog thriving
probably sucks,
very mature reply.
good point about being in a rush. i was kind of expecting you to comment back and be a huge jackass. but know i just feel like a jackass.
i kinda just wanna take it all back now. too bad you didn’t enjoy the album. you should give it another chance sometime.
He Is Legend Fan 2,
I did miss the mark on this one and I did get a proper non-slowed down copy and it seems like something that might grow on me. I guess I just didn’t expect a scene rip to be of bad quality (I guess not all release groups are up to scratch with ripping software).
I’m going to re-write the interview I think. Would be the most logical choice.
I wasnt sure if i liked there new album but i kept listening to it everyday to work and i am really liking it now. Just give them a chance it grows on you
Wait, you think ’90125 ‘ was bad and that ‘Suck Out the Poison’ was for hillbillies?!
That completely nullified your review right there.
I’ll will listen to this and love it.
good review. i agree with the part about some of the songs feeling a little rushed.
You guys are so funny! I understand this being a bi-polar site now. Anyhow, these guys havent been good since I am Hollywood. That was easily their best album. Dinner with a Gypsy, The Creature Walks, and I am Hollywood are all better than anything this album has to offer.
Geese so much tension….I love he is Legend but i haven’t been up to date with my music collection yet so it is interesting to hear that some people love the new album and others find it terrible. I would agree from the above posted comments that the band has changed in sound. That being said it is hard to really decide if they changed for the better or the worse because that is entirely objective. I personally loved them in I am hollywood but also enjoyed some of the harder sounds from 90125. I will definately check out the new album and post a review. On a side note Glassjaw kicks ass!!
Lonegunman =)
you all argue like a bunch of schoolgirls. They’ve changed genres multiple times, so some people like certain albums more than others. It’s just like with Underoath, people constantly argue over which album is best. Personally, I like every He Is Legend album (including It Hates You), but if I had to pick one, I’d pick Suck Out The Poison.
Hey Probably Sucks,
Your revised review is much better. I’m glad you got a chance to listen to it as it was intended. It seems like you appreciate it a bit more.
In my opinion the only song that feels rushed at all is Cult of She. I think it’s a decent song, definitely not amazing. I feel every other song on this album is fantastic though. They combine beautiful melodies with some of the heaviest riffs they’ve ever written. Look at That’s Nasty, or Mean Shadows.
Stranger Danger is my personal favorite. Great lyrics, perfect vocals. Eerie guitar, strong pounding drums, and a really really solid bass line. Perhaps my favorite He is Legend song ever, certainly up there with China White I + II.
I’m glad you came around a bit on the review. This one is not only more fair, but better written, much more thought put into it.
Alright, so I get it, your website is called probably sucks, so you write bad reviews for albums
but there was no possibility of HIL breaking up before It Hates You came out, they had taken time to sort things out with their label and to work their day jobs to save up to record this album
you can have your opinion about the album, I already have mine, but yeah, just clearing the aforementioned up a bit for you
I’ve been in touring screamo and rock bands for a decade now. I’ve seen all the “whine like a little kid, then Scream like a banshee” bands I can handle (take Saosin for example). I have to say that He Is legend has alot more genuiness than the massive amount of drivel that passes for rock these days, causing it to suck and get ass-raped by every other music genre other than smooth jazz. I found many of the lyrics from the new record to be very moving. Additionally, I can’t get the chorus for party time out of my head, or China White III’s climax for that matter. You got your opinions out there, but these guys got fans. I’m buying the record for several freinds.
I thought their early stuff sounded like they were trying too hard: The young, waifish kid singing has been replaced with a man. This record is pretty awesome to me. I suggest that everyone who likes rock buy it.
He Is Legend Fan
To sum it all up without getting into detail, It Hates your is better then Suck Out the Poison, but it still lurks in the shadows of I Am Hollywood. For those of you who have not heard the previous albums, It Hates You wont be a waste of your money. It has a few borning songs, but most of the time they are a fairly decent band (If you like hardcore/swamp metal music)
P.S. Those of you who wrote nasty comments dissing the guy who wrote the article, need to shut it. The guy is giving his honest opinion, and for him to lie and tell everyone it is an excellent album wouldn’t be fair. That would just make him a liar.
