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Hidden Amongst Us: The Machine

Alternative/Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter ReverbNation
Independent/Unsigned
by Craig Hartranft,  02.27.2012

Hidden Amongst Us is the ressurection, a reconciliation of members so to say, of a band once dissolved. A band with such promise that Sharon Osbourne, who had to cancel a showcase appointment with them, invited them to tour with Ozzy on the East Coast, several ago. Brent Pettersson (v), Michael Grgas (g), Ken Colosa (b) are the rediscovered band of brothers, and The Machine is their debut disc.

Above, Hidden Amongst Us: a polyptych band portrait, very artsy.

The musical foundations and overtones of Hidden Amongst Us are self-evident. Not the least of which is a heavy nod to Ozzy Sabbath and generally all things heavy, and essentially on Salvation.

But HUA also leverages some more modern angles, and you might hear Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and maybe a touch of NIN. Their music is modern metal but without the coarse harshness of something infected with hardcore riffs or vocals. It's better on The World Outside is Gone, not such much on the grating Rake. Mostly the music, like the suffering and stirring dystopian lyrics, has a dense and disconsolate feeling to it. Listening Godtrip, a piece which sounds heavy metal static, with exception of spicy guitar licks, could be gloomy stoner stuff.

Perhaps novel to HUA are the lead vocals. Pettersson has that rare quality of sounding like somebody you know, yet being wholly himself. At times he reminds of Osbourne himself, but most times not. He can be at once engaging, lifting a song, as on the title track, and then simply ordinary, even a whiner, as on Godtrip.

Fundamentally, Hidden Amongst Us is on to something very good with the modern alt metal sounds of The Machine: original, maybe; clever and interesting, no doubt. Considering the fickleness of the music industry, perhaps even their gods can be those of second chances. Recommended.

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Fundamentally, Hidden Amongst Us is on to something very good with the modern alt metal sounds of The Machine: original, maybe; clever and interesting, no doubt.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]