The project remained relatively quiet post-Love Songs, until the brothers were joined by 2nd guitarist Travis Fristoe, who was previously in Moonraker, True Feedback Story, and Reactionary 3. The three-piece got together in 2012 for the recording of their sophomore album. What was spawned from these sessions is Elegies and Creation Songs, the long-awaited follow-up to their debut. Unfortunately, this album was not released for a few years, and in that time Travis sadly took his own life (RIP). Initially, it was going to released by Travis on his label Obscurist Press. Finally, the album say the light of day after Jason (of Palatka) released it on his own label, Belladonna Records.
Elegies and Creation Songs is an incredible album, that fans of experimental post-hardcore (or even post-punk) would definitely take interest in. It features an eclectic mix of tracks, including drawn out, slow burning rises and falls as seen in "The Passion of the Big Baby Jesus" and "Elegy For Bob Ross", as well as fast-paced, sharp, hard-hitting post-hardcore tracks such as "Horses On Fire" and "In Flower, In Song". I also have to give a specific shoutout to "Elegy for Ned", it's a little different than the other tracks on here (probably the most "emo"), but a definite highlight. Just like their previous project, die Hoffnung are absolute masters of the loud/quiet dynamic, and can let it out just as much as they can pull it back. Many songs include stream of conscious lyrics delivered by semi-spoken semi-screamed vocals. The band burns through these songs with an undeniable chemistry, and the result is an incredible album that I am both happy and lucky to finally hear. I highly, highly recommend checking out both their full-lengths, which are available below, and if you are interested, you can pick up the LP of Elegies and Creation Songs from Belladonna Records, which is linked below. Enjoy.
1. Lovemonger
2. Santa Teresa en Fuego
3. Der Autounfull
4. Olga the Contortionist vs. Harry Houdini
5. I Was Born A Long Time Ago
6. Ahab Welcome To Hell
7. Stonecutter
8. Colditz
9. With The Fishes
10. Orpheus In His Underwear
11. Lady, Killer
12. Tour Of Bridges
1. Elegy for Bob Ross
2. Horses on Fire
3. The Passion of The Big Baby Jesus
4. Embedded Reporter
5. Other People's Pets
6. Elegy For Ned
7. The Creation of Wealth
8. In Flower, In Song
9. Pullman
Why didn't you review the 2nd disc?
ReplyDeleteand please stop using the term emo.
to be fair 'i hate myself' is like the first self proclaimed emo band and the brothers marburger really defined what emo sounds like and not what it looks like.
DeleteI'm so glad to see this amazing band put up, I was so excited when I discovered they had a new album out! I have a CD rip of the bonus disc Songs for Travis if you're interested in a .zip file or somethin
ReplyDeleteYeah, would like to get it too if it's possible.
DeleteWould love that Songs for Travis rip if person above me or anyone else could be kind enough! It's nowhere online, not even available on DH's bandcamp.
ReplyDeleteBuy the record, it will make you feel better about yourself.
DeleteTravis Fristoe did the zines, America! if I'm not mistaken. Great, great fanzine & writing!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediafire.com/file/zar2raqr4fe0os0/Die_Hoffnung_-_Songs_for_Travis_CDR_%282017%29.rar/file - Songs for Travis CDR
ReplyDeletebuy the new LP it comes with songs for travis, (the bassist) Also great write up. Saw die hoffnung in 2008 open for forgetters w/ blake schwarzenbach. Got to meet blake and got a dark grainy first gen iphone picture with him. But i never stopped listening to die hoffnung which became my favorite band forever that day.
ReplyDelete