And dont give him crap about his research. It is so ironic that you consider yourselves to be hudge He Is Legend fans, and yet you have no clue what your talking about. It Hates you IS the Third Album. 90125 was an EP (by the way it sucked). For those of you that don’t know and EP is not an album at all.
Finally, if you think this is their best work I’m ganna have to say, through a critical perspective, that is a stupid thing to say. Though this is a subjective matter, and whether or not you like the album is all relative; if one would analyize It Hates You logicaly and objectivly, whithout any bias, You would find the I Am Hollywood is the bands most artistic work yet.
Sorry I guess I didn’t read down furthur before I Posted my commet. I see you all made nice.
I liked them better in the No One Wins/ Uriah Omen days. Now my buddy Mr. Croom sounds like someone sand blasted his vocal cords with a mixture of chlamydia and Jack Daniels. BTW Schuylar, this is exactly what happens when you kick Jesus out of the band, retards on the internet get to take a shit on your hard work.
Listen to the music and lyrics dumbshit. These guy are amazing and growing as musicians. Just cause they keep going through members is normal for a band. Touring is a hard thing to do with the same people eveyday. The fact that there still making albums that keep getting better is amazing. Try making something on par to there stuff and then talk some shit. Go listen to some fuckn radio music and suck a dick. HE IS LEGEND IS FUCKN #1.
I am Hollywood was their best album. They need to get back the sound they had on that album and they’ll be right on-top again.
“it hates you” is what happens when a band matures…that meaning the band decides that they want to write music that they enjoy (ie. the OPPOSITE of selling out to a mainstream corporation)…
ive been friends with hil dudes for several years and they have never been concerned with anything other that writing music that they can enjoy and share with friends…theyre more happy with their more recent stuff than anything theyve ever wrote…
so why discourage a band for writing what they enjoy? its their band, not yours…
lol i find this whole bullshit funny.
i write for a online magazine called the mutiny online.
i understand the time it takes to organise getting the band to send a fucking pre release so it an be reviewed but in saying that maybe you should realise that if u are running a blog u have no dead lines its a fucking free blog for christ sake. he is legend have had a fuck load of trouble with this recording. but i still think that its up-to true fans of music in general to make a choice about this album.
about the recycled riff shit, if u havent noticed the band uses allot of recycled material such as names and lyrics its part of there charm im a massive fan of the china white series and the seduction of series.
i say if u dont like the album then u are stuck in a trend. this band dosent follow any as u may have noticed so to be a fan u have to have an open mind and be willing to appreciate there change in style listen to all albums from start to finish before u reply to this
It hates you is probably one of the greatest rock albums to emerge out of the 21st century. If you’re gonna sit there and say it’s not good then you seriously have no taste. Any one with sense would notice that every little thing on this album was thought out and genius. It’s too bad we live in a time when amazing music goes unnoticed and untalented bimbos(lady gaga, fergie, any other talentless popular artist out there) make all the money and receive all the fame. Terrible and false reviews like this one are the reason many good bands give up. You should feel good about yourself, dumbass.
Obviously, I am a little late on this CD review. That being said, I have taken a lot of time to analyze this album from start to finish. They really push the envelope with this release for many reasons. First off, the vocals in this are absolutely incredible. Screaming never made their music what it was. It was always the very strange tones of the singing. I think losing the screams in this album doesn’t affect it one bit. Secondly, the range of styles they used was equally compelling. Going from guitar tuned to drop God Knows What full of filthy distortion to a standard tuned acoustic song and everything in between? The range beats any of the other albums by a long shot. Which also brings me to this point. This album really doesn’t sound too southern at all. There are a lot of dark tones in the songs and southern rock consists of mostly upbeat riffs in the same key (As a guitar player, I refer to it as the 0,3,5 syndrome). I don’t notice too many riffs with that feel. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I feel like this music has the most feeling in it. He Is Legend FTW.
my neighbor got Chlamydia because he likes to go out with prostitutes. This is a very nasty disease.-;.
chlamydia can give you lots of painful and itchy moments so always practice safe sex.,,,