(hed)p.e. - Back To Base X
You know that rusted-up Z28 on the front lawn in the trailer park that used to be one hell of a car back in its day but is now bagged, smashed up and practically held together with electric tape? The one that despite its sad state is still driven out on the main strip every Friday night like a prized muscle car? Well unfortunately, these days that car and (hed)p.e. have a lot in common. Perhaps the band noticed that after their poorly recieved last album "Only In Amerika", as they now attempt to, well, go back to basics.

So what does this mean? Well, essentially the band are back to revisiting their misogynistic war cries and delving deep into political turmoil and conspiracy theories overtop of loose punk rapmetal. But while earlier incarnations of (hed)p.e. had a knack for catchy grooves, snarling riffs and in your face choruses; much of "Back To Base X" sadly just sounds desperate and threadbare.

The vocals lack punch and sound as though they were tracked in a bathroom studio with an "indoor voice". The guitars are relatively uneventful and often come off as repetitive and boring. The drumming is crisp to the point of being brittle, and while the detuned bass shows off some skillful flavor, it's low position in the muddled mix nullifies its presence. Add in a few samples, some concentrated forays into jazz, dub and more, and this album is laid out in plain menu-like fashion.

The sad part is, there are actually some catchy hooks in place, but everything sounds so half-hearted and lo-fi that you can't help but feel the band are now cardboard cutouts of what they once were. They may have gone "Back To Base X" this time out, but if it keeps up at this pace, many of their once substantial fan base would probably prefer that they didn't come back at all.


(1.5 / 5)

prp hates hed since bc left

wookubus is good friends with bc

peace

i dont exactly agree with exactly how theprp worded their review. but i must agree with how when (hed) mixed their music it was more "groove" .. like the mixtures of genres of music eased into each other. (this is just from the self titled and their indie release).

even though i like broke, a lot, i can see it started the trend where they weren't going to be being as "groovy" with how their sounds were mixing, but rather a song could go from hard hard then without a second drop to reggae, then 10 seconds later all of a sudden he was screaming again. and ive noticed that is generally how they have been doing a lot of their songs on pretty much everything post-broke (not on all songs, but just a lot of them)

thanx for this informatio
it makes sense now! :)

I really kind of agree with that review. Not everything about it, but the reviewer makes some good points. I still would have given in a higher score though, too.

I fear that this may be their last record considering how it's mostly getting recieved. It is pretty original, but it just isn't pulled off nearly as well as it could have been. I really hope this isn't their last album. They still have a chance to redeem themselves.

Ye, true man. I think they can still turnaround and give the fans (us) what they want, by rly going bk to their roots.... ye actually its a bit sad that I miss the more heavy stuff like "octopussy" ...any1 remembers that track? it has no lyrics, but its rly heavy in the end... I love the song because of how it devellops...

hed rockz anyway - 1.5/5 is rly underrated

at least 3/5 to b fair,

peace,
Waiting-To-Die

u gotta stop trying to justify hed, and trying to find reasons for bad reviews. plain and simple, the album was not that great. you can still be a hed fan and admit this fact. being a fan does not mean being a "yes man."

^ you make a good point homie

however even if hed put out a killer album prp would diss it due to hard feelings of the bc thing

that was my point

peace

This is your opinion dude, and not everyone agrees. I love the album and think it is up there with the best.

I wish everyone would stop bitching about how much they hate this album - if you don't like it, tough shit.

Theprp gives shit to any release that is not some kind of emo, or metalcore or whatever the trend of the month is. Seriously go look at the releases they gave good reviews to, and then go listen to the bands they say are good. Fuck theprp on a personal and professional level. Personally some people need to get over the fact that BC, Wes, and Chad left, My thing is I think that the band should have changed there name after Blackout considering half the band left.

agreed and actually the only reason why jahred kept it hed is so they would sell whatever records they could - instead of having to get the new name out there and reestablishing themselves

in fact koch would not sign hed if they didnt keep the hed name

peace

I like that they've kept the name. I gues simply because it maintains the link to their older stuff, which I love so much (and also so I didn't have to face the facts that the band had split).

Another bonus is that they will keep their older music alive by still playing it at shows (not that we ever get to see them in Australia).

Interesting about Koch's approach to the band.

heh yh i like the name, i mean it wouldend be hed pe with a different name (duh) but u know wot im sayin its would just be wierd, and i dont see y ppl hate the nelbum so much, i like it. But thats my opinion u think wot u want :hedoldskool:

they shouldn't change their name!!!

I much prefer them on the first 2 albums,

I think blackout is really good but a bit too cleaned up and linkin park esque,

OIA is powerful but i think a little immature lyrically, i enjoyed their sex rap stuff on 'crazy legs' etc as it was pretty funny but on OIA it just sounded annoying. Rape, paedophilia etc. Not really my cup of tea.

and B2BX is really good it just needs better mixing and it could do with a little more work i guess.

Overall hed pe are one of my favourite bands but i know they arent what they once where, but given that ive enjoyed and frequently listen to every album of theirs ive no real complaints. Id just love to see them re-unite with Wes.

Jamie

...

just adding the url for theprp.com review.

:b2bx:
http://www.theprp.com/reviews/hedpe3.shtml